Browsing your local shelves or the internet for tackle is always an enjoyable and rewarding task with no downsides. There’s no such thing as wasted money when it comes to fishing – at worst, you’re “eliminating water.” Still, it’s not bad to know what you really need for the given situation, and these days there are lots of good options.
The last few years, tournament fishing has changed a lot in Florida. While there’s still a place for worms and ChatterBaits, the boom in offshore fishing has opened the door for a lot of other baits to play.
Between targeting individual fish or fish around grass or brush, glide baits have become a key part of the tacklebox for a lot of Floridians. It makes sense — Florida bass get big, and they eat big stuff. The only problem is that some of the most sought-after baits are hard to find.
For a little bit less of a hit on the wallet, you might consider the SPRO KGB Chad Shad or a Bucca Brand Trick Shad. From there, a lot of the more popular baits get pricy and hard to get. The Clutch OG ($140), the KGB Chad Shad, the Clutch Boss and Bull Shad Bull Glide or Bull Shad Trick Shad are good and at least moderately available. The 86 Baits Doomrider is also highly regarded, but not easy to track down. The DRT Klash is a glide bait and a lot more, and it could also have a place in your arsenal.
For sinking glides down to brush, lead wire is key – lots of glide baits are good as-is, but for slightly deeper targets, it can be a nice tweak to have on hand.
Forward-facing sonar allows anglers to fish for suspended bass more effectively than ever, but the baits still matter a whole lot. In Florida, the jighead minnow has proven to be effective, but so have other things.
For jighead minnows, it’s hard to beat a bait like the Z-Man Jerk ShadZ or the Rapala CrushCity Freeloader. In Florida, fish often want a slightly slower presentation with a minnow, and the Gamakatsu Horizon Head LG comes in lots of sizes and has a fantastic hook for largemouth.
Umbrella rigs are really good tools as well, and though they are only selectively legal in tournaments, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be throwing them. The YUM Yumbrella Flash Mob Jr. is good and very economical. For baits, the Keitech Swing Impact FAT is a longtime favorite, and the Rapala CrushCity The Mayor is a really fantastic umbrella rig swimmer as well.
A jerkbait is also a key player for suspended fish. The Megabass Vision 110 is probably the most popular, but the Megabass Vision 110+1 Jr. is a killer, too, and a bait that dives quicker can be great for getting to fish efficiently. The Berkley Stunna 112 is also a solid bait and one that doesn’t dive very deep, so it shines over grass. The BOOYAH Flash Point is new but pretty solid, as is the Rapala PXR Mavrick 110.
With smarter fish and forward-facing sonar, the wacky rig and its cousin the Neko rig have become more productive than ever. In 2023, Brian Latimer knocked out a Top 20 in the Invitationals event on Okeechobee, and he did it mostly with a wacky-rigged trick worm. Since then, small, sideways offerings have only gotten more popular.
For a wacky rig, the Yamamoto Senko is hard to top. For a Neko rig, there are lots of good options. The most popular Neko worm currently is probably the Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Hit Worm Magnum, but the Big Bite Baits Nekorama is a great option, as is the standard Zoom Trick Worm or Z-Man Bang StickZ.
Nail weights are a must for a Neko, and the Geecrack Neko Hack is a really nice little rigging solution.
Florida is not really known as the finesse capital of the world, but a weightless Senko has always played there, and the last few years, more finesse offerings are doing damage as well. In 2024, the Toyota Series at the Harris Chain event was loaded with drop-shot action, and in the fall, Marshall Robinson and Drew Gill dominated the General Tire Team Series event with one as well.
Little smallmouth morsels are not typically the play for Florida drop-shots – what you want is a worm. Luckily, there are a ton to choose from, including the Zoom Magnum Shakey Head Worm, the venerable Roboworm Straight Tail Worm, and perhaps the Big Bite Baits Nekorama. Made in collaboration with Roboworm, the Missile Baits Magic Worm is also really good. While a 6-inch worm is always a killer, going with a slightly larger or slightly bulkier worm is worth a try. Also, in Florida, purple has proven to be a great starting point for color.
With the continued expansion of offshore fishing in Florida, the whole tacklebox plays now, more than it might have in the heyday on Okeechobee. So, if you can imagine it as a good offshore bait, it’s probably worth investigating.
Lately, the Dixie Jet spoons have been very popular offshore on the Tennessee River, and could be good in the Florida arsenal. Another ledge fishing staple that plays is a big hair jig, and the True Bass Shuttlecock and Cumberland Pro Lures Prayer Jig are excellent examples of the genre.
Cranking has always been a deal in Florida, but it’s a bigger deal than ever these days. For deep cranks, you can’t miss with the Rapala DT line or a Strike King 5XD or 6XD.