I wonder what I should use for bait?

In the South Florida canals, there is a variety of baits that are very effective and can easily be caught or bought in the area.  

My favorite bait is jewel cichlids and baby spotted tilapia.  These fish are long living, very active fish that bass and other cichlids go crazy for.  Jewel cichlids and spotted tilapia can easily be caught using a bait trap or cast net in grassy areas.  The best size is around 3" because they are not too big for the smaller fish, and the larger fish will still attack a bait that size.  

My second favorite baits are crawfish and worms.  Crawfish can be caught using a hand net and swiping underneath rocks; and worms can be found in the ground and bought in every tackle shop in the area.  These baits are great for cichlids and largemouth bass, but not as effective as jewel cichlids and spotted tilapia for peacock bass.  

Finally, if you don't want to take the time to catch the bait, artificial lures are still very effective.  For cichlids, it is best to use small jigs and spoons in an up and down motion.  For bass, it is best to use suspending lures and rattle traps as they have very realistic action and contain rattles, which bass go crazy about.  My favorite lures for bass are the Rapala X-Rap and the Cotton Cordell Super Spot.  

 

These baits can be used for all of the fish caught in the canals effectvely and with a small price and sometimes even free!