Bay tackle is the shit !! Best tackle store in the east bay . I've been coming here for years staff is extremely knowledgeable .They know fishing from fresh water to the salt. Hot bite location good set up and rigs to choose from and supper friendly . Sad to find out there closing after 20+years in business they will be missed read more

Bay Tackle - Sporting Goods Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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They got a good selection, good prices. They've always been friendly anytime I would come in to buy a few things. Service was always spot on, and never a problem. read more

Good selection and knowledgeable staff. Bring cash if you want to purchase your license there!

I never had a bad day at this store! Been there since before it became separate from the old Discount Mart and BBB's membership Store (c.1960's). They've always had everything I've needed and more. Just say where you're going and what type of fish you would like to catch...state your budget and they will outfit you well. And don't let your pride get in the way of what they suggest, be it bait or tackle. Some will say that they're a bit pricey, but I say that they are competitive and the info and tips are priceless. Remember that what has worked in the past won't always work in the present. Wacky Worms and Drop Shot? Not known in the 70s for Largemouth Bass...Santee Cooper Rig for Cats? I've used the Zara Spook for Bass, top water rattle crank, but not as it's used for Cats...no hooks on the "Spook" - lol - just a part on the leader. Want an updated reel or rod? Bring what you have, they can suggest something, but you're the boss. "A Bad Day Of Fishing Is Better Than A Good Day At Work" or "I Can't Work Today Because My Arm is In A CAST" ...a long cast, oh no, birds nest, again read more

I bought a custom rod and needed a good reel to match it. The guys there were very patient and answered all of my questions without hesitation . I did buy a high end Accurate Reel to match my rod and spent more than I planned on but, they made me feel good and confident with my purchase. They spooled the line on the reel and helped mount the reel to my rod. They had all kinds of other tackle you just don't find elsewhere . It wasn't cheap but, I bought nothing but quality products at a fair price. I highly recommend this establishment! read more

Bay Tackle - Today's catch on my new rod! - Sporting Goods Near Me - El Cerrito, California

I have been coming to this shop for 30 years, way before George bought it. George and company are very knowledgeable on everything they sell. It's kind of an egg hunt looking at all the stuff they have in there. I have priced them with the shows, when we had them, and always competitive. I'm headed to the shop in the morning for some new string for my reel. I already know I'll be buying other stuff that will catch bigger and more fish. read more

I don't know how you could give these guys here less than 5 stars. Drove from Vallejo because I heard these guys knew their stuff about fishing everything around the area. Went in the shop yesterday for the 1st time with my kids and guess what, these guys are the best. My kids are new to fishing and Mr. ED answered every question my kids and I had for him. He took his time with them, explained everything on what they wanted to fish for and set them all up with all the tackle they would need. Moving on to today. We went out to San Pablo Dam to the spot he told us about and for the 1st time in my life, we LIMITED in CATFISH! Thank you ED (especially for the homemade dough bait recipe) and the rest of the guys at the shop. We will be back and recommend you to everyone. Alittle expensive but it's worth the extra cash to have great conversation and gain knowledge on how to catch the WHOOPERS with no BS or dealing with some employee from WALMART or other stores who could careless. read more

Bay Tackle - CATFISH all day! - Sporting Goods Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Extremely dissapointed with the manager that handled my transaction. Purchased a rod and reel from this place wednesday. They spooled the reel assuming I wanted line on it but I never gave them the okay to do it. Before walking out the door I ask one of their employees what their return policy is. I was told that I will be ok to return the items the very next day (Thursday) or Friday if I don't use them. Well I didn't use them nor did I even take the reel out of the box. The next day I knew I didn't want the items anymore so I called the same employee that told me that I was ok to return if I didn't use it. So I quickly rushed back to the store to make the return after work. I come to the store to buy to purchase nearly $100 on bait. After I purchase the bait, I attempted to return the rod and reel and quickly get shut down. The manager let me return the rod but not the reel assuming that I used it. The reel literally looks brand new. I haven't even taken it out of the box since I left the store to even look at it. He assumed that I could have used it and made it look new or swapped the parts inside of it. I get what he says but that is not something I would do and you could tell if parts were swapped out of it. Everything is amazing clean. How could it have been swapped. I'm absolutely infuriated with the customer service of this store. I am infuriated with the customer service of this manager He pointed out to me that there are no returns posted on the counter but here's the fine line: It says no returns on USED EQUIPMENT. It is pretty apparent that I did not use neither of the items that I purchased literally the day before. I don't even have time to fish in the middle of the day and he goes and assumes that I use it or swap parts from it. Wtf is that? I can guarantee that I will not be coming back to this store and I will quickly spread the word of their terrible business practices. They need to inform customers of their policies and not LIE to customers about returning something. Here's a word of advice. DO NOT HAVE THEM SPOOL YOUR REEL UP UNLESS YOU SAY TO DO IT. DO NOT COME TO THIS STORE. Don't waste your time with this store. Bad business practice and rudely handled my transaction in the end. And by the way they mark up their equipment like crazy. Please don't waste your time like I did. You guys are terrible. read more

Avoid!!Literally the worst customer service. The Asian guy was hella rude. I had a gift card and I was 8 dollars over my gift card amount, asked him to take off a few items and he got Mad!!! Annnnd tried to take my bait to put back on the shelf after I had bought it! Avoid! Avoid! Avoid! Walmart has a better bait selection!!!! Big 5 would be better!!! read more

This place is 100% the go to place for all kinds of fishing. Whether you want fresh water, saltwater, bay, ocean, crabbing, whatwver they got it. Their employees show you everythibg, get it for you and set you up. Cime here from far & wide to get legit gear. They don't sell soccer balls or hoola hoops, this is for serious fishing people. read more

BEWARE NO RETURNS ON ANYTHING !!!!!! That sucks. If you buy a rod bring in the reel you want to fish it. To see how it feels. If your picky like me lesson learned dont go there for fishing gear unless you know exactly what you what. Pricing is high read more

If you're in the East Bay and need a tackle shop, this is it. I've been to Bay Tackle a few times now and I really like the place. I came in most recently get 2 reels braided and Ed got me squared away in no time. While I was there I parlayed w another employee who was full of information too. It's always nice when people give you input without making you feel like a know it all. All in all, they did a great job - I'll be back read more

I ended up checking this place out, looking for somewhere that had more saltwater gear than most of the other east bay shops. Upon entry, I could see that they were enforcing not only mask requirements, but also limiting the number of customers (due to a relatively small, enclosed shop). The fish tank next to the door was really cool to see I perused most of the aisles after being asked if I needed any help and found way more than I was looking for. Terminal tackle, line, lures, baits, accessories galore, not to mention the huge selection of rods, reels, and combos. I asked for advice on a reel for surf fishing and was guided to a correct size for the area, which I appreciated as I was misinformed by information online and might have ended up with a way bigger and heavier reel than necessary. The staff were knowledgeable of not just fishing around the bay, but where every piece of tackle in the store was. Color me impressed. The gentleman helping me didn't try to upswell me or push me to buy more than I came in for. I think I've found my new favorite tackle shop. read more

Hello Fisherman's Just baught a brand new 10 footer cost me $$$ decided to exchange for 9 footer and guy George wouldn't exchange it. Just baught the rod three day's ago. Never been use. This rod was not on his display, His sales guy had to look in the back for it. He asked me where's the tag and i told him that your sales person sold the rod to me without the tag. He then asked his sales person if that was true, he told George yes. He told George he found it in the back like that, no tags. But still he wouldn't accept it. I wasn't returning it, i wanted to exchange it for a lighter rod. I would NEVER go back to this place. Customer service sucks!!!Before you buy anything read their return policy. read more

Owners are the worst. Very rude and unprofessional. Wouldn't go back here if they paid me to. Also, not 100% sure, but...pretty sure this place is a front for something less than legal. ‍ But what do I know. Some sketchy people coming in and out. They seem to have very little customers, but seem pretty well off. And they need a guard dog. For a bait shop?? read more

This place has the potential to be one of the best tackle shops in the East Bay but they're not.

One of the few places that had the bait I was looking for. Bait wise this is my go too, I'm all set when it comes to equipment. Friendly staff as well! read more

This place is great. All the employees are very knowledgeable and helpful. Great shop for anyone looking to get into fishing!!

So...first of all, they were 10 minutes from closing when I called to inquire after Red wrigglers (they are bait but also composting worms and I was starting my first bin). I was about 12 minutes from the store and the man said they might be closed by the time I got there. I think that my enthusiasm won him over, because when I arrived they were closed but opened the door for me because I had called first. Everyone in here knows what they are doing and that was apparent when I walked in. The gentleman who helped me even gave me composting tips to help the worms thrive! I was so grateful for their kindness and leniency in hours so that I could start my long anticipated project. Thanks, guys! It's been a couple of months and the worms are thriving!! I'll be back for another container soon, during open hours :). read more

I was really impressed with the quality and selection of salt water tackle! Purchased excellent rod, and reel combo. Staff was very knowledgeable about the my desire to purchase rod and reel capable to handle trolling for salmon, or fishing for sturgeon! Thank You read more

A bunch of people in here telling, arguing, debating, and laughing at fish stories. Staff is knowledgeable and wants you to catch fish. Everyone wants to help and it feels like the old school bait and tackle shops where you want to spend a few hours catching up on the latest news. Long live small businesses! read more

Great place but way overpriced. They're friendly and knowledgeable about products they sell but unless you like the face to face you'll pay half the price for lures and tackle on Amazon or tackle warehouse as for live bait you just gotta pay , it is what it is. read more

If I can give 0 star I would. I just bought a new wet suit from them and use it the same day. As soon as I got in the water, water leaks in and I got all wet. I called the store and told them about it, they simple replied no return and no exchange. I don't want to make a return I just want a working wet suit. They said they won't do anything about it and no return or exchange policy. What in the world??? What kind of store is this? No accommodation to the product that they sold that are already defected. First time and last time here. Warning: never go here, unless you want to be rip off. read more

Bay Tackle - Defected wet suit sold here - Sporting Goods Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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I've lived in the area my whole life, but just had my first opportunity and need to visit Bay Tackle, and boy was it mind-blowing. That is a two edged sword though. Friends are getting me into fishing so obviously I needed some gear. One friend told me Bay Tackle will have everything I need, and gave me a short list of what to go get for this new venture. I knew this place would be something as the parking lot was jam packed and there's no way all those cars would be for the generic shoe store next door. I walked in the door and my eyes about popped out. There is gear EVERYWHERE, of all sorts and types and prices and..... I was immediately overwhelmed and felt completely lost. Thankfully after gazing at some reels in a glass cabinet and wondering why there was such a price swing from low to high for what, to the naked untrained eye, doesn't look all that different, I noticed a man walking around offering to assist people. I waited my turn to talk to him, told him I was brand new to the game, and a friend sent me here with this list. He asked me a couple of questions and then tried to make a couple of adjustments to the list based on his expertise. While we walked around a bit to get this and that, I noticed that the store is just jam crammed with gear. In fact I'd say too much gear. Unless you know exactly what you want and what it looks like, your head can blow up trying to absorb everything you see. Also it's pretty dark inside, which adds to the cluttered over-full feeling. I spent a couple more minutes alone wandering around but it was a mixture of admiration and confusion, just too much to take in. Hence my 4 stars. Huge kudos to Bay Tackle for providing every single thing a fisher could ask for (except someone to actually grab a fish underwater and put it on your hook) and providing skilled roaming assistance. But trim back a bit on so much product on-site so there's room to actually move around, put a lot better lighting in there, and BAM 5-star! read more

This is the most local fishing tackle store for me so I go in here on a regular (kinda) basis. It is not a huge store but it seems to have all the things I need for fishing in the bay area. The staff is always friendly, although they do seem to make it sound like they're always fish being caught even with the fishing sucks, but I think that's just how fishermen are. The prices are not the cheapest you will find, but they are not extremely excessive either. They sell a lot of quality fishing gear, so don't expect Walmart prices. Having everything you need in one place and helpful staff is worth the price. They will also put fishing line on fishing reels for you which is great. Would be nice if they were open on Sundays. read more

Met Ed. Totally cool dude. I asked so many questions and he never made me feel stupid. I'm trying to get better at fishing so I kinda bombarded him with questions, he smiled and answered every single one. One cool dude. Service is 2 thumbs up. Great selection of fishing gear. I have my eyEast set on the Phenix rods read more

Amazing selection and very helpful staff. Our twelve year old could stay here all day chatting with the staff.

If you are a experienced angler or barely getting started, this is the right Bait & Tackle Shop for you!!!!!!!! Whether you're into freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing they have it all, a very well outfitted shop. When it comes to the customer service they are very helpful and knowledgeable, but I do tend to go a little more with Ed and Pete those guys are super cool an always have the right answers. read more

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Went in to Bay Tackle today looking for a salt water rig for surf casting for surfperch and stripers. Ed was extremely helpful and friendly with me as q newbie, and helped me pick out a nice Daiwa reel. The selection is also excellent, so I know I'll be coming back here for all my tackle needs from now on! read more

This place is well equipped with mostly everything you need to fish anywhere in the bay area. Ed and Pete were very nice and informative. Now I know where to go for my fishing needs. read more

I have been coming to Bay tackle for over a decade and have never been disappointed. The guys here are always extremely helpful and generous with their knowledge and experience of local waters and current conditions. Great selection at any price point, great service. Rods, reels, line, terminal tackle, bait, lures...even rod and reel service/repair. It is a wonderful experience to visit a local, independent store with such a collective knowledge and great gear. read more

Ed is just awesome. Went in and told him my plans for vacation. He hooked me up with everything I needed, gave me plenty of good advice and taught me a couple of new knots :) This is a great shop. No attitude, no grumpy old salts. These guys are happy to answer any and all questions and get you setup with the right gear for whatever your fishing plans might be. I'll be heading back there for my next trip for sure. read more

Thanks bay tackle for hooking it up a Phoenix rod with a shimano reel for my salmon trip. I told the guy u want to feel the fish, and I definitely got what I asked for. I couldn't left my arm after pulling in a good size salmon. read more

Bay Tackle - Thanks Bay Tackle - Sporting Goods Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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I go here often. Lots of stuff. I like their selection of terminal tackle. Nice rods and reels. And tons of Ugly Stik Tigers in particular. And other high end stuff. Lots of Bay and Offshore boat fishing gear. They do a lot of spooling of line onto your reels so they don't have much packs of line for you to buy yourself. Decent selection of bait. The guys there are usually happy when I buy stuff. Stoic at other times. They offer assistance especially to newbies and are knowledgeable of the scene. Over the years there's been some turnover in the floor help and I miss some of them. read more

Has a very nice selection of fishing tackle, but you definitely pay a premium for shopping there. When items are on sale, they may be around the same price you would get at a place like Wal-Mart. The staff seems to be very knowledgable and doesn't try to sell you the most expensive option. There appears to be a nice and loyal customer base,. read more

Ha! I saw a Yelp ad for Sports Authority at the top of this page when I came to write this review, and was actually going to mention how much better it is to buy gear here than at a big chain like Sports Authority. I'm not sure who owns this place vs who simply works there, but everyone I've come across has been super nice and helpful. They also really love fishing, unlike the employees at your typical big-box sports store who don't know a jig from a spinnerbait from a crankbait. Given that the prices here are the same or slightly cheaper than Big 5 or Sports Authority, its a no brainer - buy your stuff here. Better to patronize a local small business than some wanker big box chain, right? read more

The East Bay's best bait and tackle store, the staff all fish and will share all the latest tips with you. I have learnt a lot from these guys. Their stuff isn't actually more expensive than your big chain store, it's just that the big warehouse stores have a lot of really cheap c**p that doesn't last 5 minutes. If you want hardware rather than bait or terminal tackle, then go during the week outside of lunchtimes. The guys have a bit more time then and will spend as much of it with you as you need. read more

large selection of gear and close to the freeway. I will come back

These guys were great! I must admit I know very little of the intricacies that are involved with fishing. Most bait shops and fishing gear stores I've been to had a gruff atmosphere, leaving no room for chit chat. A few minutes in here and the guys were super welcoming and hilarious, they answered all my questions and helped me pick out the right crab fuel and weights I needed for my upcoming Pacifica crabventure! My one irk was that the bait freezer was super crowded and everything was frosted over to the point where you couldn't tell what was what. How am I sposed to find the mackerel & squids under all that ice! read more

STAY AWAY! This place is beyond awful. If I could give zero stars, I would. They are extremely incompetent. They do not stand behind what they sell you. I went there for a fishing license and ended up spending nearly $200 on gear. When asking for the fishing license, I told them the dates I needed it for THREE TIMES. Well, it was printed out with the incorrect dates. I asked them to fix it. They refused. Great. So, now I have to pay for ANOTHER fishing license because they made a mistake that they refused to correct. Obviously, I'll go somewhere else for the correct license. I'll absolutely never give them another penny of my money - they don't deserve any business. In fairness, I have to admit that the person who helped me pick out my gear was very helpful (he had a ponytail). Someone else handles the fishing licenses (the owner, I think) - which is where everything went downhill. It's a real shame, as I was planning to head back there after this fishing trip to buy salt water gear. I like to support local businesses, but I'll not be returning here for any future bait & tackle needs. read more