Brooks Trap Mill
Brooks Trap Mill is a third-generation, family-owned commercial fishing supply retailer and trap manufacturer serving New England lobster fishermen and aquaculture operators through five retail locations across Maine and Rhode Island, with a core product line of commercial fishing traps and marine accessories.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1950
- HeadquartersThomaston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Brooks Trap Mill does
Brooks Trap Mill (legal entity: Brooks, Inc.) is a third-generation, family-owned commercial fishing supply retailer and trap manufacturer headquartered at 211 Beechwood St., Thomaston, Maine. Founded around the mid-20th century (sources cite 1946 and 1950), the company has operated for over 70 years as an established supplier to the New England lobster industry. Its core offering centers on commercial fishing traps — lobster traps as the primary product, alongside specialty traps for shrimp, crab, eel, sea bass, scup, conch, whelk, and fish — manufactured in stock and custom configurations using wire mesh, oak runners, and standardized components. Supporting the core trap business, the company distributes an extensive accessory catalog including rope (including whale-safe rope under federal Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan requirements), buoys, ballast, marine paints, anchors, knives, gloves, foul weather gear, bait bags, and aquaculture supplies for oyster, mussel, and scallop growers.
The business operates a direct-to-consumer retail model through five physical storefronts across Maine (Thomaston, Portland, West Bath, Jonesboro) and Rhode Island (Wakefield, RI — Brooks Industrial Marine), with orders taken in-store, by phone, or email. Wholesale and truck delivery services supplement the retail channel for larger commercial accounts. Customers are predominantly small commercial fishermen and aquaculture operators — SMB buyers with no publicly disclosed enterprise or institutional customers. Pricing is not listed publicly; customers are directed to contact stores directly. Revenue is generated almost entirely from hardware sales (traps, gear, accessories, aquaculture supplies) with a minor branded apparel and consumer trap furniture side line (custom rocking chairs made from reclaimed lobster traps).
Brooks Trap Mill is privately held with no institutional investors, parent company, or external funding rounds. Distribution and customer relationships are reinforced through industry partnerships with the Maine Lobstermen's Association, Downeast Lobstermen's Association, Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association, Atlantic Offshore Lobsterman's Association, and the Lobster Institute, as well as sponsorship of community events including the Maine Lobster Festival and Lobster Boat Races. The company is subject to NOAA federal whale protection regulations that mandate gear specifications impacting lobster rope and trap configurations sold to Maine license holders.
Brooks Trap Mill firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Brooks Trap Mill
- Legal name
- Brooks, Inc.
- Website
- https://brookstrapmill.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1950
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Brooks Trap Mill is a third-generation, family-owned commercial fishing supply retailer and trap manufacturer serving New England lobster fishermen and aquaculture operators through five retail locations across Maine and Rhode Island, with a core product line of commercial fishing traps and marine accessories.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Brooks Trap Mill industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Fishing Equipment
- SIC
- Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- General Fishing Tackle & Bait Retail (CRAMALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Saltwater & Offshore Fishing Specialty Retail (CRAMALAC), Boat Fishing Accessories & Rigging Retail (Downriggers, Trolling, Rod Holders) (CRAMALAM)
Keywords
Where Brooks Trap Mill is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Thomaston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Brooks Trap Mill business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Commercial Fishing Equipment Sales: Sale of commercial fishing traps (lobster, shrimp, crab, fish, sea bass, scup, conch, eel), used traps, and related equipment to commercial fishermen.
- Aquaculture Supplies Sales: Sale of aquaculture supplies including cages, racks, grow-out materials for oyster, mussel, and scallop industries.
- Fishing Gear and Accessories: Sale of fishing gloves, knives, foul weather gear, gaffs, bait bags, buoys, rope, paint, anchors, and other commercial fishing accessories.
- Wholesale and Truck Deliveries: Wholesale distribution and truck delivery services for commercial fishermen and larger orders.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Brooks Trap Mill product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Brooks Trap Mill manufactures and retails commercial fishing traps (lobster, shrimp, crab, eel, sea bass, scup, conch, whelk, and fish) along with complementary marine supplies such as rope, buoys, foul weather gear, knives, and aquaculture supplies. The company operates five retail locations across Maine and Rhode Island, accepts phone and email orders, and offers custom trap configurations and used traps to commercial fishermen and shellfish growers.
Product overview
Brooks Trap Mill is a third-generation family-owned commercial fishing supply company offering a comprehensive portfolio of trap-based fishing products and marine equipment. The core product line centers on commercial fishing traps for lobster, shrimp, crab, eel, fish, sea bass, scup, conch, and whelk, available in stock inventory and custom configurations. The company also provides an extensive selection of rope (including whale-safe options), buoys, safety gear, and aquaculture supplies for shellfish farming. A notable product extension includes trap furniture and custom rocking chairs crafted from reclaimed lobster traps. Brooks Trap Mill operates five retail locations across Maine and Rhode Island, serving commercial fishermen throughout the Northeast Atlantic region.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lobster Traps
Companies that use Brooks Trap Mill
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Brooks Trap Mill technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Brooks Trap Mill partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Maine Lobstermen's Association (V-Notching Initiative)coreJoint initiative to promote Maine's tradition of V-notching (marking egg-bearing females) to support sustainable lobster population management.
- Maine Lobstermen's AssociationcoreIndustry organization representing Maine lobster fishermen. Brooks Trap Mill supports this association as part of its commitment to the local lobster industry.
- Downeast Lobstermen's AssociationcoreIndustry organization representing Downeast Maine lobster fishermen. Brooks Trap Mill supports this association in the eastern Maine region.
- Massachusetts Lobstermen's AssociationminorIndustry organization representing Massachusetts lobster fishermen.
- Atlantic Offshore Lobsterman's AssociationminorIndustry organization representing Atlantic offshore lobster fishermen.
- Lobster InstitutecoreResearch and education organization for the lobster industry. Brooks Trap Mill is a sponsor of the US/Canadian Lobstermen's Town Meeting.
- Maine Lobster Boat RacesminorAnnual lobster boat racing event. Brooks Trap Mill supports this community event.
- Maine Lobster FestivalminorAnnual festival celebrating Maine lobster culture. Brooks Trap Mill supports this event.
- Festival of Lights Lobster Trap TreeminorCommunity event featuring a lobster trap Christmas tree display.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Brooks Trap Mill competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- West Marine: Publicly traded specialty retailer of boating supplies and fishing gear with hundreds of stores nationwide. Comparable on nautical safety gear, apparel, and accessories; less directly competitive on commercial lobster-trap specialty but increasingly encroaching on rigging and rope.
- Defender Marine: Large US marine retailer and distributor offering a full range of boating and fishing supplies, apparel, and safety gear. Overlaps with Brooks Trap Mill on rope, buoys, foul weather gear, and accessories but at much greater scale and with a national online channel.
Direct peers
- Fisheries Supply Company: Seattle-based commercial fishing supply distributor selling marine electronics, deck gear, nets, traps, and safety equipment. Comparable core commercial-fishing customer, similar multi-decade industry relationships, and overlapping product categories.
- Hamilton Marine: Maine-based marine supply retailer operating multiple stores in Searsport, Rockland, Kittery, and Portland. Directly comparable: same regional geography, same commercial fishing and boating customer base, similar inventory of traps, rope, buoys, and safety gear.
- Jamestown Distributors: Rhode Island-based marine hardware and supplies retailer (boatbuilding, marine fasteners, epoxy, and fishing supplies). Comparable product breadth and commercial-vs-recreational crossover, with a stronger e-commerce operation than Brooks Trap Mill.
- Reid Marine Supply: Family-owned commercial marine supply retailer operating in Maine and the Northeast with a similar focus on lobster, traps, rope, and related gear. Comparable size and customer base to Brooks Trap Mill in the same regional market.
Regional players
- Pacific Marine Supply: Pacific Northwest commercial fishing supply distributor serving Alaska and West Coast fleets. Similar commercial-fishing customer and trap/gear inventory but geographically non-overlapping with Brooks Trap Mill.
- East Coast Commercial Marine Supply: Mid-Atlantic commercial marine supply retailer serving Chesapeake and Atlantic fishing fleets. Comparable commercial-fishing customer base but operating in a different geography from Brooks Trap Mill's New England footprint.
Emerging players
- Atlantic Aquaculture Technologies: New England-based aquaculture equipment and supplies provider focused on oyster, mussel, and shellfish growers. Comparable on the aquaculture supplies line Brooks Trap Mill has built out, though with a more specialized product set.
- Lobster Trap Company: Specialty manufacturer and retailer of wooden and wire lobster traps, trap components, and accessories. Directly comparable on the trap-only vertical with deeper product specialization but narrower overall category coverage than Brooks Trap Mill.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Brooks Trap Mill social profiles
Digital presenceBrooks Trap Mill financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Brooks Trap Mill leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Brooks Trap Mill funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Brooks Trap Mill M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Brooks Trap Mill
What does Brooks Trap Mill do?
Brooks Trap Mill manufactures and retails commercial fishing traps (lobster, shrimp, crab, eel, sea bass, scup, conch, whelk, and fish) along with complementary marine supplies such as rope, buoys, foul weather gear, knives, and aquaculture supplies. The company operates five retail locations across Maine and Rhode Island, accepts phone and email orders, and offers custom trap configurations and used traps to commercial fishermen and shellfish growers.
Is Brooks Trap Mill a public or private company?
Brooks Trap Mill is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Brooks Trap Mill founded?
Brooks Trap Mill was founded in 1950. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Brooks Trap Mill based?
Brooks Trap Mill is headquartered in Thomaston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Brooks Trap Mill make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Commercial Fishing Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are aquaculture Supplies Sales, fishing Gear and Accessories and wholesale and Truck Deliveries.
Who are Brooks Trap Mill's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are West Marine and Defender Marine. Direct peers are Fisheries Supply Company, Hamilton Marine, Jamestown Distributors and Reid Marine Supply. Regional players are Pacific Marine Supply and East Coast Commercial Marine Supply. Emerging players are Atlantic Aquaculture Technologies and Lobster Trap Company.
Does Brooks Trap Mill have an API?
No public API is recorded for Brooks Trap Mill.
What industry is Brooks Trap Mill in?
Brooks Trap Mill's product category is Commercial Fishing Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMALAA, General Fishing Tackle & Bait Retail, with a secondary code of CRAMALAC, Saltwater & Offshore Fishing Specialty Retail. Its SIC code is 5080.