Since 1952, Holmes Bait and Tackle, better known by the locals as Bea’s Bait Shack, has been providing Southwest Florida with famously good baits.
After moving from New Jersey, Beatrice and Lawrence “Fritz” Holmes decided to set up shop at the base of the Punta Gorda side of Barron Collier Bridge where they offered dockside delivery of the freshest shrimp available to all the anglers heading out to Charlotte Harbor. Because of their reputation for always having live wells full of the biggest shrimp around, Holmes Bait and Tackle became an essential stop for the local charter captains on their way out to taking clients out to the world famous Boca Grande Pass, the “Tarpon Fishing Capital of the World.”
In 1957, Bea and Fritz relocated just down the road to the corner of Kings Highway and Tamiami Trail, where they could expand the bait shop to include bigger tanks as well as build a house on the adjacent lot for their seven kids — Larry, Florence, Dee, Oscar, Mickle, John and Jeananne.
After Hurricane Donna ripped through Charlotte Harbor during the summer of 1960, destroying most of the shrimp tanks and the surrounding building, they decided to expand the bait shop to include a new tank system and a retail storefront. That year, they also began their own commercial fishing fleet with the purchase of the 35-foot trawler, “The Bea Hive,” which they moored in nearby Matlacha, Florida. They would add a second ship just two years later. With Fritz working the boats and Bea delivering shrimp in an old pickup truck equipped with a livewell in the bed, they were supplying nearly every bait shop along U.S. 41 from the Skyway Pier Marina to Fort Myers.
Bea, of course, would always save the biggest to sell in their own tackle store, which had expanded to a full retail storefront, eight 1,000-gallon tanks and 24-hour service by 1975. These super-sized shrimp were affectionately known as “Beazer Selects” by the locals who could fill their live wells at any time of night thanks to the bell hose that would ring over at the adjacent house.
After Fritz’s death in 1982, Bea continued to operate the Bait Shack, which became a favorite hangout for the local salts and an ever-growing number of grandkids. Grizzled captains and commercial deckhands would often gather on the porch of the old wood frame house to swap stories of their catch for the day. Bea’s Bait Shack turned off the tanks for good in 1995 so that Bea could enjoy her retirement and focus more time on playing Bingo. She passed away in 2005.
In the spirit of offering anglers the best possible baits, Dee and her sons, Andrew and Scott, decided to create Bea’s Baits in 2020. As lifelong outdoors enthusiasts who care about conserving marine habitat, the trio launched a line of eco-friendly biodisintegratable soft lures and environmentally friendly fishing tackle.
They also enjoy quality bait shack banter so don’t forget to follow Bea’s Baits on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Feel free to share stories or vintage photos of the fishing community in SWFL.