About Tony’s Tackle
Tony’s Tackle did not begin as an online business or a brand exercise. It began, like most good things in fishing, with time on the beach, hard-earned knowledge, and a deep respect for the sport.
Tony Kirrage was born in West Sussex in 1955 and grew up fishing with his father long before he ever thought about running a tackle shop. Those early days, spent coarse fishing around Pevensey Bay and watching seasoned anglers at places like Langney Point, shaped a lifetime obsession with fishing and learning how to do it properly. The sea, in particular, left its mark. The sound of the surf, the challenge of reading conditions, and the quiet competitiveness of shore angling became part of who he was.
By the early 1970s Tony was already a serious angler, engineering by trade but fishing whenever he could. What set him apart even then was his willingness to experiment, to question why certain tactics worked, and to push himself further. His casting improved, his results followed, and before long other anglers were stopping to ask questions. Where to fish. What bait to use. Which tackle could be trusted. Those conversations, often held on the beach rather than in a shop, planted the seed for what would come next.
In November 1974, Tony opened Tony’s Tackle in Eastbourne. He was young, determined, and absolutely convinced that anglers deserved better advice and better service than what was commonly available at the time. The shop quickly became a hub for local shore anglers, not because of flashy displays, but because people knew they would get straight answers. If something worked, Tony would say so. If it didn’t, he wouldn’t sell it.
Over the years Tony built a reputation not just as a tackle dealer, but as an angler in his own right. He competed at the highest levels of match fishing, represented England internationally, and fished across the UK and abroad in places like South Africa, Spain, France and The Gambia. He worked closely with major manufacturers including Penn, Shimano, Daiwa and Greys, consulted on product development, and designed tackle that is still respected today. His Sea Match Blue hook, first sketched out in the shop in the late 1970s, remains one of the most talked-about hooks in match angling history.
But for all the trophies, articles, and accolades, Tony never lost sight of what mattered most. Fishing, to him, was never about ego. It was about understanding watercraft, bait presentation, timing, and having the confidence to adapt when things were not going your way. He believed, and still believes, that the difference between success and failure often comes down to preparation and mindset just as much as gear. That philosophy runs through his writing, his shop, and the way Tony’s Tackle operates to this day.
Like many long-standing independent businesses, Tony’s Tackle has seen difficult times as well as good ones. There were periods of real struggle, moments when the future of the shop was uncertain, and times when resilience mattered more than results. It was during one of those low points that the idea for T-Bay was born — giving anglers the chance to sell quality second-hand tackle on commission. It was a practical solution rooted in trust and community, and it remains a core part of Tony’s Tackle today.
Today, Tony’s Tackle continues both in-store and online, serving anglers across the UK. The aim has never changed. To offer reliable, proven tackle. To be honest about condition and suitability. To respect anglers of all levels, whether they are buying their first rod or their tenth.
This website is simply an extension of the shop and the values it was built on. Experience over hype. Knowledge over noise. Fishing done properly.
If you have ever stood on a shingle beach at dawn, watched the tide push, and felt that quiet confidence that comes from knowing you have prepared well, then you already understand what Tony’s Tackle is about.
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