Your Source on LBI for Quality Bait and Tackle!

                                Friday May 02, 2025

                                              Open Daily 

May 2025 hours (subject to adjustment) will be 6:00 to 5:00 pm Monday through Thursday; 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Friday and Saturday and 6:00 to 3:00 pm on Sundays

*Hours 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. 

Fishing has shifted to the beach and there is lots of action: today we have had reports of Kingfish, Black Drum, Striped Bass, Flounder (Fluke), and Bluefish. Clams and Bunker are the surf baits right now and Bloodworms if you are fishing the bay.

FISH PHOTOS! Check out our FISH PHOTO GALLERY - click the Photos tab on the top of the page!

REPORTS! Scroll to bottom for our Blog/Fishing Reports! 

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

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

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.

Blackfish: 

The season started April 1st. The limit is 4 fish at 15" each. April fishing will get better day by day.

Striped Bass: 

Some beautiful Striped Bass have been caught in the surf in the past few days and it will only get better through May.

Black Drum:

A handful of Black Drums are being caught on the beach. Clams are the best bait for Black Drum.

Fluke:

Fluke (Summer Flounder) begins this weekend May 4th. The limit this year is 3 fish 18" length minimum. The Fluke are here-many have been caught by anglers targeting Striper (and released)

Kingfish:

A few Kingfish were caught in the bay last night.

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