Live Fishing Bait

Discover the top live baits for freshwater and saltwater gamefish. Some of the live bait can be purchased at your local bait shop, but most of them will need to be caught using a cast net or a Sabiki rig. Using a native baitfish or live bait is always a good idea and will usually produce results.

Freshwater Fishing Live Baite

Nightcrawlers (Earthworms): Premium freshwater live bait

• large worms for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass
• small worms for panfish, trout

Live Freshwater Fish Bait

• Grubs: sunfish, panfish, trout
• Crayfish: smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, trout, walleye
• Shiners: largemouth bass, pike, muskie Leeches: walleye, sauger
• Insects (grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars): panfish, trout
• Dough Ball: trout, panfish, catfish, carp (Various recipes are available)

Saltwater Fishing Live Bait

• Atlantic Croaker ~ They make a croaking sound that attracts other fish
• Mullet ~ caught inshore or purchased at local bait shop Pilchard ~ A top native saltwater baitfish
• Threadfin Herring (Greenback) ~ A premium live bait – saltwater greenback baitfish are great for snook & redfish
• Spanish Sardine ~ Another top native saltwater baitfish
• Menhaden (Shad, bunker, shiner, pogey) ~ Nice native saltwater baitfish
• Pinfish ~ Try hooking the pinfish just underneath the tail. They are durable and productive for snook & reds
• Shrimp ~ Easy to buy and always productive live fish bait
• Scaled Sardine (Whitebait) ~ Always productive and always plentiful
• Glass Minnow (Anchovy) ~ Always plentiful live baite
• Ballyhoo (balao) ~ A top live fishing bait – for best results, break off the beak before using
• Striped Mullet (Black mullet, Fatback) A nice fishing bait
• Blue Runner (Hard tail jack, yellow jack, yellow mackerel) Live bait for larger gamefish: tarpon, etc…
• Crabs (Hardshell, Softshell) A live bait used for a variety of fish: tarpon, sheepshead, etc…
• Sand Fleas ~ A live fishing bait found in the sand on the beach. Dig them up and get fishing
• Squid ~ Usually frozen, usually productive. Sharks like squid

Does Walmart Sell Live Bait?

​Yes, Walmart sells live bait at many of its locations, including options for both in-store purchase and delivery.​

🪱 Live Bait Options Available at Walmart

Walmart offers a selection of live bait, primarily focusing on:​

• Nightcrawlers – Available in various quantities, such as an 18-count pack from DMF Bait Co.
• Redworms – Available in packs like the 30-count from WanglersRedworms – Available in packs like the 30-count from Wanglers

These baits are suitable for targeting a range of fish species, including crappie, bass, and catfish.

🚚 Live Bait Delivery and Pickup Services

Walmart has introduced a Live Bait Pickup and Delivery Service, allowing customers to order live bait online for pickup or delivery. This service is available at over 3,000 Walmart stores across the United States.

In Florida, Walmart has launched live bait pickup and delivery services, enabling customers to order live bait such as wax worms, red wigglers, mealworms, and nightcrawlers for home delivery.

📍 Availability in various cities in Florida

Given that Walmart’s live bait delivery service is available in Florida, it’s likely that stores in your city participate. However, availability can vary by location. To confirm if your local Walmart offers live bait and delivery services, you can visit Walmart’s website and enter your ZIP code to check local availability.

🛒 How to Order

1. Visit Walmart’s Live Bait section
2. Enter your ZIP code to view availability at nearby stores.​
3. Select your preferred live bait and choose between pickup or delivery options.

Please note that while nightcrawlers and redworms are commonly available, other live baits like minnows, shrimp, and shiners may not be offered through Walmart and might require visiting a local bait shop.