Squidco Fishing

Squidco has been at it since 1939 — the shop's own tagline is "Fishermen Serving Fishermen Since 1939" — and the Elson family has run it for decades: brothers Jay and John supplied San Diego's commercial fleet back in the Dalbergia Street days, and John now works the Barnett Ave storefront alongside his son Joey, where a wholesale warehouse sits behind the retail counter (the long-standing nickname among regulars is "the Costco of tackle shops").

The bench carries Varmac rod-building hardware for builders and runs a dedicated pre-owned reel program. Squidco has also built more than fifty Jim Bingham memorial rods in recent years, a community project noted by the Bingham family.

Hours are Tue–Sat, 10–6; closed Sunday and Monday. One thing to know on bait: Squidco stocks frozen bait plus live worms — bloodworms, ghost shrimp, nightcrawlers (call for availability) — but no receiver bait; for live sardines you're going to the bait barge or a landing. See the full San Diego tackle directory for landing-attached options. See also: Fisherman's Landing Tackle and Angler's Choice on Rosecrans.