Cos Cob's Sportsman's Den to Close After 50 Years—Where do Greenwich Anglers Go Now?
For a harbor town like Greenwich, losing The Sportsman’s Den is a tough blow. It leaves town with just one bait shop in Byram, sending eastern-side anglers to Stamford. Fewer bait shops mean fewer people fishing our waters.
Located at 33 River Road in Cos Cob, the 50-year-old shop was more than a place to grab bunker or sandworms. It was the morning bulletin board—offering real-time tips on where stripers, bluefish, and porgies were running, custom line-spooling, and counter-side rig repairs.
Owner Billy Ingraham—who took over in 2009 from longtime proprietors the late John Pippicelli and Mike Noyes, who ran the shop for decades at Post Road and River Road—announced the permanent year-end closure on Facebook on Nov. 8. The news sparked an outpouring of nostalgia from regulars and local blogger Christopher Fountain.
In his farewell note, Ingraham cited four pressures that made staying open unsustainable:
Rising Overhead: Escalating rent, inventory, payroll, taxes, and utilities.
The Amazon Effect: Instead of selling a $500 rod-and-reel setup, Ingraham increasingly found himself selling $30 worth of line and rigging customers' online purchases—often mismatched for local waters—for free.
Family Priorities: Supporting his four children's weekend sports pulled him away from the shop and his charter boat on peak days.
A Fishing Slump: Several consecutive years of slow fishing in Western Long Island Sound dried up repeat bait runs.
Where Do Locals Go Now?
With the Den closing, Greenwich anglers must split east or west:
West: Rudy’s Tackle Barn in Byram (242 South Water Street)—a waterfront fixture since 1932—is now Greenwich's last tackle shop.
East: Fish Tales Bait and Tackle in Stamford (379 Shippan Avenue) is now the closest option for fresh bait and terminal tackle.
Between the Lines: To ensure that our local fishing culture thrives, support the groups working to keep Long Island Sound clean and fish-friendly—Save the Sound and SoundWaters.