Your Source on LBI for Quality Bait and Tackle!

                                Monday September 30, 2024

Today September 30 we have Live Green Crabs, Frozen Sandfleas, Fresh Mullet and lots of frozen bait options!

  Scroll to bottom of page to read our Blog and Fishing Reports! 

        Sign up here for FREE but MANDATORY New Jersey Saltwater Angler Registry:

       https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/marine/saltwater-registry/

OCOTBER 2024 STORE HOURS*      **

Monday thru Saturday 6:00am to 5:00pm

Sundays 7:00am to 4:00pm

*Subject to change due to weather, staffing or unexpected events.

Note that we often open before the posted hours - not always but sometimes. If you are on island early just swing by - if the lights are on and the OPEN signs lit up, come on in. 

**We will be opening early at 4:30 am on October 5, 12, and 19th to accommodate those anglers participating in the three Association of Surf Angling Clubs (ASAC) tournaments held on those dates on the island.

Welcome to Surf City Bait and Tackle - formerly Bruce and Pat's Bait and Tackle and before that Sandy's Bait and Tackle - our shop is the oldest continuously operating bait and tackle shop on Long beach Island - providing quality bait and gear for fishing and crabbing on Long Beach Island since the late 1940's.  Our staff are all avid anglers and are glad to provide you with advice, information and share their knowledge to assist you in having the most fun and success on your fishing and crabbing trips.

Tautog (Blackfish):

 The Blackfish have continued to bite steady and as we move through the fall fishing keeps getting better and the fish bigger.  Some days there seems to be waves of keepers. Green Crabs and Sandfleas (live and frozen fleas) both working. 

Striped Bass and Bluefish: 

The inlet and bay are providing many excellent opportunities to get outside and have fun. First, if you are fishing the inlet - be very careful and watch the weather and tide conditions - the inlet - especially the outer rocks - can be very dangerous. That said, Striped Bass and Bluefish are regularly being caught in the inlet daily. Plugs, Darters, Bucktails, Soft baits like Curly Tails and Paddle Shads, Live Eels, Mullet and Spot all working for bass. Bluefish are hitting about anything when they move through. Even with the rough surf of the last week, the Bluefish are being caught regularly on Mullet on mullet rigs.

Other Species:

In the bay there is still a very high number of Spot, along with Fluke, Croakers, Bluefish, Weakfish, Dogfish, Blowfish and other miscellaneous species. Plenty of action about everywhere in the bay. Try bulkheads and sod banks for Bluefish chasing all the bait around!

Clamming and crabbing are also great activities for fall. Crabbing will remain good through October and it is great time of year for clamming as the crowds dwindle. The best crab baits have been mullet and bunker.

Please click on Current Info. (above) or read our Blog Post (below) for more detailed fishing information! 

WE SHIP FISHING TACKLE! 

Can't make it into the shop? Call us at (609) 494-2333 or send us an e-mail at info@surfcitybaitandtackle.com and we will be glad to ship you anything you might need (except bait and rods). We also carry Surf & Bay Rig Co. rigs, made right here in Surf City. Check out the Facebook page for Surf & Bay Rig Co. and contact the shop or Surf & Bay on Facebook to order rigs.

 BAIT! As available we are carrying  Green Crabs, Sand Fleas, Surf Clams, Fresh Bunker, Mullet, Bloodworms and Sandworms, Live Minnows, Squid and a variety of other frozen bait! Call ahead to check and see what we have - availability depends on supply.

We carry a wide variety of fresh and frozen bait for fishing and crabbing. We take great pride in processing high quality bait to give you the best chance for success. Call the shop (609) 494-2333 or send us an e-mail: info@surfcitybaitandtackle.com to check our current supply and availability as many baits become available by season.

            Fresh and Frozen Bait (Availability Varies Check With Us!)

•  FRESH BUNKER (as available in season)
• Frozen BUNKER - many choices: Vacuum sealed (within 24 hours of harvest); Cut and Salted, Fillets, Whole Peanut Bunker
• CLAMS
• CRABBING Bait: Various baits available
• CHUM - Bunker, Fish and Clam
• MACKEREL (Whole and Fillets)
• MULLET: Fresh (in season), Frozen Whole and Salted Mullet Strips
• SMELTS
• SPEARING
• SQUID: Bits, Strips (Plain and Shedder), Boxes and Tube
• SAND EELS
• LIVE Minnows
• LIVE Eels
• LIVE Sand Fleas
• LIVE Green Crabs
• Bloodworms, Sandworms