Find the cover
Bass are ambush fish. They sit beside something solid and wait for food to pass: weed edges, flooded trees, rocks, jetties and drop-offs. Fish the cover, not the open water.
Look for the places where the bottom changes depth or where the weed stops. Those edges are where most bass are caught.
Three lures to start with
A small kit covers most situations. Learn these three before you buy more.
A soft plastic worm on a Texas rig for weed and cover
A crankbait for steady retrieves along edges and drop-offs
A topwater popper for early mornings and evenings when fish feed near the surface
Set the hook
Bass often inhale a lure and spit it out within a second. When you feel a tap, reel down until the line is tight, then lift the rod firmly. With a soft plastic, a hard, short hookset works best.
Release carefully
Many anglers return their bass. Wet your hands, keep the fish in the water as much as possible, support its body and let it go head first. Check your water's rules before you keep any fish.
General guidance only. Conditions, rules and species differ along the coast, so check with local anglers and the current regulations.