Why this page exists
Natural bait, live bait and artificial lures solve different presentation problems and create different storage, bycatch and handling needs.
What to compare
Match hook and offering size to the target, current and water depth. Consider bait source, aeration, scent, snag risk, casting room and whether a lure lets the group move efficiently. Make the comparison for the same date, party and route so a lower headline or easier label does not hide a worse fit.
What can change
Forage, water clarity and legal bait rules can change by place and season. Hours, prices, access, forecasts and regulations are operating facts; check the date and scope of any source before allowing one to control the trip.
Make the next decision
Carry fewer well-matched choices, dispose of no bait or line on the beach and verify every net, baitfish and protected-species rule before use. Save the useful page or business to My Trip, keep one practical alternative and send a correction when a source or local detail has moved.
Current source
Use TPWD fishing regulations for the current operational detail. SouthPadreInfo organizes the decision but does not turn an old schedule, price, rule or forecast into a present-day promise.