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bernie's bait and tackle
Bernie's Bait and Tackle is Brooklyn's premier fishing shop located at 3035 Emmons Ave in Sheepshead Bay, serving the angling community for decades with top-tier gear, fresh bait, and expert local knowledge that keeps anglers coming back season after season.
When you're rigging up for a dawn patrol on Jamaica Bay or prepping for stripers off Breezy Point, you need gear that won't let you down when that fish of a lifetime hits. Bernie's Bait and Tackle has been the go-to shop for Brooklyn anglers who demand performance over promises—and after spending time with their crew, I can tell you why this place earned its reputation the hard way.
Key Takeaways
- Bernie's Bait and Tackle is Brooklyn's premier fishing shop located in Sheepshead Bay.
- The shop has served the local angling community for decades with high-quality gear and fresh bait.
- Bernie's offers expert local knowledge that keeps anglers returning season after season.
- They provide reliable gear essential for fishing in areas like Jamaica Bay and Breezy Point.
- The shop has earned its strong reputation through consistent performance and dedicated service.
Table of Contents
Here's the thing: most tackle shops talk a good game, but Bernie's delivers where it counts. They've been outfitting serious anglers since before GPS made finding structure easy, and their staff knows the difference between gear that looks good on paper and gear that lands fish when conditions get nasty.
Key Stats: Brooklyn's largest selection of saltwater and freshwater rods, in-house rod building, fresh bait year-round, and fishing licenses often issued free of charge.
Bernie's Bait and Tackle: Store Overview
Location and Accessibility
Bernie's sits right in the heart of Sheepshead Bay at 3035 Emmons Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11235—prime real estate for anglers hitting the local waters. The location isn't accidental; you're minutes from launch ramps, piers, and some of the most productive fishing grounds in the tri-state area.
- Wheelchair accessible entrance and aisles
- Bike parking available for pier anglers
- Apple Pay and all major credit cards accepted
- Phone: 718-646-7600 for bait availability and conditions
The shop's setup makes sense for working anglers—wide aisles for guys hauling coolers, easy access to the bait tanks, and parking that doesn't require a PhD in parallel parking. You can actually get in, grab what you need, and get back on the water without burning half your fishing time.
Store Hours and Visitor Information
Bernie's runs seven days a week because fish don't take weekends off. Based on our experience, weekday mornings offer the best shot at detailed conversations with staff—they're not slammed with weekend warriors, so you can get the real intel on what's working and what's not.
Pro tip: Call ahead if you need specific live bait. Nothing kills a fishing trip faster than showing up for live eels only to find out they're sold out to the charter boats.
Product and Service Offerings
Fishing Gear Selection
Bernie's doesn't mess around with their rod and reel selection. We're talking G. Loomis, Shimano, Penn, Lamiglas, Daiwa, Abu Garcia, Fenwick, Shakespeare, and Tsunami—brands that actually perform when you're fighting a 40-pound striper in heavy current or working panfish plastics in shallow cover. For anglers who want to maximize their setup, consider adding braided line for increased sensitivity and strength.
The real value here isn't just the brand names—it's having staff who can match gear to your specific fishing style and target species. They'll steer you toward a setup that makes sense for your skill level and budget, not just the most expensive rod on the wall.
Their custom rod building service sets them apart from the big box stores. These guys understand that a rod built for your casting style and target species will outperform any off-the-shelf setup, especially when you're dealing with the structure-heavy waters around New York. If you're looking to keep your rods organized and protected at home, check out this knife & rod rack for convenient storage.
Bait and Supplies
Fresh Bait Selection: Live eels, shiners, bloodworms, sandworms, red worms, earthworms, bunker, plus year-round frozen options
Here's where Bernie's Bait and Tackle really separates itself from the weekend warrior shops. Their bait game is dialed in because they understand that fresh, lively bait often makes the difference between a hero shot and going home empty-handed. To keep your bait fresh and lively on the go, consider using a bait pump for portable aeration.
- Live eels for striped bass (seasonal availability)
- Fresh shiners for freshwater species
- Bloodworms and sandworms for bottom fishing
- Red worms and earthworms for panfish plastics alternatives
- Fresh bunker chunks for big game
- Frozen bait selection maintained year-round
The crew at Bernie's knows their bait cycles—when the bloodworms are prime, which frozen baits work best in cold water, and how to keep live bait healthy during transport. They'll also steer you toward the right bait for current conditions, not just what's most expensive in the cooler.
Pro insight: Bernie's staff can tell you which bait is moving fish this week versus what worked last month. That local intelligence is worth the trip alone.
Additional Services
Beyond gear and bait, Bernie's offers services that actually matter to working anglers. Their fishing license issuance—often free of charge—saves you a trip to another location. More importantly, their rod and reel repair service includes both DIY parts for anglers who wrench their own gear and in-house mechanics for complex jobs. For those who prefer to handle repairs themselves, having the right fishing tools can make all the difference.
The real value in Bernie's repair service isn't just fixing broken gear—it's the diagnostic knowledge. These guys can tell you why your reel is acting up and how to prevent it from happening again.
Local Fishing Reports & Hotspots
Up-to-Date Fishing Conditions
Bernie's doesn't just sell gear—they're plugged into the local fishing intel that makes or breaks your day on the water. Based on recent reports from The Fisherman and local charter captains, here's what's happening in Brooklyn's fishing grounds:
| Location | Target Species | Best Baits | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breezy Point | Striped Bass, Bluefish | Live eels, bunker chunks | Active during tide changes |
| Local Piers | Fluke, Porgy, Bluefish | Squid, spearing, panfish plastics | Morning and evening bites |
| Jamaica Bay | Fluke, Weakfish | Gulp baits, live shiners | Structure fishing productive |
Bernie's staff updates their fishing reports based on real customer feedback and charter boat intel, not just online forums. When they tell you the fluke are hitting at the 17th Avenue pier, it's because paying customers are bringing fish to the scale.
The shop's location advantage means their staff sees what's working firsthand. Anglers stop by to show off their catches, buy ice, or grab more bait—and Bernie's crew pays attention to the patterns. That intelligence gets passed on to the next angler walking through the door. For more general tips on bait and tackle, check out this comprehensive bait and tackle guide.
Customer Experience and Community Reputation
Customer Reviews – What Anglers Are Saying
After decades in business, Bernie's Bait and Tackle has earned its reputation through consistent performance, not marketing hype. Here's what the fishing community consistently highlights:
- Expert Staff Knowledge: Crew members who fish locally and know gear inside-out
- Honest Sales Approach: They'll talk you out of expensive gear that doesn't match your needs
- Community Intelligence: Real-time fishing reports from actual customers
- Service Reliability: Free licensing, regular inventory updates, personalized support
- Premium Pricing: Higher prices than online retailers for some items
- Service Consistency: Occasional feedback on repair quality and customer service timing
Is Bernie's worth the premium over online prices? Based on customer feedback, yes—if you value local expertise, immediate availability, and support for your fishing success over pure cost savings.
Why Choose Bernie's Bait and Tackle?
For beginners, Bernie's offers something you can't get online: guidance that prevents expensive mistakes. Their staff will set you up with gear that matches your skill level and local conditions, plus provide the licensing and basic technique advice that gets you catching fish instead of just casting.
Experienced anglers benefit from Bernie's broad selection and custom services. When you need specific tackle for targeting doormat fluke or want to experiment with panfish plastics in local ponds, they stock the gear that actually works in New York waters—not just what's popular nationwide.
Community engagement matters: Bernie's has been part of Brooklyn's fishing scene for decades, sponsoring local tournaments and supporting the angling community beyond just retail sales.
Community Engagement & Events
What sets Bernie's Bait and Tackle apart from big-box stores isn't just their inventory—it's their decades-long commitment to Brooklyn's fishing community. This isn't a corporate chain dropping into the neighborhood; Bernie's has been part of Sheepshead Bay's fishing culture since before most of their customers started wetting lines.
Bernie's serves as the unofficial headquarters for Brooklyn's angling community, where tournament updates, fishing reports, and local knowledge get shared daily.
The shop regularly sponsors local fishing tournaments and maintains relationships with charter boat captains who dock nearby. When major fishing events hit the area—like the annual fluke tournaments or striped bass derbies—Bernie's becomes the go-to spot for last-minute gear, weigh-ins, and post-tournament analysis.
Real-world insight: Bernie's staff often knows about productive fishing spots and techniques before they hit social media. That neighborhood network is worth more than any online forum.
Tips for Visiting Bernie's Bait and Tackle
To maximize your visit to Bernie's, timing matters. Weekday mornings offer the best opportunity for in-depth conversations with staff—they're not swamped with weekend warriors, and they've got time to share detailed advice about local conditions and gear selection.
- Bring knowledge of your target species and preferred techniques
- Set a realistic budget but stay flexible for quality upgrades
- Ask about current bait trends and which panfish plastics are producing
- Inquire about local hotspots and recent fishing reports
- Check their repair services if you've got gear issues
Here's the trade-off you're making at Bernie's: you'll pay more than online retailers for some items, but you gain immediate access to local expertise, proper gear fitting, and the peace of mind that comes with supporting a business that's invested in your fishing success. For more essential tips every angler should know, visit this list of essential fishing tips.
The value equation at Bernie's isn't just about product prices—it's about the total cost of fishing success. When their advice helps you avoid buying the wrong gear or leads you to productive fishing spots, that premium pays for itself.
Advanced Tactics & Local Knowledge
Seasonal Fishing Strategies
Bernie's staff understands that successful fishing in New York waters requires adapting to seasonal patterns that online resources often miss. During spring fluke runs, they'll steer you toward specific jig colors and panfish plastics that work in local structure. Summer bluefish blitzes call for different tackle than what works in North Carolina or Massachusetts. If you're looking for a convenient way to carry your gear for these changing conditions, consider the Voyager tackle bag for organized storage and easy transport.
| Season | Target Species | Bernie's Recommended Approach | Key Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Striped Bass, Early Fluke | Focus on structure, moving baits | Live eels, bucktails with trailers |
| Summer | Bluefish, Fluke, Porgy | Match bait size to fish activity | Spearing, squid, panfish plastics |
| Fall | Striped Bass, Late Bluefish | Follow bait schools, fish tide changes | Bunker chunks, large swimbaits |
| Winter | Cod, Winter Flounder | Deep water, slow presentations | Clams, bloodworms, small jigs |
Bernie's seasonal advice isn't generic—it's based on decades of watching what actually works in local waters, not what fishing magazines recommend for the entire Northeast.
Gear Customization for Local Conditions
The shop's custom rod building service reflects their understanding that Brooklyn fishing often requires specific gear setups. Pier fishing demands different rod actions than boat fishing, and the rocky structure around local jetties calls for tackle that can handle abrasion and strong currents.
Their rod builders work with anglers to create setups that match local conditions—whether that's a sensitive tip for detecting winter flounder bites or a backbone strong enough to horse striped bass away from structure. This isn't about building the prettiest rod; it's about creating tools that perform in New York waters.
The Bernie's Advantage
Bernie's Bait and Tackle represents something increasingly rare in fishing retail: a shop that prioritizes angler success over pure profit margins. Yes, you'll pay more than online prices for some items, but you're investing in a relationship with a business that's genuinely invested in your fishing success.
Is Bernie's worth visiting? Absolutely—if you value local expertise, immediate gear availability, and support from a business that understands Brooklyn fishing conditions better than any online retailer.
The shop's decades-long presence in Sheepshead Bay isn't just about selling gear—it's about maintaining the institutional knowledge that makes local fishing successful. When you need advice on which panfish plastics work in Prospect Park's ponds or want to target fluke in Jamaica Bay, Bernie's staff offers insights you can't Google.
For Brooklyn anglers—whether you're a weekend warrior hitting the piers or a serious angler chasing trophy stripers—Bernie's Bait and Tackle remains the neighborhood's most reliable resource for gear, bait, and the local knowledge that turns fishing trips into fishing success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make money with a bait shop?
Yes, you can make money with a bait shop, but it hinges on location, inventory management, and customer base. Successful bait shops thrive near popular fishing spots, providing anglers with essential gear, live bait, and expert advice. Margins on tackle can be low, so volume and upselling accessories or line like Beyond Braid’s high-performance options are key to profitability.
Why is it called bait and tackle?
The term 'bait and tackle' refers to the two core needs of an angler: live or artificial bait to attract fish, and tackle, which includes rods, reels, hooks, lines, and other gear. This phrase dates back decades, summarizing the one-stop shop anglers rely on to gear up for a successful day on the water.
Where is bait and tackle shop rdr2?
In Red Dead Redemption 2, the bait and tackle shop can be found in towns like Rhodes and Saint Denis. These shops sell fishing supplies including bait, lures, and tackle essential for fishing missions and free-roam angling, mirroring real-world bait shops that outfit anglers with everything they need for a productive day on the water.
How much does a bait and tackle shop make?
Revenue for bait and tackle shops varies widely based on size and location, but typical annual sales can range from $100,000 to over $500,000. Profit margins are usually slim—often 5-15%—due to competition and perishable live bait costs. Smart inventory choices, like stocking premium braided line or specialty gear, can boost profits significantly.
Is it worth opening a bait shop?
Opening a bait shop can be worth it if you’re positioned near active fishing areas with consistent foot traffic and a loyal customer base. The business demands hands-on management and a deep understanding of local angler needs, especially in stocking performance-driven products like Beyond Braid lines that anglers trust for durability and smooth casting. Without these, it’s tough to compete against big-box retailers and online options.
Can you get paid to catch fish?
Yes, you can get paid to catch fish in several ways: guiding anglers as a charter captain, selling your catch commercially, or participating in tournaments with cash prizes. Professional anglers and guides rely on dependable gear—like high-strength braided lines with proven abrasion resistance—to maximize hookup rates and minimize break-offs, turning fishing into a viable income source.
