I try and take at least two bait types when I fish. Trev and salted Mackerel are the usual suspects or if i have pilchard then I will certainly take those. Often drop by the supermarket and grab mussels also.
Havent used squid for a long time. Probably wont again either.Bonito is sometimes used also.
My feeling is that Mackerel without too much dark flesh is good. Gets Trev Tic and Snappers attention. Have pulled in Gurnard also from this but less frequently. Trev the same. Pillies good - but painful to use if using 2/0 circle hooks - although rolled and elasticed fillets can be useful.Mussels are good but get a little hard to elastic when fingers are icy in deep winter - Mussel is a pretty good all rounder and Red Cod seem to ignore it too (Bonus)