Top 5 Carolina Saltwater Tackle Shops

Every great fishing trip starts long before the first cast, usually at the counter of a local tackle shop. The best ones are more than stores. They’re where you find out what’s biting, which rig is working, and where the fish moved after last night’s blow, all from people who were on the water that morning. From the surf of Cape Hatteras to the marshes of the Lowcountry, these five saltwater shops have earned their reputations one angler at a time, and each is worth the stop before you head out.

Red Drum Tackle Shop, Buxton, N.C. It bills itself as the oldest complete tackle shop at Cape Hatteras, with bait, ice, tackle, rod and reel repair, and custom rods. It’s the closest shop to Cape Point, which makes it the go-to stop for the fall drum run. (252) 995-5414.

TW’s Bait & Tackle, Kitty Hawk and Nags Head, N.C. Locally owned and operated for 40 years, with full-service shops carrying inshore, offshore, surf, and freshwater tackle from brands like Penn, Shimano, Daiwa, Z-Man, and MirrOlure. Both locations are official N.C. Saltwater Fishing Tournament weigh stations.

Haddrell’s Point Tackle & Supply, Charleston, S.C. Readers of Charleston Living named it Best Fishing & Tackle Shop in both 2024 and 2025. It runs three locations, including Haddrell’s Point Fin to Feather, its fly fishing and hunting headquarters. That fly shop would be a natural connection for Luke’s series.

East Coast Sports, Surf City, N.C. A family-owned shop on Topsail Island since 1952, now run by the third generation of the Medlin family, with inshore and offshore tackle, boating gear, and beach supplies. It sits right across from the Surf City boat ramp, which makes it an easy stop on the way to the water. (910) 328-1887.

Island True Value Tackle & Hardware, Carolina Beach, N.C. A combination tackle and hardware store with bait, ice, licenses, marine supplies, and a staff that knows everything from surf fishing to Gulf Stream trolling. It’s an official N.C. Saltwater Fishing Tournament weigh station and a short drive from Snow’s Cut and Freeman Park. (910) 458-3049.

Voted by members of the Angler & Sportsman Magazine Team