industry map
China's Fishing Gear Industry Clusters: Where the World's Tackle Is Actually Made
More than 80% of the world’s fishing gear is manufactured in China, and the production is not spread evenly — it is concentrated in a handful of specialized clusters, each with its own product focus, cost profile, and export history. For buyers, knowing which town makes what is the difference between a smooth sourcing trip and a wasted one.
The Cluster Map at a Glance
| Cluster | Specialty | Claimed Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Weihai, Shandong | Rods and full-line tackle | ~60% of global rod supply; “Fishing Tackle Capital of China” |
| Dongyang, Zhejiang | Fishing line | Geshan Town: over 55% of world supply |
| Duchang / Poyang, Jiangxi | Hooks | 90% of domestic hook production, ~25% of global supply |
| Suning, Hebei | Budget fiberglass/composite rods | ¥2B+ annual industry output, 1M+ rods shipped yearly |
| Gu’an, Hebei | Floats | 80%+ of national float market |
| Kangjiawu, Hebei | Floats | 80% of China’s float production, 3,000+ SKUs |
| Huolin, Anhui | Nets | ”China’s No.1 Fishing Net Town” |
| Wuhe, Anhui | Hooks | Annual sales exceeding 1 billion pieces |
| Cixi, Zhejiang | Line and export production | Major manufacturing hub |
| Linxiang, Hunan | Floats | Leading domestic and international float base |
Weihai: The Rod Capital
Weihai is the anchor of the industry. Shandong’s coastal city accounts for roughly 60% of global rod production and hosts the full vertical chain — rods, reels, hooks, floats, bait, and accessories. Export figures have been running strong: fishing gear exports surpassed ¥2 billion RMB in the first three quarters of 2024 alone.
The city is also home to rising Chinese brands. KastKing, founded by Weihai native Chui Tianshi, became the No. 1 selling fishing gear brand on Amazon U.S. in 2023, with over 3 million units sold — a case study in positioning quality alternatives against $500+ reels. Guangwei (GW) is the other anchor name buyers will meet at every Weihai trade event.
For OEM buyers, Weihai’s advantage is speed: a full design-to-delivery cycle for a new rod line has been documented at under three weeks when working with local factories.
Dongyang: The Line Capital
Dongyang’s Geshan Town produces over 55% of the world’s fishing line. The cluster runs on thousands of household-scale workshops that keep lead times short and costs low, which makes it the default origin for Amazon, Walmart, and mid-range export lines. Buyers should expect capacity in volume and consistency, but should qualify quality control per factory — the range between workshops is wide.
Poyang and Duchang: The Hook Belt
Jiangxi’s Poyang region traces hook-making back to the Qing Dynasty. Today it supplies over 90% of China’s fishing hooks and roughly a quarter of the global market. Stainless steel, carbon steel, and specialty treble hooks are all produced here, largely by OEM/ODM factories with years of export experience.
Hebei’s Three Clusters: Suning, Gu’an, Kangjiawu
Hebei holds the budget and float end of the market. Suning produces fiberglass and composite rods suited to bulk orders and beginner sets — the kind of product that moves on Shopee, TikTok Shop, and discount retail shelves. Gu’an and Kangjiawu split the float market, together controlling most of China’s float production across thousands of SKUs, with strong overseas demand from Russia, Germany, and Southeast Asia.
How the Brands Are Going Global
Two paths stand out in recent years. Lokass Outdoor, described as China’s largest fishing equipment OEM, runs 8,000+ SKUs across chairs, tents, rod racks, and tackle boxes, supplies Decathlon, Rapala, and Pure Fishing, and filed for a Hong Kong IPO in November 2024. KastKing represents the branded path — building a global consumer brand from a Weihai base, one Amazon listing at a time.
Market Context
The global fishing gear market was valued at $24.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $31 billion by 2028. North America holds the largest share at 31.1%, followed by East Asia at 29.7% and Europe at 22.1%. Southeast Asia is the fastest-growing region — a reminder that demand for Chinese tackle now runs well beyond the traditional Western markets.
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