Starting out from a New York pier: the short kit list
Notes from the counter at Coney Island Hook and Bait Shop in Brooklyn, NY.
Tools before tackle
Beginners over-buy lures and under-buy tools. Pliers, a gripper, a line cutter and a net will improve a session more than another twenty rigs.
Tools also transfer to every kind of fishing you might do later.
One rod, well matched
A medium action rod covers most pier fishing in the area. Buying a specialised rod first usually means buying a second one shortly afterwards.
Match the reel and line class to the rod rather than to ambition.
Rig for the bottom and the mid water
Two rig types cover most pier situations. Carrying pre-tied versions of both means you can switch quickly rather than committing to whatever you tied at home.
Ready-made tackle kits are a reasonable way to acquire these.
Check local rules first
Licence requirements, size limits and seasons vary and are enforced. They are also easy to look up before a first trip.
Ask at the counter if you are unsure — it is a normal question, not a naive one.
Dress for the wind off the water
It is consistently colder on a pier than a block inland, and the wind does not stop. Layers matter more than any single garment.
Cold hands are the usual reason a first trip ends early.
Take a bag for rubbish
Discarded line is the single most damaging thing left on a pier, for birds and for propellers. A small pouch for waste line costs almost nothing.
Collapsible line bins exist for exactly this and live on a belt loop.
Where this sits in the shop
Coney Island Hook and Bait Shop groups its stock into 5 categories, so most of what is discussed above lives in one or two of them:
- Landing Nets — 2 items
- Pliers and Grippers — 10 items
- Tackle Kits — 3 items
- Tools and Knives — 8 items
- Towels and Storage — 3 items
Browsing by category is usually quicker than searching, because the groups follow how the goods are actually used rather than how a supplier lists them.
The largest group at the moment is Landing Nets with 2 items, and the smallest is Towels and Storage with 3. Those counts move as stock comes in and goes out, so they are worth checking rather than assuming.
From our shelves
A few items currently in stock that relate to this article:
- KastKing SteelStream 8pc Fishing Tool Kit, Fishing Gear and Gifts for Men
- RoundFunny 10 Pcs Fishing Tool Kit Fishing Gear Equipment for Men
- PLUSINNO 264/397pcs Fishing Accessories Kit, Organized Fishing Tackle Box with Tackle Included, Fishing Hooks, Fishing Weights Sinkers, Swivels, Beads, Fishing Gear Set Equipment for Bass Trout
- KastKing SteelStream Fishing Tool Set, Fishing Gear
Across the whole catalogue prices currently run from $5.86 to $51.24, with most of the range clustered around the middle of that span. Stock and prices on the product pages are live, so they are the figures to trust rather than anything quoted in an article.
Ordering, delivery and returns
Free US shipping on orders over $50; a flat $6.95 below that. Orders are picked and packed at the Brooklyn store on business days, and a tracking number follows by email once the carrier scans the parcel.
If something is not right, there are 30 days from delivery to send it back unused and in its packaging. The full detail is on the Shipping Policy and Returns and Refunds pages, and the FAQ covers the questions that come up most.
How we decide what to stock
Coney Island Hook and Bait Shop carries fishing tools, tackle kits and landing nets, and the range is deliberately narrower than a warehouse catalogue. A line earns its place by being asked for repeatedly at the counter in Brooklyn and by coming back without complaints — not by having the widest margin.
When something stops meeting that bar it comes off the shelf rather than being discounted until it moves. That is why the catalogue on this site changes slowly and why the specification tables on the product pages quote the maker rather than our own marketing.
Quick answers
What is a lip gripper for?
It holds a fish securely by the jaw so you can unhook it without squeezing the body. The non-puncture models we stock are the ones to use if you are putting the fish back.
Do the tackle kits include hooks?
The kits state their exact contents in the specification table — most include hooks, weights, swivels and rigs in a divided tray.
Related reading
Other notes from the same shelf that pick up where this one stops:
- Lip grippers: choosing one that does not injure the fish
- A tackle box that is actually organised
- Landing nets: rubber, knotless and the ones to avoid
Coming to the store
Coney Island Hook and Bait Shop is at 2879 W 24th St, Brooklyn, NY 11224. Opening hours are Mon-Wed 08:00-18:00 | Thu 08:00-18:30 | Fri-Sun 07:00-18:30, and it is worth calling ahead on +1 347-312-3868 if you are travelling specifically for one item, because stock on the shop floor and stock listed online are the same pool.
Anything discussed in this article can be looked at in person before buying. If you would rather order online, the same stock ships from this address — nothing is drop-shipped from a third party warehouse, which is why the despatch address on your parcel matches the shop.
Ask us directly
If this has not answered your question, the counter is open Mon-Wed 08:00-18:00 | Thu 08:00-18:30 | Fri-Sun 07:00-18:30. Call +1 347-312-3868 or use the contact page — a person reads it, and you will get an answer within a business day.