About Us
Since 1962, Lott Bros. custom rods, bait and tackle has been a staple in the North Palm Beach community. It’s one of the oldest and most complete tackle shops in Northern Palm Beach County where fishing enthusiasts from all over South Florida can find the specialized tools needed to pursue their passion. The shop is owned by brothers, George H. Lott, Jr. and John R. Lott, but the story behind the local treasure begins long before them. The roots of this family owned business run deep and its history dates all the way back to the 1930’s in Baldwin, Long Island, New York.
Archie C. Lott, George Jr. and John’s grandfather, was a worm distributer in the late 1930’s in the Northeast. He would drive from Long Island to Maine, pick up blood worms and sand worms and distribute them to bait shops along his route back to Long Island. After Archie’s son, George H. Lott, Sr. returned home from World War II, he encouraged George, Sr. and his other son, Archie, Jr., to open a bait, tackle, and custom rod shop of their own in Baldwin in 1945.
The brothers did well as one of the only tackle shops in the area. They sold American made reels by Ocean City, Shakespeare, Pflueger, and Penn and specialized in Surf Rods for Striped Bass and Bay Rods for Fluke and Flounder. As the business evolved they were one of the first in the country to make a fiberglass blank rod in place of the traditional steel and bamboo designs. Their custom rods and inventory caught the attention of musician Guy Lombardo and various players from the Brooklyn Dodgers. Unfortunately, in 1959 at the age of 42, Archie Jr. suffered a fatal heart attack while visiting their sister in Florida. This loss prompted George H. Lott, Sr. to sell the business in 1961 and move his wife Carrie and three children, George Jr., Frieda, and John down to Florida where he had family ties.
After the relocating, George H. Lott, Sr. reopened his business on a piece of sheltered waterfront property in 1962 at 631 Northlake Boulevard, which at the time was only a two-lane road. George Sr. spent the next ten years getting the business established but sadly, he would never get to enjoy the fruits of his labor. He passed 10 years after reopening the business in 1972 at the age of 58. At that time, George Jr. had graduated from FSU and was already home and involved with the business. John, who was a student at FSU at the time of his father’s death, decided to leave Tallahassee to return home to help his family keep the business going.
Despite the devastating loss of their father, George and John worked tirelessly to turn Lott Bros. into one of the top tackle shops in South Florida. The shop’s inventory is specialized and unique to meet the needs of a community whose lifestyle revolves around the ocean. Their shelves and freezers are stocked with several types of frozen bait, a massive selection of Costa Del Mar sunglasses, custom rods for all types of fishing and much more. The road to get where they are today has been long and sometimes difficult, but with the help of some very hard working, loyal and knowledgeable people over the years, Lott Bros. continues to grow.
Over the years, Lott Bros. has strived to give back to the community that has supported them since 1962 through the sponsorship of local fishing tournaments, youth athletics, and donations to local charity event raffles. The contribution they are most proud of though, is the grassroots campaign they spearheaded to replace the beloved Juno Fishing Pier that was destroyed by a Nor’easter in November of 1984. The effort was backed by North County Commissioner, Karen Marcus, and many locals who fondly remembered ‘The Old Juno Pier’. In 1999 they accomplished their goal and the new Juno Beach Pier was rebuilt and opened to the public. It is now a fishing hot spot and a favorite attraction for locals and tourists alike. To this day it remains one of John and George’s greatest accomplishments and a legacy that they will leave behind for the people and families that have supported them from the beginning.
Lott Bros. is currently celebrating their 56th year of business in North Palm Beach and are proud of their humble beginnings in 1945 in Baldwin, Long Island, New York.