Your Source on LBI for Quality Bait and Tackle!

                                Thursday July 03, 2025

                                              Open Daily 

Summer hours are Monday thru Saturday 6:00 am to 6:00 pm

Sundays 6:00 am to 7:30 pm

*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. 

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

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

        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.

Summer Flounder/Fluke:

Fluke (Summer Flounder) began on May 4th and runs through most of September. The limit this year is 3 fish 18" length minimum. Fishing throughout June has been very good, pretty much up and down the island. Gulp has been working great. The old standby colors are Pinkshine and White. However, the fluke are full of Brown Shrimp this year and the colors Orange Tiger and New Penny have been working - maybe because they resemble shrimp. Who knows? Flounder fishing has been good in both bay and surf.

In-Store Fluke Contest!

Join our Fluke Tournament which runs thru the end of the season. $10.00 to sign up - $500.00 first prize with a second and third prize as well!

Kingfish:

Kingfish are being caught regularly but not any large numbers reported. There are Kingfish in the bay and surf. Try Bloodworms, Sandfleas or Fishbites for bait

Bluefish, Striped Bass and Other Species:

Bluefish have slowed on the beach but the bay and inlet is full of them. Every day a few runs of Bluefish charge up and down the inlet. Metal lures of all kinds are the key. Striped Bass are regularly being caught but mostly at night in the inlet or in the bay. 

Triggerfish and Sheepsheads are being caught in the inlet here and there. Tautog season resumes August 1st - there are a lot around and we look forward to a good late summer/fall run. In the bay plenty of small fish for the kids: Spots, Croakers, Blowfish, etc.

Crabbing:

Crabbing is exceptional this year - grab some bait and go! Don't forget about our Kid's Crabbing Contest - click on tab above for details

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