Wholesale Fishing & Hunting Suppliers

Split the category before you buy

Fishing and hunting are two separate trades that share a customer base. Fishing covers rods, reels, line, hooks, lures, nets, tackle boxes and clothing. Hunting covers optics, clothing, calls, decoys, blinds and accessories, and in some markets firearms and ammunition. Firearms, ammunition, some knives, crossbows and certain optics are tightly controlled, and trade in them usually requires a licence. Confirm your licensing and the import and export rules for your market before you talk to any supplier, and do not assume anything about legality across borders. If you are not licensed for a restricted item, do not stock it.

Fishing tackle quality

• Rods: check material such as fibreglass or carbon, action rating and guides. Cheap carbon rods may be blended with glass. Ask for the rated line and lure weight.
• Reels: check bearings, drag smoothness and corrosion resistance, especially for saltwater use. Ask whether it is treated for saltwater.
• Line: monofilament, braid and fluorocarbon vary in strength labelling, and some claims are overstated. Ask for tested breaking strength.
• Hooks: sharpness and finish differ, and coatings can rust. Barbless hooks are required in some waters.
• Lures: paint chipping and weak split rings are common complaints.

Tackle compliance can also include lead and heavy metal limits. Some markets restrict lead weights, and rules vary, so check the rules for your market.

Fishing and hunting rules differ locally

Rules on bait, hook types, lead shot, camouflage and decoys vary between countries and even regions. A product that is fine in one place may be illegal in another. Ask the supplier which markets the product is intended for, and check local rules before stocking, or you will carry products customers cannot lawfully use.

Seasonality

Sales follow fishing seasons, which depend on the region and species, and hunting seasons that cluster in autumn. Spring starts the main freshwater fishing season in many places, and gift buying lifts before the end of the year. Order ahead of the local season.

Pack sizes and storage

Small tackle sells in inner packs of lures, hooks and weights, with display cards or boxes. Rods are long and fragile, so ask how they are tubed or cartoned. Keep stock dry, since hooks and reels corrode, and store soft plastic lures away from other plastics because they can melt together.

Margins and counterfeits

Small accessories can carry good margins. Branded rods, reels, lures and optics are widely counterfeited, and very low prices on named brands are a warning. Ask for proof of authorised distribution and check packaging and finish.

What to ask a supplier

• Which markets and licences does this product suit?
• What materials and tested ratings does it have?
• Does the tackle meet lead and heavy metal limits for my market?
• How are rods packed?
• Is branded stock sourced through authorised channels?