Moe’s Bait & Tackle: A Historic Landmark - A Jersey City Legend

Perched above the Hudson, at the bend where Palisade Ave meets South St, one of the most unexpected landmarks in the Jersey City Heights stood proudly for nearly fifty years. It didn’t quite match the surrounding brownstones, bodegas, and apartment buildings. For generations of anglers, neighborhood kids, and longtime residents, it was a deeply familiar place, a beacon of tradition that remained unchanged. At the heart of it all was Mauro “Moe” Mazzilli, a man whose presence became part of the Heights’ identity.

The origins of Moe’s Bait & Tackle stretch back to when Moe’s father, Nick Mazzilli, purchased the South Street property. A short time later Moe’s Aquarium evolved as a modest tropical fish and pet shop in a medium sized room in back of the garage. Years later he incorporated the front of the garage to sell his favorite array of tackle, fresh bait and even custom rods. The area was different in those days, rougher and quieter. A practical stop for anglers soon became a fixture of the community. As Jersey City developed through the ensuing decades, the bait and tackle shop remained steady, serving generations of fishermen heading down to the Hudson River, the piers at Weehawken, Liberty State Park and the Jersey Shore.

Moe himself became an icon of the Heights. By the time he was in his seventies, he had spent much of his life either behind the counter or out on the water, all while raising a family in his home next door. His supportive wife Janice and their two children Dara and Nicholas spent countless hours in and around the shop dedicating their time to this family business. Moe greeted everyone with warmth, humor, and the effortless expertise of someone who had mastered his craft. Most significantly, he offered direction and wisdom making him a beloved icon of Jersey City Heights.

Many remember receiving personal attention and how he always seems to know where the fish are biting. For Moe, fishing was more than a hobby. It was a mindset, a way to find peace. As he once explained, “Whatever problems you have… they’re gone. It’s therapy.”

To the un-initaited, Moe’s Bait & Tackle may have appeared to be an aging, slightly cluttered bait shop squeezed between residential buildings. For locals, the shop was perfectly placed. It was the anchor of a hidden fishing community. Fishermen stopped in before sunrise, teenagers came to buy their f irst hooks, and retired anglers lingered to share stories. Through the years, Moe kept the local fishing culture alive. In a neighborhood that was reinventing itself, his shop offered something increasingly rare - consistency.

Moe announced his retirement in late 2019 after half a century behind the counter. Still energetic and sharp, he simply explained, “I want to retire while I still have some bounce in my step. Moe’s Bait & Tackle officially closed in 2023. Moe now divided his time between New Jersey and Florida, staying close to the waters he loves.

The ripple of this family shop remains within the historic brick entrance as Moe’s legacy will always be deeply rooted in this community and beyond. Longtime residents still speak of him with affection, recalling early morning fishing trips that began with his advice, or childhood memories of time spent in the shop sharing, learning and growing through the joy of fishing. The spirit of Moe’s Bait & Tackle Shop lives on in stories shared by fishermen who perfected their craft under his guidance, and in the memories of those who felt the warmth of his personality. Moe wasn’t just a shop owner, he was and still is a mentor, a storyteller, and in many ways, the guardian of local f ishing culture.

In a city known for rapid transformation, “Moe” stands out as a reminder of what Jersey City once was, a place where small businesses shaped the neighborhood, where community meant conversation, and where one man with a passion for fishing built a legacy that will be remembered for generations. If the Heights has legends, Moe is unquestionably a significant one.