Fish Tales Bait & Tackle

Mike Cudworth

2024-05

I'm new to Venice and saltwater fishing and I was lucky enough to find Fish Tales Bait Shop right away. The staff is incredible, the best customer service I've experienced in a long time. I've been to the store twice now and both times I learned so much about fishing. They genuinely love fishing and are happy to share their knowledge. Great selection of lures, rod/reels, live bait, fish traps, fish pens, crab traps....basically anything you need. I never write reviews but when a place is this good they deserve to be recognized.

Scott W

2023-05

Came from out of town to get some bait, awesome place for sure!! Talked to an older guy and a younger guy both were super cool. Didn’t know really where to go and was going to the pier but dude told me to go to the jetty right down the street. Had a blast, caught a bunch of mangrove snappers and just wanted to say thank you for being cool and telling me the spot.

Tom Norville

2024-04

Great fishin store. Good bait selection both live and frozen. Good selection for onshore, nearshore and offshore. Cheap ice. Friendly. Good local knowledge. They put new line on reels at very good price. Fast in and out.

Anna

2021-05

This is the best local fishing store we have ever been to! The customer service is exceptional you will not find this kind of customer service anywhere else! They have live shrimp at amazing prices! The fishing supplies are really great prices! I can not brag enough about this place! Highly highly recommend it!

Irene Wood

2024-05

Well rounded bait store. Friendly and helpful

RICHARD BURNHAM

2023-05

Just moving to the area and found this amazing little bait and tackle shop. Right off 41 and right before you turn down to the inlet and beach. Great location and staff was extremely helpful. I am sure to spend many mornings picking up bait on my way out to fish. Hopefully the fish get bigger than the ones I caught this trip out.

Bill Garrison

2023-08

Love it that they open at 6 AM and very close to Nokomis Beach, Venice Jetty and Albee Bridge. Friendly people and good prices. *** Fishing secret*** Spit on your bait you will catch extra big fish like these.

Mark Dean

2021-05

Great place!! Had a wonderful time chatting with the employees, and the owner. Had my new Twin Power XD lined up. Very knowledgeable, and a great selection of Bullbay Rods!!

Shaun Simpson

2023-07

They are the best in the area, Hands Down!!! If your looking for awesome live bait or any lure you would need for the local area they have it. From a customer service standpoint they are top notch and very knowledgeable. The owner Joe and his staff will help you any way they can from bait/lure selection to places to catch different species. They don’t talk down to you if you’re not a seasoned vet and help everyone out that walks through the door.

Andre S

2021-05

Best place for bait and tackle! Our 5 year old is greeted with a smile and fruit snacks! Staff is always friendly and extremely helpful! As beginners we learn something new each trip!

Tayler Chapman

2023-07

This is by far the best bait and tackle shop I’ve found in SW Florida. My girlfriend and I go there about 3 times a weeks to buy a few dozen live shrimp and I’ve never been disappointed. Today we stopped by to see if they had any live bait. Unfortunately, there are times during the summer where live bait can be scarce. They didn’t have live shrimp at the moment but they had 6 pin fish left. So we decided to go with those. Joe (The owner) helped us with the transaction. I mentioned that I’ve never used that bait before and he showed us the proper way to do so. Not only that, he asked us where we would be fishing. The best thing about all of this and we never expected, was the fact that Joe went out of his way to find us and help us out with a few extra pin fish from supply that came in not long after we left.That to me is true business. You have two customers for life, and we appreciate ya’ll. I highly recommend them! Thank you guys so much!!

Jaci Pustelnik

2023-10

The BEST bait shop around! Quality bait and gear, and friendly knowledgeable staff! Plus you can’t forget the sweetest dog ever, Wooly! Will always stop here before anywhere else! Caught my first keeper pomp with their sand fleas!

Blessed Life

2022-05

Great selection - great prices & the best customer service around. Helpful knowledgeable staff who serve you with a smile.

tammy cambridge

2024-05

They have most items but do run out of shrimp 😔

Larry Martin

2023-12

Best bait shop on the Gulf coast.They have all the secret spots.

Alexander Ferriso

2024-04

Great place to get bait! Friendly staff too

Yvette Mundy

2024-02

Great place for all you fishing, baits, and local knowledge 🌊

James “MCGYVR” Bartlett

2023-08

SHOP HERE AND GET HOOKED.7Great little spot. Don't let the size fool you though. They have everything you could want for a day out on the water. From tackle to apparel, live and frozen bait, it's all there. Friendly Family Owned and Operated.

James Marshall

2023-05

Joe and his entire staff are kind, professional, knowledgeable and courteous. Just purchased two TLD offshore setups on star rods and they took excellent care of me. Support local businesses! Thanks again guys.

Alan Katkic

2023-05

You won't find a friendlier, more helpful group of guys anywhere. They had no problem taking the time to show me different techniques in saltwater fishing as I was new to it. Highly recommend this shop. Whenever I'm back in nokomis, I won't shop anywhere else for my fishing needs.

Seamus Rollins

2023-06

Great shop, they have good prices and don't try to upsell me on junk i don't need. They have great advice and love answering questions, I came on vacation having never done saltwater fishing and they set me up and I caught 5 fish in an afternoon with $50 worth of kit.

arthur blackburn

2023-11

The guys at Fish Tales get it right every time. Good folks always willing to answer questions about the fishing in the area and best live bait I have found anywhere in the area.

Bryce Acosta

2023-08

They usually always have shrimp and I've noticed they have the largest shrimp in the Sarasota area. Wide variety of tackle and one of the only stores in Sarasota that have nlbn.

Collin Hall

2023-07

Went in yesterday to ask about what i could use to fish snook on artificial. I have never caught or even fished for snook before so these guys definitely had their hands full. They picked me out some hooks and soft plastics and showed me how to rig this particular lure. This morning I had the most fun I have ever had fishing nailing multiple snook on what they gave me. Nothing beats watching snook hunt down your lure in shallow water!!! these guys will not steer you in the wrong direction!!!! Thanks boys.

Thomas Skaggs

2023-11

Best bait shop around, always has bait and at a good price. Tackle selection is great as well.

scott levin

2020-05

Stopped in for the 1st time yesterday. Taking my son to do a little quick trip. Eric was excellent. Enthusiastic, knowledgeable and patient with my 7yr old son's million questions and curiosity. Not the biggest shop but everything you could need. Very nice selection and well organized. Fish Tales will be my go to for the Venice area.

John Cooley Jr

2023-12

Awesome service young man in there was very helpful

Otto Afanador

2022-05

Excellent staff and selection. I'm new the area and have no idea what I'm doing. These folks didn't make me feel like an idiot and moreover helped me patiently without up selling me -- that i know of, ha. They walked me through some ideas and were very down to earth. Definitely going back.

Ronald W. Vachon

2021-05

The Best Bait shop in the Community.Steve the owner goes out of his way to help you get what you need to have a productive adventure on your fishing adventure.Fair prices on every item and always friendly employees to help serve you .

Rob Kingsbury

2021-05

Knowledgeable staff with a good supply of fresh bait. I wanted to buy a cast net and they took me out in the parking lot and showed me how to use it. Also very nice to my children when I bring them with me. Great spot!