Salt water care: making tackle last more than one season
Notes from the counter at Coney Island Hook and Bait Shop in Brooklyn, NY.
Rinse everything, every time
Salt crystallises as it dries and works into pivots, threads and coatings. A fresh water rinse at the end of every session is the highest value habit in salt water fishing.
Rinse, do not pressure wash — forcing water into a reel is worse than the salt.
Dry before storing
Tools put away wet corrode from the inside of the joint outward. Open pliers and grippers and let them dry fully before they go in a box.
A towel in the tackle bag makes this realistic rather than aspirational.
Oil the pivots
A drop of light oil on plier and gripper pivots after drying displaces residual moisture and keeps the action smooth.
Do this monthly in season rather than once a year.
Watch the hardware, not the blade
On knives and tools it is usually the screws, springs and clips that fail first, not the working surface. Check them when you clean.
Replacing a corroded screw early prevents losing the tool entirely.
Store away from the boat
Tackle left permanently in a boat or a car lives in a humid salty environment. Bringing the bag inside between trips extends the life of everything in it.
This applies particularly to anything with a spring.
Retire hooks generously
Hooks are the cheapest item and the one that costs you a fish when it fails. Any hook with visible rust or a dulled point should be replaced without hesitation.
Sharpening extends life but does not restore a corroded hook.
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:
- 2-in-1 Fish Lip Gripper, One-Finger Operation Aluminum Alloy Fish Gripper with Scale, 60lb Weighing Fish Grabber for Large Fish, 360° Swivel Handle, Corrosion-Resistant for Saltwater & Freshwater
- 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
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
Will these tools survive salt water?
The rack is stocked with salt in mind — stainless, aluminium and coated finishes. Rinse them in fresh water at the end of the day and they last seasons.
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.
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.