That is a huge question mate. Better off being more specific and suggest a target species etc.

I use both, depending on the situation.

probbally for snapper and dhuies

Well bait first and once I had one in the esky I might have a play with some soft plastic's jigs .

Both will work but if you're asking specifically about snapper and Dhuies then... Both will work. I personally like to fish lures (jigs or plastics) as I know they work and if presented in front of a fish I know they would take it. Also no smelly bait hands :) 

...I pretty much only use lures, apart from very specific occasions...like the fads where the mahi wise up very quickly to whatever you're throwing at them and you need about 38 different lures and baits just to keep them interested!

Only advice I can give about lures: If you are really serious about it, head to your favorite spot WITHOUT BAIT!! Otherwise you will simply fall back into using it if the lures aren't working...get that first fish on an artificial and watch your confidence go through the roof!

I prefer using lures.  No smell, no heavy lead sinkers, no time wasted gathering bait etc.....  but if I want to get a couple red emperor, I think a nice squid head or fresh fish bait will always catch more reds.

Barra fishing is lures only, until late at night when it is time to relax

 I agree auslobster.  If you bring bait along, after 15 mins of no luck on lures you will just use bait as its easy.  I've had a few sessions where I've only brough lures.  I always catch fish.  Maybe not as many, but definitely better quality ones.  I'm building the confidence to take my boat out without bait.  That's a tough one though...

 pretty much strictly lures/jigs/placcies for me. if things are going slow, I will rig up a fresh scalie on a jighead ;) No big sinker to drag up, makes things easier. But as said above. go fishing with strictly lures, no bait. Your catch rate will increase and so will your confidence! 

Interesting. last couple of times we went out of Carnarvon we took no bait just plastics and metals. We had no problem getting fish on the artificials but it was slow. As soon as one of the guys switched over to bait using freshly caught fish and the catch rate picked up considerably as did the variety. I would say at least two to one better on bait.

We are committed to continuing with the artificials but our track record would indicate bait to be the better producer albeit that it also attracts smaller fish.

cheers

Which is a pity "cos I have a box full of the bloody things having made friends with the owner of Berkley in the US and he arranged for a huge parcel to be sent to me - tried and tried and tried - not even an SBaker ...........................I have caught both snapper and dhuies on jigs and am sure that if presented in front of them even when not actively feeding they may well elicit a bite response when bait may not but I still like bait fishing but prefer drift baiting when wind and flaming birds will allow  

Fishing on the weekend, I was using baits, and a mate was using jigs...

It was very quiet for me....  whilst he was getting smashed on the jigs!!!

Targeting pinkies... Although he lost a lot of jigs to the bloody sharks also!!!

thanks  for all the info guys i mainley use bait but im gonna try and get more confident with lures

 hey mate we usually fish baits but recently been putting gulps on the out riggers while anchored up and just let the boat rocking work them and got a heap of pinkies on them also with the plastics that glow we were scoring pinkies at night as well 

entertained I use a lure. I think that you certainly get fewer "bites" with lures than bait, but get more hookups compared with baits IMO.

I sometimes just like the feel of the comotion going on downstairs with all sorts lining up to smash the bait. Lures and jigs dont tend to get this attention, and feeling fish life is not as common.

I sometimes just want to sit back, hold the rod and be at peace, whether from a boat, beach etc, and this is where bait gets my vote. Othertimes I just want to throw a lure and be more active.

thanks

 I like both in different situations. You can't go past lures for pelagics as they just (like me) love excitement. I love using bait for bottom bouncing it's primeval.

 Hey Sea-Kem

Have you tried a livebait for mackeral ? If you like excitement that will deliver in spades. Float a live spanish flag below a balloon (mackies love spanish flag) and hang on. We have caught all of our biggest mackies this way.

cheers