Page 98 - fish-on-magazine-2025

“When reels had no drag, every marlin hooked was a battle of will. Your “The days of using a leather pad on your thumb to slow a fish down

hands blistered, but your pride burned brighter.” needed to be rethought. That’s why I did it.”

- Edward Vom Hofe | VOM HOFE REELS - Edward Vom Hofe | VOM HOFE REELS

Edward Vom Hofe is

widely considered the

father of the modern

offshore fishing reel.

When a blue marlin explodes from the deep, tail-walking across Enter the master craftsmen of the era. Few names loom larger and 1930s, were often captured using Vom Hofe reels. The enough to take on the ocean’s most powerful predators—par-
the wake in a burst of cobalt fury, it’s not just a battle between in early offshore fishing history than Edward Vom Hofe. A Ger- IGFA, established in 1939, became the governing body for ticularly the black marlin of Peru.
man and fish—it’s a test of gear honed over more than a centu- man-American machinist and tackle maker, Vom Hofe is wide- record-setting sportfishing, and the reels that accompanied
ry of innovation. Nowhere is that evolution more evident than in ly considered one of the fathers of the modern saltwater reel. those early records became legend. One of the most notable In 1953, using a Fin-Nor reel, Alfred Glassell caught a
the offshore fishing reel, a specialized piece of equipment that Based in New York City, his shop began producing reels in the was the 1,135-pound Atlantic bluefin tuna caught off Nova Sco- 1,560-pound black marlin off the coast of Cabo Blanco, Peru.
has transformed dramatically since its inception. From the ear- late 1800s, but it was in the early 1900s that he truly revolution- tia in 1949 by angler Ken Fraser—still a benchmark in big game The fish, which remains one of the most iconic catches in IGFA
ly handcrafted masterpieces to today’s high-performance engi- ized big game tackle. fishing. history, demonstrated the effectiveness of Fin-Nor’s sealed,
neering marvels, the history of offshore reels is one of craftsman- stainless steel, and bronze reel construction. It was a defining
ship, innovation, and the relentless quest for the ultimate catch. Vom Hofe’s reels—particularly his famed B-Ocean series—were Fin-Nor and the Post-War Boom moment not just for the company but for offshore fishing as a
made from nickel silver and hard rubber, with unmatched toler- whole.
The Birth of the Big Game Reel ances and hand-fitted parts. His use of dual drag systems (leath- While Vom Hofe laid the foundation, another titan would
er and cork) laid the groundwork for future drag technology. emerge in the post-war years to transform offshore reel de- Fin-Nor reels were known for their unbreakable frames and
Offshore fishing reels came into their own in the early 1900s, a These reels were not only mechanically sound but also beauti- sign: Fin-Nor. powerful drag systems. The introduction of the “Wedding
time when saltwater sportfishing was still in its infancy. Unlike ful—polished, engraved, and revered by serious anglers and col- Cake” design—a series of stacked drag washers that mimicked
freshwater reels, which had been around since at least the 18th lectors alike. Founded in 1933 in Miami, Florida, Fin-Nor began as a pre- the look of a tiered cake—allowed for higher drag pressures
century, the offshore reel had to be built to withstand enormous cision machine shop, but it was in 1936, when famed Miami and smoother resistance. This was a critical development, as
strain—both from the environment and the fish. Early reels were As big game fishing gained popularity, so too did the need for angler and tackle innovator Alfred Glassell collaborated with previous drags often failed under extreme pressure or heated
often modified freshwater models, but they proved inadequate more specialized gear. Early IGFA (International Game Fish Fin-Nor to build a reel capable of landing giant marlin, that the up and seized during prolonged battles.
against powerful species like bluefin tuna, marlin, and swordfish. Association) world records, including those set in the 1920s company’s legacy was cemented. Their goal? A reel strong

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