Our Story
Born in a baitball.
Somewhere off the southern tip of Africa.
01 - The Beginning
It started with one lure.
Founder, Dean Engela, started turning dreams into reality from an empty box trailer parked in his driveway. The mission was simple: build a lure to catch a fish. It’s safe to say he made that lure and caught that fish.
That was then, and we’ve come a long way since. In fact, Mayday Fishing remained in research and development for 2 years and we’ll always keep evolving with painstaking R&D as the cornerstone of every lure we release.
02 - The Craft
Modern science + Human hands.
Modern luremaking is being revolutionised by state of the art design and print technology, space-grade materials and techniques not thought of 10 years ago. We embrace these new developments wholeheartedly, but also know that any good lure must see hands. The more, the better.
Attention to detail defines our process, with each lure produced the culmination of many late nights researching and studying everything from polymer compounds to hydrodynamics. Instead of rushing it we took our time to find that perfect balance between precision technology and meticulous handcrafting, and we’re pretty comfortable in saying we’re finally there.
03 - The Crew
Meet the team.
Founding Partner
Dean
About
Dean’s clearly given in completely to an intense obsession with stickbait fishing. Big Yellowfin Tuna’s his passion, and a deep love for the Cape’s waters has him out on his boat and chasing the next bust up whenever an opportunity presents itself. It was Dean who decided to make that first lure in the back of a trailer all those years ago and today he’s still driven by the same curiosity, leading from the front in a company built on innovation.
Marketing Partner
Spicer
About
Spicer will throw an artificial at anything with gills and dabbles in the dark art of fly fishing. Always up for an adventure, he’s caught Salmon in Newfoundland, Brown Trout in Patagonia, Tigerfish in Tanzania and Bonefish in the Seychelles. Nothing feeds his fire more than connecting passionate people with premium products, and he can’t think of a better brand to do this with than Mayday Fishing.
Design Guy
James
About
A quiet man of mystery in many ways, James speaks through his actions and specifically his designs. Starting as a junior luremaker during the formative days he now heads up our design department and knows our build process and its intricacies better than any. In a world where millimeters matter his meticulous precision sets the standard for any lure we produce, while a gentle demeanour brings a sense of calm to our otherwise chaotic workshop.
Lure Guy
Scott
About
Despite Scott being a machine, we still consider all our lures handmade. Jokes aside, if you buy a lure from us it’s been through Scott’s hands. When he’s not making Maydays he’s throwing them, adding valuable on-the-water insight to our R&D processes. Bringing a certain creative flair and energy to the workshop, Scott’s keen eye for detail and high standards make sure only our finest crack the nod to go fishing.
05 - What's next
Chasing the horizon
with both outboards screaming.
As a business and brand we’re very excited to be where we are and for what’s ahead. Chasing an unknown horizon with both outboards screaming full tilt sets the scene for good things to come, and we like how it feels.
Get Your #MaydayMade
Mayday Fishing makes stickbaits and poppers that are tried, tested and proven in the toughest conditions, against the meanest fish out there.
