Tackle shops are magical places where up-to-the-minute fishing reports are swapped, fish stories snowball into full-blown folklore, and the fishing afflicted can gather free of judgment. I set out to identify a few of the top shops.
Fisherman’s Headquarters, Ship Bottom, NJ
Shortly after the high-powered nor’easter locally dubbed the “Great Storm of 1962” slammed the coast of southern New Jersey, Fisherman’s Headquarters was opened by local angler Russ Walls. After a few changes of hands, the shop made its way into the possession of Stan Cudnik in 1984. These days, Stan’s son, Greg Cudnik, is at the helm in addition to running Fish Head Charters, a light-tackle inshore guide service. With the Long Beach Island area home to a blend of inshore and offshore species, Greg and his team cater to every customer’s needs.
“We have customers ranging from tourists and blue-collar folks trying to catch a few fish off the beach, all the way up to people with brand-new Vikings heading out to the Northeast Canyons,” Greg says.
Operating under the slogan, “Helping anglers catch more fish since 1962,” customers will find a wide selection of fishing tackle, live bait, and rod-and-reel repair. (fishermansheadquarters.com)
Old Inlet Bait & Tackle, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Old Inlet Bait & Tackle has been keeping the anglers who frequent the Indian River Inlet well-stocked for more than six decades. Established in 1962 by J.A. Dennis, the original location was quickly wiped out in the Ash Wednesday storm of the same year. Shortly after, the shop was moved to its current location before being expanded yet again in 1984.
Due to a hardcore following, the shop slowly grew from a summer business to being open all year long, except on Christmas Day. After touching base with owner Clark Evans, it is clear that Old Inlet caters to surf-casters, inshore fanatics and the fly crowd seeking the bounty of the Delaware shore. (oldinlet.com)
St. Simons Bait and Tackle, St. Simons Island, GA
When the brother duo of Josh and Jeremy Hennig noticed a downturn in the number of young anglers in their community, they decided to leave their careers behind and take on full ownership of the family bait shop. Since then, Jeremy’s wife, Tori Hennig, has been hard at work providing educational fishing classes and youth tournaments in hopes of developing the next generation of conservation-minded fishing enthusiasts.
“Some of the best fishing on any coast is tucked away right here in the Golden Isles,” Jeremy explains. “From June to October, you can catch bull reds, tarpon, Spanish mackerel and multiple shark species.”
Patrons are met with an impressive amount of tackle, apparel and local gear. Be sure to visit the store’s official mascot, Miss Byrd, a gray parrot. (ssibaitandtackle.com)
Everglades Fishing Co., Everglades City, FL
Founded in 2018 by Capt. Jimmy Wheeler, Everglades Fishing Co. was born through the pursuit of making the most durable deck boots on the market. The company has expanded to include a brick-and-mortar presence in the local Marathon gas station.
Offering a massive selection of rods, reels, local tackle, apparel, and live bait, Jimmy and his staff of ace anglers have made the establishment a one-stop shop for folks headed to Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands region.
Disaster struck in 2022, when Hurricane Ian flooded the area, leaving the shop with over 3 feet of standing water. In the spirit of the Everglades, Jimmy and his team completely gutted and revamped the shop in a mere 60 days. (evergladesfishingco.com)
Roy’s Bait & Tackle, Corpus Christi, TX
In 1973, when Roy Guerra began wrapping rods for his friends, he never expected that the business would grow to eventually house over 20,000 square feet of fishing tackle. Located within a cast’s length of Corpus Christi Bay, Roy’s Bait & Tackle has been supporting the endless fishing opportunities of south Texas for over 50 years.
Social media manager and fanatical fly angler Cole Baker traces this longevity back to the depth of the staff. “Everyone here is multifaceted and not pigeonholed into a specific technique,” he says. “With this, we are able to cater to every fisherman at any skill level.”
If it swims off the coast of Texas, the odds are Roy’s has what you need to catch it. (roysbaitandtackle.com)
Read Next: America’s Oldest Tackle Shop Reopens
Dana Landing, San Diego
San Diego’s Dana Landing has been around since 1995. In addition to tackle, it offers a full-service fuel dock, fishing-boat rentals, charter-boat options and a market.
Dana Landing manager John White explains, “We sell all types of tackle, from a huge selection of inshore lures, rods and reels to the heaviest tuna, broadbill and marlin gear.”
To keep customers happy, the shop also hand-ties lures and bait rigs. Additionally, frozen bait options are always in stock, including flying fish, ballyhoo, anchovies and sardines. (danalanding.com)
