Pacific Bay International

What Pacific Bay International does

Pacific Bay International (DBA: PacBay) is a US-based manufacturer and direct importer of fishing rod components, founded in the late 1970s to supply rod manufacturers with an economical and reliable source of quality components. The company produces and distributes an integrated product line of more than 14,000 SKUs spanning rod blanks (including Quickline Fly, Carp, Tradition II, Rainforest II, and PBX II series), reel seats, guides (including the in-house Rugged Ring line), tip-tops, grips, hardware, thread, consumable supplies, and rod-building tools (Rodsmith wrapping machines, dryers, deluxe chucks). Notable proprietary offerings include the Rugged Ring guide platform, marketed on durability and drop-resistance claims, and an exclusive ergonomic reel seat licensed from Outdoor Grips, LLC in May 2018 to address user fatigue in long fishing sessions.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining a global dealer and distributor network (with a public 'Where to Buy' dealer locator on its website), direct B2B accounts with leading rod manufacturers for private-label and custom solutions, and recurring presence at major sportfishing trade shows including ICAST, Fred Hall Show, EFTTEX, and the International Custom Rod Building Exposition. Distribution is anchored by the company's Sequim, WA facility — described as the largest US warehouse and distribution center for fishing rod components — from which product flows to 20+ countries across five continents. Marketing channels are predominantly digital-plus-trade: corporate website, Facebook, Instagram, print catalogs (2018, 2019, 2020, 2024 New Products), and industry-organization affiliations (Trout Unlimited, EFFTA, FFF, AFFTA, ASA, Custom Rod Builders Guild). Pricing is transactional hardware sales at unit-level pricing with no disclosed list pricing, supported by a $20 shipping-and-handling warranty replacement program in the first year of purchase.

The company is privately held, headquartered in the Sequim/Carlsborg, WA area, with 11-50 employees. It relocated from California to Sequim in 1998 and has maintained multi-decade customer relationships. Leadership is sparse in disclosed material — Chief of Operations Scott Whitmore is the only named executive. No revenue, funding, M&A, or subsidiary information is publicly available; no parent company or institutional ownership has been disclosed. The operating posture remains active, with ICAST 2025 booth participation in July 2025 and a 2024 product refresh.

Name

Pacific Bay International

Legal name

Pacific Bay International

Website

https://fishpacbay.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pacific Bay International (PacBay) manufactures and imports fishing rod components — blanks, reel seats, guides, tip-tops, grips, hardware, and tools — supplying custom rod builders, commercial rod manufacturers, and a global dealer network across five continents with over 14,000 SKUs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fishing Rod Components Manufacturing

NAICS

Ship and Boat Building (3366)

SIC

Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Parts, Accessories & Maintenance Supplies Retail (CRAMAIAB)

Keywords

• Fishing rod components
• Rod blanks manufacturing
• Rod building hardware
• Reel seats and guides
• Custom rod building supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Sequim

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fishing Rod Component Sales: Sale of fishing rod components including rod blanks, reel seats, guides, tip-tops, grips, hardware, tools, thread, and supplies to rod builders, manufacturers, and dealers. One-time transactional sales with private label and custom solutions available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Pacific Bay International manufactures and directly imports an integrated line of fishing rod components — including rod blanks, guides, tip-tops, reel seats, grips, hardware, thread, tools, and consumable supplies — for freshwater, saltwater, and fly fishing applications. The company serves custom rod builders, commercial rod manufacturers, and dealers across 5 continents and more than 20 countries, and offers private label and custom component solutions through its Sequim, WA distribution hub.

Product overview

Pacific Bay International is a manufacturer and direct importer of quality fishing rod components serving freshwater, saltwater, and fly fishing markets. The company produces an integrated product line comprising rod blanks (Quickline Fly, Carp, Tradition II, Rainforest II, PBX II series), guides including the Rugged Ring series, tip-tops, reel seats (including exclusive ergonomic designs), grips, hardware (arbors, fighting butts, hook keepers, winding checks), tools (Rodsmith wrapping machines, dryers, deluxe chucks), thread in multiple sizes and colors, and consumable supplies. The company operates with a service-first model and offers over 14,000 products with private label and custom solutions available. Distribution spans 5 continents and more than 20 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rod Blanks Graphite and composite rod blanks for freshwater, saltwater, and fly fishing applications, including Quickline Fly, Carp, Tradition II, Rainforest II, and PBX II series. Sold to custom rod builders and rod manufacturers.
• Rugged Ring Guides Fishing rod guides marketed as the toughest guide on the planet, torture-tested for durability with no grooving, ring breakage, or pop-outs. Sold to custom rod builders and rod manufacturers.
• Tip-Tops Rod tip-top components for various fishing rod configurations. Sold to custom rod builders and rod manufacturers.
• Ergonomic Reel Seat Reel seat featuring an exclusive ergonomic design licensed from Outdoor Grips, LLC, with a handle extension that places the user's hand in an ergonomic position to minimize fatigue and provide leverage during long fishing sessions. Sold to custom rod builders and rod manufacturers.
• JigRipper Grips JigRipper® rod and net handle grips owned by Outdoor Grips, LLC, marketed through Pacific Bay International's exclusive licensing arrangement. Sold to custom rod builders and rod manufacturers.
• Rod Building Hardware Miscellaneous rod building hardware including arbors, fighting butts, hook keepers, winding checks, and aluminum components in various colors such as black, titanium, and tigreys. Sold to custom rod builders and rod manufacturers.
• Rodsmith Tool Series Rod building tools including the Rodsmith RW-1L Wrapper, RW-3L Power Wrapper, RW-3XL Power Wrapper, RW-XL Power Wrapper, Deluxe Chuck RW/DX-CHK, Quad Rod Dryer (RDM-4), Rod Dryer RDM-1, and Epoxy Finish Mixer for professional rod building. Sold to custom rod builders and rod manufacturers.
• Wrapping Thread Nylon wrapping thread in sizes A and C and various colors on 950 yard and 450 yard spools (M100A, M100D, Y950A, Y450C, Y3KA, Y3KC series). Sold to custom rod builders and rod manufacturers.
• Rod Building Supplies Rod building consumables including rod finish, rod glue, mixing cups, and nylon brush supplies. Sold to custom rod builders and rod manufacturers.
• Warranty Replacement Service Warranty replacement service providing replacement rod blanks within the first year of purchase for a flat $20 shipping and handling charge, administered through Pacific Bay's Warranty Claims Department. Offered to rod builders and rod manufacturers.
• Private Label and Custom Manufacturing Solutions Private label and custom component manufacturing solutions enabling leading rod manufacturers to source rod blanks, reel seats, guides, grips, hardware, and other components under their own brands. Sold to commercial rod manufacturers.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Outdoor Grips, LLCcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 11 May 2018Pacific Bay International entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Outdoor Grips, LLC on May 11, 2018 to market an ergonomic reel seat designed by Outdoor Grips. The innovative reel seat minimizes user fatigue during long fishing sessions with a handle extension providing unprecedented leverage. Outdoor Grips' existing product line includes JigRipper® rod and net handle grips. Chief of Operations Scott Whitmore stated that PacBay believes the ergonomic impact will be unlike anything ever seen before in the fishing industry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Tackle Co. American Tackle is a direct competitor to Pacific Bay, manufacturing and distributing fishing rod components including guides, reel seats, and rod blanks to custom builders and rod manufacturers through a similar dealer network.
• Mud Hole Custom Tackle: Mud Hole is a direct competitor and one of the largest online retailers/distributors of rod building components, thread, and tools to the custom rod building community—overlapping heavily with Pacific Bay's product catalog and target buyer.
• Batson Enterprises: Batson Enterprises manufactures and distributes fishing rod components including blanks, guides, and reel seats under brands such as Mudhole and MHX, directly competing with Pacific Bay's integrated catalog and dealer model.
• CRB (Custom Rod Builder): CRB sells rod building components, tools, and guides to custom rod builders—a closely comparable offering to Pacific Bay's catalog, with overlapping product lines and customer segments.

Broad incumbents

• K. Fuji (Fuji Guides): Fuji is a globally established manufacturer of premium fishing rod guides and reel seats. While not a one-stop component supplier like Pacific Bay, Fuji's guides are a default OEM choice for many rod manufacturers that Pacific Bay also serves.
• Shimano: Shimano is a global leader in fishing tackle, including rods, reels, and components. While Shimano's primary focus is finished tackle rather than component supply, its scale and component sourcing influence the broader market in which Pacific Bay operates.
• Daiwa: Daiwa is a major fishing tackle manufacturer producing rods, reels, and components. It overlaps with Pacific Bay in the broader sportfishing value chain, though it primarily sells finished tackle rather than rod components to builders.

Others

• St. Croix Rods: St. Croix is a leading rod manufacturer that sources rod components (blanks, guides, reel seats) from suppliers like Pacific Bay. It is a downstream customer/peer in the rod value chain, useful for benchmarking component quality and OEM relationships.
• Sage Manufacturing: Sage manufactures premium fly rods and is a potential customer for Pacific Bay's fly rod components and blanks. It illustrates the downstream rod manufacturer segment that Pacific Bay serves via B2B and private label channels.
• Ande / Sea Striker: Sea Striker (parent of Ande and other fishing brands) produces fishing tackle and accessories in adjacent categories to Pacific Bay, representing an adjacent competitor in the broader recreational fishing products space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fishpacbay
• Instagraminstagram.com/fishpacbay

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pacific Bay International