The Rusty Hook

04/25/2025

Wow! It's great to see the bluefin tuna, big bonito, and kelp paddy yellowtail are biting within 1 1/2 day range from San Diego. The white seabass and halibut are biting in the Channel Islands. Rockfish biting all along the So Cal coast. Time to dust off the gear and go fishing!

03/17/2025

Ok. After much wasted time and aggravation with AT&T customer service, I have changed the phone number for The Rusty Hook to: (310) 889-5529. This number will not be monitored all the time. Please leave a message and I will call back. It is a cell phone so it is better to text me. AT&T would not allow me to move the old store number to my new T-Mobile account due to the number was a Business landline. They were trying to force me to open an AT&T wireless account to transfer the number. Then, I could transfer wireless to wireless. Screw them! So I had to let the old number go. Please let your friends know so they can update to the new wireless number. (310) 889-5529 call or text. You can also shop online on our eBay store:

The Rusty Hook is your one-stop shop for all of your fishing needs. We are now exclusively and online retailer. Our physical location has been closed. Watch for additions to our online store as we will be adding everything from our old store. We will now be selling refurbished rods and reels.

02/07/2025

Slowly getting things packed up for storage. It's amazing how much stuff you find that you thought was sold long ago. We'll keep at it to be out of the building by the end of February. Thank you for all the well-wishes! Ready to move on to bigger and better things. If anyone knows someone that needs store fixtures (slatwall gondolas, slatwall panels, slatwall pegs, glass display cases, 3" wide 2-part receipt rolls, receipt books, etc.) I'm selling them cheap!

02/05/2025

We are now exclusively an online retailer. I will be selling all of our remaining inventory on our Ebay Store: http://stores.ebay.com/The-Rusty-Hook-Fishing-Tackle We will be adding more items soon, including refurbished rods and reels, so check back often. Rod and Reel repair and Custom Rods will be done by appointment. Call us at (310) 832-2429 for details.

The Rusty Hook is your one-stop shop for all of your fishing needs. Specializing in salt water tackle, we also have a growing selection of fresh water gear. Local, Long Range, and Baja specialists. Friendly Service.

01/18/2025

Ok. I have made the decision to close The Rusty Hook (unless someone comes in last minute with an offer). Our last day will be
Friday, January 31st. There will be no "blowout sale". All the merchandise will be sold via our Rusty Hook Fishing Tackle Ebay store. I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT ANYONE HOLDING GIFT CARDS TO COME BY AND USE THEM BEFORE THE END OF JANUARY. ANYONE THAT HAS LEFT RODS OR REELS WITH US FOR REPAIR NEED TO COME IN AND PICK UP THEIR ITEMS. Anything left after January 31st will be considered abandoned and will be sold. Some stuff has been completed years ago. I have tried to keep things going for the last 8 years, hoping the fishing and the economy would get better. Keeping the doors open until my wife could retire. Business has been slow. Customer traffic has been way down. I have been paying myself 6 months out of the year for these past 8 years and 6 months working for free to service our customers and the fishing community. My wife has been carrying the load for far too long. I thank all of the customers that have patronized The Rusty Hook for the last 30 years. All the friends I have met. All the kids I watched grow up that now bring their kids into the store. The memories and fishing charters we have experienced will be cherished always. All the "old salts" that have passed on, that taught me about fishing, business, and life. Now it is time to turn the page and do something else for a few more years. I plan to continue building/repairing fishing rods at home. I can also still repair reels, as long as I can get parts. I plan to keep the store phone number and have it set up with voicemail at my home. I also have some job opportunities to explore. Maybe I will get to go fishing once in a while.

01/04/2025

This is the time of the year that you need to bring in any rod & reel repair work. Also, if you have a blank sitting around to have made into a custom rod. This is the time. Business is slow and I have time to do repair and custom work. Fix it now in the off-season so it will be ready for when it gets busy.

12/19/2024

Just got in Neckbreaker swivel leadheads from Bomber Baits in 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 oz sizes. Paired with a fluke-style, Wham!, or ribbed swimbait, they are deadly for inshore harbor fishing. Halibut, Spotted Bay Bass, and Calico Bass. Come check them out!

12/07/2024

We have been holding on to rod and reel repairs for a long time. Here is a list of people that have gear with us:

Reels (Partial List):
John Gentry
Joe Quintero
Leo Salceda
Eugene Van
Anthony Vulin
Warren Anderson
Alfredo Guacin
Frank Fitzpatrick
Bob Bell
Hector Hernandez
Alex Gamez
Gene Summers
Gabriel McDonald
Eric Seery
Robert Alarcon
Jonathan Day
Derek Sepulveda
James Gerard

Rods:
Uy Chiorvirat
John Martinez
Ron Quintero
Danny Lopez
Hans Etter
Anthony Papalardo
Hashim Muhammed
Eugene Van
Shawn Cross
Julio Arguleta
Richard Louke
Miguel Velasquez
John Gentry

Photo ID or the original claim check will be required before we will release the items to anyone.

If anyone knows any of these guys, please have them call The Rusty Hook, 310-832-2429, as soon as possible. The items will be treated as abandoned and will be sold, donated, or thrown out.

12/03/2024

Ok. Back in the saddle again. We will be open our Winter Hours:

10:00 AM to 6:30 PM Tuesday through Saturday
Closed Sunday and Monday.

Thank you for your patronage!

10/24/2024

No serious offers yet. If your dream is to own your own fishing tackle shop, this is the one to get. Good location. Solid inventory. Established clientele. Fixtures and appliances included.

10/12/2024

If anyone is wondering why The Rusty Hook is not involved in the San Pedro Fishing Fest, I was never asked and didn't even know about the event until a customer brought in a flyer. The Rusty Hook is still open. We have been servicing the recreational fishing community for almost 50 years. Stop in if you get a chance to say "hello". Starting in November, we will be closed on Sundays and Mondays. Until then, I am open on Sundays from 10 am to 2:30 pm, Tuesday - Saturday 10 am to 6:30 pm. Closed Monday.