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Juno Beach Pier

South Florida's premier fishing pier

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5 baits that work here

What to buy on the way to Juno Beach Pier

Pier-specific first — these are the baits regulars actually put in the water here. The general guide below covers everything else that works on the Grand Strand.

What's biting here

Live Pilchards

live

Targets: Snook, Tarpon, Spanish Mackerel, Jack Crevalle

Rig: Free-lined or under float

Cast net your own or buy at the pier house. Keep in a livewell with good aeration.

Year-round at Juno pier bait shop

Sand Fleas (Mole Crabs)

live

Targets: Pompano, Permit, Sheepshead

Rig: Pompano rig with small hooks

Rake them from the wet sand at the waterline. Best bait for pompano.

Seasonal, best in warmer months

Live Shrimp

live

Targets: Snook, Pompano, Sheepshead, Mangrove Snapper

Rig: Carolina rig or float rig

Hook through the horn for best action. Keep in aerated bucket.

Year-round at pier bait shop

Gotcha Plugs

artificial

Targets: Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, Jack Crevalle

Rig: Cast and fast retrieve

Silver/pink is the classic combo. Fast, erratic retrieve.

Available at pier tackle shop

Live Goggle-Eye

live

Targets: King Mackerel, Cobia, Tarpon

Rig: Slow-troll or kite fishing

Premium live bait for big game. Hook through the nose for trolling.

Catch your own with sabiki rigs at night

Tying it on

A bait is only as good as the knot holding it. Every knot on the site is shown step by step with the line it suits.

Knot library

Setting it up

Double-drop bottom rig, fish-finder, float rig — the rig diagrams show what each bait wants and which fish it puts in front of.

Rig diagrams

Grand Strand bait guide

Everything else that works around here

Not specific to this pier, but all of it catches fish off the Grand Strand. Use it when the shop is out of what you came for.

live

Fiddler Crabs

Sheepshead, Black Drum

Rig: Drop shot rig near pilings, 1/0 hook

Dig them at low tide in the marsh or buy at bait shops

live

Live Minnows / Mud Minnows

Flounder, Red Drum, Bluefish

Rig: Carolina rig on bottom, 2/0 circle hook

Available at most Grand Strand bait shops

cut

Cut Mullet

Red Drum, Black Drum, Bluefish, King Mackerel

Rig: Fish-finder rig with 4/0–6/0 circle hook

Cast net your own or buy frozen at tackle shops

cut

Bloodworms

Spot, Whiting, Croaker

Rig: Double-drop bottom rig with #4–#6 hooks

Available at pier tackle shop (refrigerated)

artificial

Metal Spoons (Hopkins, Kastmaster)

Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, Pompano

Rig: Direct tie with snap swivel, fast retrieve

Available everywhere, $4–$8 each

Buying live bait? Check the house rules for this pier first — some piers restrict cast nets and live-lining from the deck.