Maryland/Delaware Eastern Shore Tackle Store Scavenger Hunt
During the week Pete and I work our 9 to 5 jobs, waiting for the 5 o’clock hour to finally hit so we can write about fishing, talk about fishing and travel to go fishing.
One of my responsibilities at Half Past First Cast is to network and find other anglers -- novice, expert or someplace in between -- and get them to their bucket list destinations. Even with the internet and all the reviews written about all the great fishing destinations around the globe, until you speak to someone that has stepped foot on the resort or lodge you don’t really know what you are getting yourself into. Sometimes all of that information makes it hard to know where to start, who to contact and where to go.
Pete and I embrace that burden. We do all the research and get to know the owners of bucket list destinations in order to make your life easier and finally start checking off the destinations on your bucket lists. We have gone to several places we wouldn’t suggest, but the ones we do suggest we have visited several times and can’t stay away.
Although we aren’t experts in saltwater, we’ve done comprehensive research that leads us to believe the lodges we choose are the best of the best. We want to get the word out there and have others join us or go on their own. Where would I meet these people? How can I interact with them -- social media doesn’t seem to be cutting it.
I know that there are plenty of people around here who like to fish the salt, and need to get away when it is too cold to fish during the winter off the coast of the Eastern Shores of Maryland (hey, Philly, New Jersey, Delaware and Virginia, you too). In order to get my name out there, I recently took a trip through Annapolis, Easton and Ocean City MD, up to Lewes, Delaware and stopped by several tackle stores. I wanted to do a little bit of shopping, meet the people and get the word out about what Half Past First Cast can do to get them where they want to go on their next fishing vacation.
I will take you on my journey and if you are ever in need of a tackle store any place on the Eastern Shore of Maryland contact me so that we can figure out which shop fits your needs.
Bay Country Crabbing Supply and Tackle
3137 Solomons Island Road Edgewater MD 21037
410-956-0300
I was greeted by Larry Kane who was super nice and seemed very interested in what HPFC was all about. The store had extensive fishing, crabbing and hunting supplies and live bait.
950 Mayo Road Edgewater MD 21037
410-956-2238
This one was a little off the beaten path but suggested by Larry Kane -- small store but had a lot of supplies. Looks like the store had been around for a while and the employee was very friendly.
113 Hillsmere Drive Annapolis MD 21403
410-268-0129
I like to shop local and not big box stores but I needed to get the word out so I stopped. I will say that this store had the best women’s clothing selection with different styles and more patterns I have seen in a long time (Gill, Pelagic, Helly Hansen, Cabana, Columbia and more).
2062 Sommerville Road Annapolis MD 21401
410-571-1111
This tucked away location was packed, I got the last spot in the parking lot. They have clothing and every boating and fishing product you might need. They fix reels, too. All Tackle has been around for since 1999 and lives up to its name, it seems to have everything.
Anglers Sport Center
1456 Whitehall Road Annapolis MD 21409
410-757-3442
You’ve seen this store if you are on the way to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. I’ve seen their big sign and always wondered why we never stop there. It is right off the highway so there’s no reason not to take a detour. Guns and ammo, fishing equipment and supplies. Both women’s and men’s clothing (Salt Life, HUK, Pure Life, AVID, Grundens, AFTCO, Salty Crew, Orvis, Drake and more).
1707 Main Street Chester MD 21619
410-604-2500
Another right-off-the-highway stop. The owner was on-site but speaking to others so unfortunately, I didn’t get to meet him. The employees were extremely nice and thought what I was doing was awesome and cool. You will find both hunting and fishing supplies.
1915 Main Street
Chester MD 21619 410-643-4099
Imagine this, far away from home, off the beaten path, I walk into Island Tackle and give my spiel and Eddie Dillon asks, “Are you married to Pete Robbins?” I said, “He’s my husband.” We all laughed. Pete and Eddie used to fish together back in the early 2000s. This store looked brand new and had a lot of supplies. Their Facebook page is very informative about what is going on fishing wise in the Maryland area. Make sure you say hi to Eddie from Pete and Hanna.
3100 Main Street Grasonville MD 21638
410-827-7765
No, you aren’t in the wrong spot: Shore Tackle is in the middle of a parking lot with construction going on around it and after visiting if you can’t find a place to eat then your eyes are closed. Bill O’Brien, owner/rod builder, greeted me and showed me around his little store. He makes beautiful rods and has been doing so for 30 years.
210 Marlboro Avenue Suite 35 Easton MD 21601
Right next to the Sherwin-Williams paint store, in a strip mall. I wasn’t sure sure what to think from the outside, but when I walked in, I realized this is a great store. Has all the big name clothing and fishing brands: AVID, HUK Xtratuf, Daiwa, Penn, Okuma and more. They sell live bait, frozen bait, rods and reels. If you need help ask for Megan.
Master Bait and Tackle
975 Port Street Easton MD 21601
410-822-1201
If I didn’t tell you about this place, you may not ever now about it. It has the best name (haha), it is small as it used to be the parts warehouse for the marina. They carry Grundens, some rods and a little bit of bait. They opened this shop while nothing was going on during COVID.
8232 Ocean Gateway Easton MD 21601
410-820-5599
STOP, don’t go to the West Marine, stop by Shore Sportsman to see everything they have to offer. Hunting and fishing are their specialty and the employees are super nice and fun to talk to. Make sure you meet up with their beautiful black lab and please let me know his name as I was so interested in him, I forgot to ask.
9748 Stephen Decatur Highway Unit 405 Ocean City MD 21842
443-664-2330
If you find this place let me know, I am very good with directions and even with a few U-turns all I could find was the Shrimp Boat Restaurant that was doing one heck of a business, even for the middle of the afternoon.
12930 Sunset Avenue Ocean City MD 21842
410-213-0421
This shop is right on the water at Sunset Marina, a beautiful setting. The store had gear for fishing but also what I would call “fancy” gift store apparel and knickknacks.
Sunset Provisions Bait Shop
12911 Sunset Avenue Ocean City MD 21842
410-213-0081
Bonus find: They can help with fishing charters if you stop on in. Plenty of ice and apparel but minimal tackle. Exactly what the name states is what they do, provisions for Sunset Marina.
All Tackle
12826 Ocean Gateway #9548 Ocean City MD 21842
410-213-2840
The tackle store that reminded me of Cheers (the bar). Everyone that walked into the store (there were quite a few while I was there speaking to one of the employees) was addressed by name.
101 Coastal Highway #4 Fenwick Island DE 19944
I walked in and was overwhelmed by the smell of bait, now that’s a BAIT and tackle store. Small space with minimal tackle but lots of frisky live bait for sale.
34444 Coastal Highway York Beach Mall Bethany Beach DE 19930
302-539-6243
Next to a ladies beach apparel store, in a strip mall on the outskirts of Bethany Beach, they had everything: guns, clothing, fishing supplies and ice. It’s a great store located in a funny location.
Hook’em & Cook’em Bait & Tackle
39401 Inlet Road Rehoboth Beach DE 19971
302-226-8220
On the inlet, behind the RV campground, you will find what you need if you forgot something. Bring your catches in and they will filet them for you. If you come in emptyhanded, they offer the local fresh catch and shellfish that can be steamed to order.
25012 Coastal Highway Rehoboth Beach DE 19971
302-227-7974
Old is the truth. They have been located there since 1962 and they are a full-service tackle shop with over 8,500 items They even have a rod and reel repair shop. They sell Delaware hunting and fishing licenses. After my scavenger hunt, Pete told me this is where he always went for his bait to go surf fishing when his family used to go to Bethany Beach as a kid (like I said, OLD).
It had started to rain, the traffic picked up, I was talked out (if you can believe that) and it was just about Miller time. I did leave a few behind but on my next visit to my family’s beach house I will hit the Lewes Delware locations and report back.
If you can’t find what you are looking for at one of these locations then you don’t know what you are looking for and maybe you should find yourself a Walmart. I had a great time on my tackle scavenger hunt, even though our home’s true tackle junkie was stuck at home. The best part was meeting so many great members of the fishing community.
