Tackle Shops on California's North Coast

3 shops — hours, live bait, and directions.

California's North Coast stretches from the Oregon border down through Humboldt and Mendocino counties, and this hub covers its two main harbor towns — Eureka on Humboldt Bay and Fort Bragg on the Mendocino coast, about 130 miles apart. They are separate fisheries, not one continuous run. In Fort Bragg, Noyo Fishing Center is the area's dedicated sportfishing bait-and-tackle shop, sitting right in Noyo Harbor with bait, ocean fishing tackle, and California fishing licenses on-site. Up in Eureka, two larger general stores serve the bay's anglers: Englund Marine — a commercial and recreational marine-supply house operating since 1944 — carries rods, reels, and recreational fishing tackle alongside its chandlery, and Pacific Outfitters is a broad outdoor retailer with a dedicated hunt-and-fish department. Neither Eureka store is a dedicated bait-and-tackle sportfishing shop; for bait and a harbor-side counter, Noyo is the specialist of the three.

The North Coast is a groundfish and salmon coast. Rockfish and lingcod are the backbone fishery over the rocky reefs of both Humboldt Bay and the Mendocino coast, roughly May through December under California's seasonal rules. Pacific halibut is a prized early-season target offshore. Dungeness crab is a North Coast institution, though the recreational season is set annually by the Department of Fish and Wildlife and is often delayed — check current dates before you go. Chinook salmon is the region's marquee fish, but ocean salmon seasons here have been severely restricted or fully closed in recent years and reopen only in limited windows — always confirm the season is open before planning a trip. Albacore tuna run offshore in warm years, and the beaches produce surfperch year-round. Around Eureka, the Eel, Mad, Klamath, and Trinity rivers add salmon and steelhead runs that the local shops also outfit.

Select a shop or scroll the map to find the one closest to where you'll fish.

Shops in North Coast

North Coast on the map

Frequently asked questions