Fishing Lures and Baits Made in China — Soft Plastics, Hard Baits, and Carp Groundbaits Manufacturing

Fishing Lures and Baits Made in China — A $4 Billion Manufacturing Ecosystem

China dominates the global fishing tackle supply chain, and fishing lures and baits are no exception. With the global fishing lure market valued at US$3.96 billion in 2023 and projected to reach US$6.57 billion by 2033 (5.2% CAGR), Chinese manufacturers supply an estimated 60-70% of the world’s artificial lures and natural baits by volume.

This deep dive covers China’s lure and bait manufacturing landscape: soft plastic baits, hard-body lures, and carp fishing groundbaits — three production segments with very different technologies, materials, and manufacturing geographies.

Market Overview

China’s domestic lure market alone is projected to reach US$862 million by 2033 (Fact.MR).

Three Distinct Segments, Three Manufacturing Approaches

Chinese lure and bait production splits into fundamentally different manufacturing processes:

1. Soft Plastic Baits (软饵)

Technology: Liquid plastic (PVC/TPR/TPE) injection molding Primary clusters: Dongguan (Guangdong), Zhejiang

Soft plastic baits — worms, creatures, swimbaits, and tubes — are the highest-volume category in artificial lure manufacturing:

Manufacturing Process:

1. Compound mixing — PVC resin powder blended with plasticizers, stabilizers, and color pigments
2. Heating and liquefying — The compound is heated to 160-200°C until liquid
3. Injection molding — Liquid plastic injected into multi-cavity aluminum molds under pressure
4. Cooling and curing — Mold opens, baits cool rapidly
5. Scent and salt infusion — Some manufacturers add salt and attractants during or after molding
6. Quality check — Visual inspection for air bubbles, tears, and color consistency
7. Packaging — Baits bagged in scent-retaining pouches or rigid clam-shells

Key Manufacturing Considerations:

• Scent retention — Adding garlic, shrimp, or anise oil during compounding
• Salt content — Controlled salt addition affects buoyancy and sink rate
• Color matching — Custom Pantone matching for client brands
• Texture replication — Molds must capture fine detail (ribs, claws, appendages)

Key Manufacturer: The Fish Fun — Dongguan-based lure OEM, founded 2006, 100 employees

• Products: Soft baits, hard baits, jig heads, spinnerbaits
• Tel: N/A (website inquiry form)
• Website: oemlure.com

2. Hard-Body Lures (硬饵)

Technology: Injection molding (plastic) or CNC carving (wood/balsa), painting, clear coating Primary clusters: Dongguan (Guangdong), Weihai (Shandong)

Hard-body lures — crankbaits, jerkbaits, poppers, stickbaits, and minnows — require precision balancing and finish quality:

Manufacturing Process (Plastic Hard Baits):

1. Mold design — 3D CAD modeling of the lure body, lip angle, and internal ballast chambers
2. Injection molding — ABS or polycarbonate pellets injection-molded into two halves
3. Body welding — Ultrasonic welding of the two halves (for hollow baits)
4. Through-wire insertion — Stainless steel through-wire inserted for hook hangers and line tie
5. Internal ballast — Tungsten or lead shot added for casting weight and rattle chambers
6. Priming — Primer coating for paint adhesion
7. Airbrushing — Multi-layer hand airbrushing (base coat → scale pattern → lateral line → gill plates → eye spots)
8. Clear coating — UV-resistant epoxy or polyurethane top coat
9. Hardware attachment — Split rings, treble hooks, and line ties installed
10. Tuning — Each lure tested for swimming action (wiggle, roll, depth)

Key Differences — Wood vs. Plastic:

3. Carp Fishing Groundbaits and Pellets (打窝料/颗粒饵)

Technology: Drying, grinding, mixing, extrusion, and pelleting Primary clusters: Hubei Province (Wuhan/Xiaogan/Honghu), Shanxi (Xi’an)

This is China’s largest bait category by volume, driven by the massive domestic carp fishing market:

Manufacturing Process:

1. Raw material selection — Grains (corn, wheat, soybean), fishmeal, shrimp meal, and flavor attractants
2. Grinding — Raw materials ground to specific particle sizes
3. Blending — Multi-stage mixing in industrial blenders, with liquid attractants added in sequence
4. Extrusion — Blend forced through a die at controlled temperature (affects sink rate and dispersion)
5. Drying — Pelleted or loose baits dried to target moisture content (8-12%)
6. Flavor coating — Surface application of liquid attractants (strawberry, vanilla, black sugar, garlic)
7. Packaging — Vacuum-sealed or nitrogen-flushed bags for freshness

Key Manufacturers:

Hubei Province accounts for an estimated 50%+ of China’s carp groundbait production. The region’s agricultural output provides abundant raw material (corn, wheat, soybean) while a well-developed inland logistics network serves both domestic and export markets.

Quality Spectrum — Lures and Baits

Artificial Lures (Hard and Soft)

Groundbaits

Key Manufacturing Clusters

Guangdong (Dongguan) — Artificial Lure Hub

• Home to The Fish Fun and numerous small to mid-size injection molders
• Proximity to Shenzhen’s electronics ecosystem for automated production
• Deep-water port access via Shenzhen and Guangzhou

Hubei (Wuhan, Xiaogan, Honghu) — Groundbait Capital

• China’s carp groundbait heartland
• Laogui, Longwanghen, and dozens of smaller manufacturers
• Agricultural raw material abundance
• Central location serves domestic market logistics

Zhejiang — Soft Bait and Hardware

• Injection molding expertise from adjacent toy/consumer goods industries
• Ningbo and Wenzhou ports for export

Shanxi (Xi’an) — Specialized Additive Producers

• Shenju Fishing Bait leads in additive and attractant technology
• Known for innovative liquid baits and dip formulations

OEM and Private Label

The Chinese lure and bait OEM ecosystem serves global brands:

OEM Services Offered:

• Custom mold development ($2,000-10,000 per mold for soft baits, $5,000-25,000 for hard baits)
• Color matching (Pantone or sample-based)
• Private-label packaging (bag, clam-shell, or box with brand logo)
• Scent and salt customization
• Complete product development from concept to production

Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs):

• Soft plastic baits: 500-2,000 units per SKU
• Hard baits: 300-1,000 units per SKU
• Groundbaits: 500-1,000 kg per SKU

Regulatory and Quality Considerations

Lead Content — China has tightened lead content regulations for fishing tackle. Most reputable lure manufacturers now use tungsten or steel instead of lead for ballast in hard baits.

Plasticizer Compliance — Soft plastic baits exported to EU must comply with REACH regulations on phthalate content. Manufacturers serving European buyers use non-phthalate plasticizers (DINCH, DOTP).

Food Safety (for Groundbaits) — Groundbait intended for European carp fisheries may require HACCP certification, as baits contact water in protected fisheries.

Outlook

The Chinese lure and bait industry faces several trends:

1. Premium shift — Domestic Chinese anglers increasingly demand quality lures, driving manufacturers to upgrade from economy to mid-market production
2. Environmental regulation — Lead bans and plastic waste concerns push innovation in biodegradable soft baits and tungsten alternatives
3. Direct-to-consumer — Chinese bait companies (especially Laogui) are building direct brand recognition abroad via cross-border e-commerce
4. OEM consolidation — Smaller lure workshops are being absorbed into larger manufacturing groups with better compliance capabilities
5. Automation — Automated injection molding and robotic painting are reducing labor costs in hard-bait production

Sources

• Fact.MR Fishing Lure Market Report (2023-2033)
• Yahoo Finance — Global Fishing Bait Market Forecast (2024-2030)
• Company profiles: The Fish Fun, Laogui Biotechnology, Shenju Fishing Bait, Longwanghen Group
• Industry interviews and trade show reports (China Fish, ICAST)

Found a mistake? See our corrections policy. Have a tip? Contact the editor.