The "Fishing Times" link at the top of the page can help with overall times of higher general fish activity, depending on your location, but you must also think about weather. Tides are also important when fishing in salt water.
As for bait, it really depends on what species of fish you wish to catch. Different kinds of fish prefer to eat different things (presented in different ways). There are also differences in what to use in shallow vs deep water, salt water vs fresh water, and for fresh water there are differences when fishing lakes, rivers or streams.
If you have something specific in mind, I'm sure that if you post some details, the people here will be happy to share a wealth of information that will help you be successful.
Tight lines!