what bait would work best for fishing the shores in FL rivers?

try bull minnows, should be able to purchase at bait stores. they live longer than most live baits. good luck on your catch.

Live Shrimp

The fine art of “cast-netting” for bait is a FLA tradition. Finger Mullet, Pogey’s, Pinfish, Shrimp, Mud Minnows, are all very easily caught if you master a 6-8 FT castnet. If you are going to fish FLA on a regular basis I would suggest you learn how to cast a net. Not only does it save you money, but , certain baits are NOT carried at your local baitshop because they are too hard to keep alive for extended periods.
If you need instruction go to a local Tackle provider(Sports Authority, BassPro,) or local baitshop ,and ask them if they can give you tips on how to cast. (I was “cast-netting” bait & edible shrimp by the age of 12, so you know it can’t be TOO hard! lol)

Also, most baitshops will carry “mud-minnows”. These are excellent for Flounder, Reds, Trout, and Snook. Rig them either “Carolina-style” or on a 1/4-1/2 OZ chartruese Jighead. If you have a bait-bucket of Shrimp & a baitbucket of Mud-minnows you have two excellent baits to fish with!

However, it still can’t beat a 4-5 inch Finger Mullet or Pogey, (you can only usually get that type of bait by “casting” for it yourself! What do you think “guide-fishermen” use!!!??).