Online shopping is a great way to purchase everything you need for your next saltwater fishing adventure right at home. No need to drive miles and miles to find a store, when you have many options on the internet. The following are a few of the stores that in my experience, are the best options for online fishing for saltwater sportsmen:

WESTMARINE: www.westmarine.com or 1(800)685-4838. This publicly traded company is the world’s largest boating supply retailer. They offer international shipping, as well as a unique product assistant and comparison shopping tool that makes a comparison chart to help you find the best product. Their website has plenty of information and advice, which is excellent if you are purchasing things you do not know about. In addition to saltwater fishing, you can buy toys for the recreational boater, even kitchen supplies for your galley. They have a clearance section and some rebates available as well. You can get a West Marine credit card, as well as boating insurance and boat financing from them too.

TACKLE DIRECT: www.tackledirect.com, or 1(888)354-7355. This site has earned the Yahoo! Top Service honor four years in a row. They feature over 9,000 unique products and if you order over $150, you get free shipping with UPS or USPS. They also ship internationally. They have online sales and price drops. They are based out of Ocean City, New Jersey.

BASS PRO SHOPS: www.basspro.com, or 1-800-920-4400. Bass Pro Shops’ website has its very own Saltwater Fishing Section. This is a great site to buy rods, reels, combos, lures, tackle, rainwear, and accessories. This site offers links to getting a fishing license in any state, which is helpful if you are purchasing a fishing trip out of your state.

FISHERMAN’S OUTFITTER: www.fishermansoutfitter.com or 1800-500-TUNA. They have an annual holiday sale, and offer discounts and free shipping from time to time. You can create an online wish list at their site. They also have four store locations in Massachusetts.

EBAY: www.ebay.com. While I cannot speak directly of the quality of service of the thousands of different sellers on Ebay, I can speak of the selection. If you want vintage, rare, or hard to find reels, rods, or lures, check Ebay. Be sure to check the seller’s feedback before you purchase or bid, and be sure to email questions before you bid.

You can find many other options online, but these sites are the best known ones and the ones that I am comfortable recommending. Always be sure to ask about their holiday shipping policies to make sure your purchases arrive on time.