NJ small business spotlight February 2010: The Reel Seat, Brielle

[DarkSkies]

NJ small business spotlight Feb 2010: The Reel Seat Brielle

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I got a chance to step inside the Reel Seat in Brielle the other day. I had been past there many times, and honestly never thought much of the shop because I didn't know a lot about it.

I had a thought that being near the marina it catered mostly to boat fishermen and didn't have much in the way of surf gear, rods, or tackle that surf guys use. After I got a chance to look around inside, I realize that was inaccurate. I was glad I got a chance to correct my mis-perception.

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[DarkSkies]

Business Philosophy: More than just an offshore shop! :fishing:

Reel Seat B&T

The Reel Seat Inc.
608 Green Ave.
Brielle, NJ 08730

(They are in the East part of the Brielle Marina by the RR bridge, right before you go over the Rt 35 bridge.)

Phone:
732-223-5353
fax: 732-223-4440

Email:
info@reelseat.com

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The Reel Seat Tackle is open seven days a week after Memorial Day. Winter hours are usually Fri - Sun after Feb 20, keeping that schedule until Memorial day. Call ahead if you want to make sure before the season opens.

Store hours are:
http://www.castawaysbaitandtackle.com/bullet2.gif Monday -Thursday: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
http://www.castawaysbaitandtackle.com/bullet2.gif Friday: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
http://www.castawaysbaitandtackle.com/bullet2.gif Saturday: 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM
http://www.castawaysbaitandtackle.com/bullet2.gif Sunday: 6:30 AM to 2:00 PM

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[DarkSkies]

Background:

Owned & operated by Dave A. for about 15 years. Dave has taken the shop from its original focus serving strictly marina customers to a full service tackle shop that has something for everyone.

Dave is an avid surf as well as offshore fisherman, having fished for about 40 years. He has also been involved with fisherman conservation groups. He's one of the founders of the SSFFF, and is active in fisheries management meetings, going to almost every one in the area.




Details:

Offshore:
Dave pioneered the fabrication, marketing, and sale of the first off-shore spreader bars. Fishermen fishing for pelagics will find no better quality on the market. In the years they have been doing this, some competitors have just started to get into that field. However, I'm told that there is no better quality and better design if you're looking for spreader bars.

Titanium construction, heavy duty premium quality gear and hardware...when you have that 300lb tuna on, you don't want to lose it because of inferior gear.





What he stocks:

Offshore tackle:
Just about anything you can imagine or think of, he has it.

Surf Gear - plugs, tackle, bucktails, rubber, jigs, tins
Dave carries a lot of the popular styles of the above items at reasonable prices.


Business Edge:

"We will get it for you, please ask us, and we will be happy to custom order anything you want at a reasonable price"

We do reel repairs, overhauls, and rod repairs. We are a full service shop.



Rod and Reel repairs:
Whether it's a broken rod tip, guide, or needs to be re-wrapped.. or a broken dogleg gear on your reel, Dave's guy will fix it and guarantee it. They don't ship their stuff out to another shop. All repairs are done in house by guys with decades of experience, so you know he stands behind his work.


"Where to, How to..."

Dave is a very low key, laid back guy. When I went in there to interview him, he had a customer who came in and wanted to "look at" some offshore stuff. Dave promptly put together 2 custom setups for him, changing each combination as many times as the customer wanted. All low key, no pressure. The customer left without buying anything that day. As he left he told me "I come here because Dave never pressures me to buy anything, and he tells the truth when I ask him something. He has never steered me wrong yet.' :clapping:

http:// (http://www.castawaysbaitandtackle.com/)www.reelseat.com

[DarkSkies]

Some pics:

Bass rigs and bunker spoons

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[DarkSkies]

Tuna and pelagics

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[DarkSkies]

Reel Seat Custom premium spreader bars...

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Custom bait pens, any size you want...

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[DarkSkies]

Jigs n Tins

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[DarkSkies]

Who has the best sand eels?

Are ya tired of paying $8+ for the Vision sand and surf eels?

I am.

Is there a reasonable substitute for a cheaper price?

Yup... introducing the Tsunami sand eels and surf eels. These are the sandeels, about $4 cheaper per bag! :bigeyes:

They're also making the surf eels, which are bigger, and weigh about 1/2z more than the Vision surf eels. :clapping:

$8 and change Vs $4 and change? (for the surf eels)
I don't know about you guys, I'm fishin the Tsunamis. :thumbsup:

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[DarkSkies]

Wall o bucktails..

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[DarkSkies]

Hogy, sluggo, etc, rubber mania...

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[DarkSkies]

Premium off the shelf rods

Mojo, St Croix, etc....

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[DarkSkies]

Some plastic and Custom wood plugs...

Skippy's...hard to find
This was the highest priced custom plug in his place, others were priced in the range of $15-25
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[DarkSkies]

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[DarkSkies]

Wall of terminal tackle

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[DarkSkies]

Skippy and Hook'R

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[DarkSkies]

T Bone

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[DarkSkies]

Need cod jigs?

Dave has the usual name brand jigs, and is also selling his own brand cod butterfly jigs at reduced prices.


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Dave's brand
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[DarkSkies]

Interview with Dave, a little about the business, in his own words...

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[finchaser]

Reel Seat gets my vote they have one of the largest selections of rubber and jig heads and some of the finest custom teaser rigs around

They also custom rig some of my tuna lures and bluefin bars

[storminsteve]

NJ small business spotlight Feb 2010: The Reel Seat Brielle
I had a thought that being near the marina it catered mostly to boat fishermen and didn't have much in the way of surf gear, rods, or tackle that surf guys use.


You're not alone in that. I have driven past it a few times and never thought it was much of a surf place. Thanks for the report.

[bababooey]

http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10041&thumb=1&d=1266871179 (http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10041&d=1266871179)


It says bait and tackle on the front window Dark. Do you know if he sells bait as well? Looking to see if he has fresh clams, eels, or sand and bloodworms.

[finchaser]

http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10041&thumb=1&d=1266871179 (http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10041&d=1266871179)


It says bait and tackle on the front window Dark. Do you know if he sells bait as well? Looking to see if he has fresh clams, eels, or sand and bloodworms.

Only salted clams and frozen bait

[bababooey]

thanks!

[strikezone31]

Nice profile. I'll check them out the next time I'm down there.

[DarkSkies]

Revised Spring hours:


Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat.. 7-5

Sun..... 7-2

After April 15, he'll be open 7 days a week.

[DarkSkies]

Dave is hardcore when it comes to tilefish trips. He has a wealth of knowledge about these deepwater fish. If you want to know the real deal about tilefishing, best rigs, optimum times to go, and anything else about offshore fishing, stop by the Reel Seat and pick his brains in a BS session.

Free of charge, and Dave loves to talk about his tilefish trips, and give honest advice on almost everything else. :thumbsup:

Here's a pic I dug up


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[captnemo]

Nice fish.

[Duskydaze]

Nice tilefish.

Those are wreckfish. A member of the grouper clan found on hard bottom and wrecks in the canyons. Those two were caught in 750ft this past January.

[finchaser]

Those are wreckfish. A member of the grouper clan found on hard bottom and wrecks in the canyons. Those two were caught in 750ft this past January.


They were good eating too:drool:

[stripermania]

Stopped in there a while ago. Great Shop! Picked up a few things. Thanks for telling us about them.

[killie]

stopped in today and met Dave. great guy! he has more stuff in his little shop then most bigger shops. I nearly drove right by until I saw his beautiful sign that just drew me right in. :)

[speedy]

wow never new the store had that much stuff nice have to stop in

[DarkSkies]

stopped in today and met Dave. great guy! he has more stuff in his little shop then most bigger shops. I nearly drove right by until I saw his beautiful sign that just drew me right in. :)




Yessir Dave has so much cool stuff packed into that shop it's unbelievable, and worth it to stop in. :thumbsup:

Yep that sign is beautiful too, in fact it's one of the nicest hand painted signs I've ever seen, bar none... :clapping: :thumbsup: :drool:

http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10042&thumb=1&d=1266871179 (http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10042&d=1266871179)

I heard the guy that painted that sign is amazingly talented. The guy allegedly does some of the most creative and colorful work in the tri-state area...:wow: :thumbsup:

I also heard the work takes forever to get done, and Dave had to wait something like a year to have that sign done by that phenomenal and mad talented sign painter. :fishing:

Didja hear anything about that, or is that just an unfounded rumor? :laugh: :HappyWave: ;)

[killie]

jackass

[DarkSkies]

:laugh: :HappyWave: :kiss:

(that sign painter guy yer talkin about IS crazy talented though....)
Is that enough BallBustin to get me one o those Saigon Slammers? :drool: Ya don't even have to paint it for me, I'll take one unfinished...