The choice of bait would depend upon what you are fishing for. In a river, you can never go wrong with a worm for bait. In a lake a live minnow, shiner, or herring. In the ocean a piece of clam or bunker (menhaden).
The best alround bait on freshwater are worms.
The best alround bait at sea are shrimp.
You have to ask a more specific question,what type of fish are you after?
River--> get a small needle syringe, inject worm with air so it'll float & bob. hook it, dip in a bottle of garlic juice & cast!
any guy within sight will eventually breakdown, walk over & ask what you're using, cause they ain't catching nuthin!
Lol true sorry guys ok at the lake I'm going after trout,ocean whatever comes in I sometimes get baby sharks,carps,stingrays And well almost half of wats on shore,although I do use shrimp I thought you know. maybe there's something better or something fish like more then shrimp,? On the pier I've caught leopard sharks and crabs??
Freshwater-fathead minnow or shiner
inshore saltwater-killies live mullet or live shrimp
offshore-ballyhoo live mullet and live pilchards
you can never go wrong with live bait