Oldest City Bait & Tackle — Local services in Saint Augustine

Went today to get bait to fish the pier. Was disappointed the only fresh bait was fiddler crabs. Frozen mullet from the pier? Sharks and blue crabs love them. Even the blue fish avoid frozen mullet. Bought a package and some dead shrimp anyway; as well as some rigs I can use when the surf is calmer. Surf was rough - too choppy to use a cast net. Saw a near empty pier today for five plus hours. Fished at the state park. Some dude moved in about 100 feet from me - he was wearing a lime green thong swim suit. Really? Scared the finger mullet away no doubt……and adult fish. Next time I’ll catch my own bait in Jax Beach and haul it down. Anyway……would like to see more live bait and no dudes...

Yes they sell live shrimp, but they died really quickly and had some ghost skins in it. The tackle that I bought was rusted but didn't see it till I was out fishing. Not happy at all. I asked what was biting and the guy says, "I have no idea. No one has come to brag about anything." This means the guy isn't a fisherman, doesn't know or care about what he is doing, or has a prejudice towards women who fish - maybe even a combination of the above. Also, the smell in there is awful. (Yes it is a bait shop so it is goingto be a little stinky, duh. Most places i have been house the bait in a back room, not as soon as you walk in the door to get blasted by warm bait smell. Yuck.) Definitely...

I go down to St. Augustine each year in October. I started surf fishing again 2 years ago. I started calling down there and "picking there brain" for tips and info. They were very helpful and patient. When I got down there I stopped by and got bait as well as tackle. They set up my poles so I was ready to go. The following year it was just as good. I can't wait to go back. I would highly recomend this store to...