Key West Bait & Tackle

This is hands down the best bait and tackle in key west. They have a great selection, they carry some of the best name at reasonable prices, and we had the privilege of being assisted by Chris. He was amazingly knowledgable and helpful. If I could give them 4.5 stars I would have because their website is a PoS, but if you call them up, they know their inventory well.

Loved this place but unfortunately my last visit the employees were jerks and condescending. I’ve been coming here for ten years and am disappointed. I was going to buy a nice Yeti cooler but will take my business elsewhere.

best bait and tackle shop in Key West. Cold cheap beer, friendly service…

Fishing and Beer go hand and hand… some would even say «So what if don’t make a catch today as long as we have some cold brew»… but normally the fish and beer are partnered at sea…
Well, at Key West Bait & Tackle they take that premise a step further with a beer serving bar right in the bait and tackle shop. Now you can pick up your hooks, rigged ballyhoo and frozen chum, grab a brew or two and not even dirty the boat.
Seriously, a bait and tackle shop with a bar; they may not have nearly the inventory of most bait and tackle shops but then again most shops can’t offer you a brew. Actually, they really do have a great assortment of bait and tackle. And they really do have a bar… small, but nonetheless it’s a bar.
For a laugh stick your face through the fisherman photo board and grab a memorable photo of yourself holding a impressive catch in your full fisherman’s garb. See for yourself…
UPDATE: MARCH 2013
Thought I’d share some info about Key West Bait & Tackle I just learned myself…
The bar inside of the shop is called the «Live Bait Lounge» (great name) and the prices are bargains (especially for Key West); domestics go for $ 2.50 and imports for $ 3.25. And recently they began to offer breakfast and lunch (very fairly priced).
Seems like the perfect place to swap fish tales (you know the kind; where the fish gets bigger each time that story is told).

Nice folks and Christ wear the hell else can you buy and drink a cold beer when you are shopping for stuff. I load up on plugs, leader material, hooks, bait bucket, and frozen bait. Friendly staff/​owner who really treats his customers nice. Coincidently his competition (Saltwater Angler) referred the place to me. Now, how do you find it? Somewhere near an Oyster restaurant, closed grocery store and in the middle of a parking lot. Just ask for directions. Local folks on scooters are the perfect tour guides or direction helpers.

So you can find bait here, you can find tackle here, and some touristy stuff like t-​shirts — but I salute the cold beer and their little bar that has 3 or 4 seats. The staff is friendly and the beer is very cold. Stop here before you take a walk around the marina, you’ll be glad you did.