Minnows
A staple bait in Southern Jersey waters, live minnows are one of the most versatile and effective baits you can use. These small baitfish thrive in our local marshes, creeks, and tidal flats. Their natural scent and quick movements make them irresistible for a wide range of species. While a quick snack for striped bass, weakfish, and perch, flounder especially gobble minnows even during the slowest day. We at Absecon bait pride ourselves in always having minnows for our customers as captain Dave himself will go out minnowing if our supply runs too low.
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Spot
These silver fish are abundant in the bay as the water warms from late spring through the end of fall. Named for the distinctive dark spot just behind their gills, spot use schooling behavior and natural camouflage to evade predators. Ranging in size from a finger-length juvenile to nearly a pound, they’re a preferred meal for many predator fish.
At Absecon, we see some of the best success with striped bass and large flounder using small to medium spot rigged on a circle hook with an inline sinker. The larger spot are often favored by offshore anglers targeting tuna, while some find their way onto dinner plates as spot are also popular to eat when caught off the bay or surf.
At Absecon, we see some of the best success with striped bass and large flounder using small to medium spot rigged on a circle hook with an inline sinker. The larger spot are often favored by offshore anglers targeting tuna, while some find their way onto dinner plates as spot are also popular to eat when caught off the bay or surf.
Clams
When it’s time to stink up the water and draw the fish in, nothing beats good old clam bait. Whether you’re using them surf, shucked, salted, or frozen, these classic mollusks come in many forms. Smaller clam pieces fished on a simple hi-low rig can tempt just about anything that swims by, from croakers and kingfish to spot and perch. In the spring, fresh clams fly out the door as anglers gear up to chase massive black drum. Come fall, it’s all about striped bass on the beach, with a fresh clam and circle hook being a go-to combo for surfcasters. And if you’re heading offshore to load the cooler with black sea bass, there’s no bait that beasts clam.
Bloodworms
The infamous bloodworm lurks beneath the muddy bottoms of shallow marine waters, using its jaws to latch onto unsuspecting host and feed on—yep, you guessed it—blood. These creepy crawlers even have copper-infused fangs sharp enough to pierce human skin, so handle with care. But don't let their bite scare you off as bloodworms are some of the best bait money can buy. Whether you’re threading a whole one onto a hook for striped bass, or cutting them into smaller pieces, they have a reputation for driving fish wild. A long-time favorite among perch and kingfish anglers, bloodworms are a go-to bait when you need reliable action, especially in early-season or brackish water conditions.
Green Crabs
These invasive crustaceans are originally from from Europe, but over the years, green crabs have multiplied rapidly in our South Jersey waters. While they’ve caused serious disruption to local ecosystems—outcompeting native species and damaging seagrass beds—there's one upside: they make excellent bait. Hardy, aggressive, and full of scent, green crabs are the number one bait choice for tautog (blackfish). Whether you're fishing the inshore jetties or heading out to the ocean reefs, green crabs stay tough on the hook and release a scent trail that tautog can’t resist.
Sand Fleas
A newer trend in Jersey waters, sand fleas have quickly gained popularity as a go-to bait. Found in massive numbers along the surf, thesesand crabs are easy to collect by hand or with a sand flea rake, making them both effective and accessible for beach anglers.Off the sand, anglers have had great success using small sand fleas to catch croakers, kingfish, and spot. Around bridges, jetties, and rocky structure, sand fleas have proven to be deadly on big Jersey sheepshead and tautog.
Shedders
When a blue claw crab prepares to molt its old shell, it becomes what’s known as a shedder. The shedding process takes a few days, with the actual molt lasting just a few hours—but during this window, shedders become one of the most effective baits in the back bays. As their soft new shell forms, a natural scent seeps into the water, signaling to predators that this usually tough and fast-moving crab is now vulnerable and easy prey. That scent trail draws in striped bass, flounder, and weakfish, which eagerly strike at a quarter or half chunk of shedder fished on a hook. Even the claws and leg sockets make excellent bait, especially for targeting perch.
Eels
These slimy, long-bodied fish are built for survival, with slippery skin and strong muscles that help them evade most predators. Much like striped bass, eels follow a migratory life cycle—traveling between saltwater and freshwater rivers to spawn. Because of this overlap, eels become a key food source for stripers throughout their entire lives. Whether you're rigging a live eel at night off the jetties, or drifting one under a float from your boat, eels are a proven bait for striped bass and other big game fish.
Frozen/Cut Bait
Here at Absecon Bay Sportsman Center, we specialize in a wide variety of frozen and cut bait to suit every kind of fishing trip. During summer flounder season, many of our regulars pair their minnows with a pack of pro-cut squid or mackerel for the perfect combo. Heading out for tuna tomorrow? You can bet we’ve got ballyhoo ready to go. This 2025 season, spearing has been especially hot for flounder. We also stock a full lineup of frozen bait like clams, mullet, bunker, sardines, butterfish, and more. No matter what you're chasing, we’ve got the bait to match.
Seasonal Bait
As the seasons change, so does our bait selection. While most of the bait mentioned on this page stay stocked throughout the year, Absecon Bay Sportsman Center also brings in a rotating lineup of seasonal favorites. Grass shrimp may be a ghost, but in early spring, we do our best to source them for the dedicated perch anglers. As the water warms, our tanks start filling with fresh bunker and mullet, netted caught by Captain Dave himself.
If you’re chasing something specific or not sure what’s hitting, just give us a call. We’re always happy to talk bait and help you gear up with the right setup for your next trip.
If you’re chasing something specific or not sure what’s hitting, just give us a call. We’re always happy to talk bait and help you gear up with the right setup for your next trip.