Fathom Lures
Fathom Lures
For years, Gulf Stream trollers on the NC coast have chosen skirted ballyhoo as their go-to baits. While they definitely work, natural baits present some challenges involving rigging, preparation and storage, cost, and more. Wilmington company Fathom Offshore has an answer, a complete line of skirted lures that outperform traditional ballyhoo without added baits.
Designed specifically with NC offshore anglers in mind, the company is determined to break the perception that baitless lures are strictly for marlin tournament fishermen. Their line features a variety of head shapes (more than half of which have been designed with meatfish like tuna, dolphin, and wahoo in mind) and sizes ranging from small (dink bait size) to extra large (appropriate for grander marlin and general teaser use).
“Our fastest growing segment of customers are recreational fishermen in smaller (23-32’) boats seeking higher success on their offshore adventures,” says Fathom Offshore’s Brandon Carter.
The lures have been proven to outperform a traditional dead bait spread by a large margin when rigged and fished properly.
“They’re outperforming traditional skirted bait by 50% or better,” Carter continues. “They’ve also got the ability to troll at higher speeds so you can find the fish faster. The report we keep hearing all the time is that someone buys one to try it out, runs it in a ballyhoo spread, and the lure outperforms everything else in the spread.”
Fathom Lures are more economical than other offshore lures in the same class, and the skirts are hand-tied and replaceable, so anglers can replace worn-out skirts or experiment with new colors at will. The heads are essentially indestructible, and over time the lures will pay for themselves in savings on ballyhoo, especially given the ever-rising cost of frozen baits.
The lures’ head shapes and color-schemes have been designed with input from successful local blue water captains like Mike King and Shane Brafford to work particularly well on our waters and species.
Each lure is handmade from start to finish in small batches that ensure the quality remains consistent. The heads have balanced and centered inserts that keep the lures running straight and true to their intended action.
Additionally, each lure is semi-custom, with a subtly different color scheme than the next, so anglers can enjoy the fact that they have a truly one-of-a-kind lure. The colors are some of the brightest and most vibrant on the market, offering the maximum possible fish-attracting ability.
In addition to lures, Fathom Offshore manufactures and markets pro-level aluminum pliers, lure bags and accessories, and a full line of apparel.
The company’s products are available at local tackle shops including Island Tackle in Carolina Beach, EJW in Morehead City, Field and Stream Sports in New Bern, EZ Bait in Goldsboro, and more. Anglers can also peruse their entire line of products at www.fathomoffshore.com.
