Fishing Tackle That’s Home To Carolinas

Open a saltwater and freshwater tackle box in the Carolinas and there is a good chance some of its contents have local connections. North Carolina and South Carolina are home to companies producing everything from shrimp imitations for marsh creeks to trolling lures for offshore waters. Their products reflect the variety of fishing available across the Carolina Coast and inland, with recognizable names serving fishermen from the mountain lakes to the sounds to the Gulf Stream.

North Carolina

Clarkspoon, in Morehead City, North Carolina, is closely associated with Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Its Original Clarkspoon and Spoon-Squid are signature trolling lures, offering the flash and small baitfish profile that these predators pursue. The company also produces Flashspoons, casting jigs and mackerel rigs, giving fishermen several ways to approach schooling coastal fish.

Also associated with Morehead City, Sea Striker is known for the GOT-CHA plug. This compact casting lure is familiar to pier and bridge fishermen targeting Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Available in different colors and styles, it imitates small baitfish and gives fishermen a practical option when feeding schools move within casting distance.

Blue Water Candy, in Hampstead, North Carolina, grew from Captain Jodie Gay and his wife Terry’s fishing experience. Its saltwater offerings include skirted trolling lures, jigs and rigs. The Wedgie pairs a wedge-shaped head with natural bait for king mackerel, mahi and other species, while the Hoo-Knocker brings a jet-and-rattle-head design to offshore wahoo fishing.

Fathom Offshore, headquartered in Wilmington, began in 2009 when Andy Holcomb and Brandon Carter, both in their early twenties, started building trolling lures out of a garage. The line has since grown from resin-style marlin lures into dredges, chain squids, terminal tackle and lure skirts, most of it made in-house in North Carolina. The company says it makes all of its resin trolling lures by hand, one at a time, in its North Carolina facility. Its trolling lures include the Double O, head chugger and jack slant, built to stir up billfish, mahi, wahoo and other game. The catalog also lists the Torpedo, SR71 Wahoo and Fatboy lures, pre-rigged lure packs, and an inshore line for redfish.

Betts Tackle, based in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, contributes to inshore fishing through its Billy Bay lineup. Recognizable offerings include the Halo Shrimp, Halo Shad and Perfect Sinker Shrimp. These shrimp and baitfish imitations give the company a saltwater identity alongside its other fishing tackle, with several presentations represented within the Billy Bay range.

First Flight Lures, in Rocky Point, was founded in 2018 by Gene Holland, a longtime Wilmington firefighter and fisherman who spent years tying his own jigs. The hand-tied jigs target cobia, redfish, tarpon, pompano and Spanish mackerel.

South Carolina

In Ladson, South Carolina, Z-Man Fishing Products is recognized for durable ElaZtech soft baits. Saltwater standouts include the DieZel MinnowZ, TroutTrick and Scented Jerk ShadZ, covering paddletail and slimmer baitfish presentations for inshore predators. The Ladson facility handles all of the company’s manufacturing.

Nearby, North Charleston’s Eye Strike Fishing is known for the Trout Eye jighead. Founded by Dave Fladd and Ralph Phillips, the company built its identity around oversized eyes and jigheads designed to pair with soft plastics.