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An app has been launched in Europe with a clear ambition: to become the go-to platform where anglers across the region buy and sell second-hand fishing gear, regardless of discipline, geography or language.
By replacing current platforms, the founders of the Recast app say they will open up opportunities across the angling industry – starting with investors that could stand to make big returns from a business model that has been proven to work in other markets where consumers trade and upgrade gear.
Recast’s Pieter de Jong says resale is thriving in angling, but services such as Facebook groups and eBay are not fit for purpose. He told Angling International: “There is a lot of activity on these sites, but it does not connect, and trust is often based on who you know rather than any real system. That creates friction. Transactions take longer, pricing is inconsistent and there is always a level of uncertainty around payments, shipping and whether gear will arrive as expected.
“At the same time, the fundamentals for resale are strong. Gear is durable, anglers upgrade frequently and there is consistent demand for quality equipment across all styles of fishing. What is missing is a layer that brings all of that together, with trust and security built in.”
Step forward Recast, which, says de Jong ‘is designed around how anglers actually buy and sell.’ He adds: “Recast is built specifically for fishing. That matters because fishing is not a single category, it is a collection of very distinct styles and communities. Carp anglers, fly anglers, street fishers and sea anglers all look for different things, use different terminology and value gear differently. We support different styles of fishing within one platform, while making it easier to find relevant gear across regions and communities.”
De Jong has launched Recast with business partner Ignacio Vial. De Jong brings a rare mix of deep angling immersion and digital product expertise. A lifelong fisherman with experience across multiple disciplines, he has also built a career as a UX designer, working with global brands including Philips, Puma, Heineken and Adidas. His background in illustration, community-building and design gives him a detailed understanding of how users interact with platforms – and, crucially, how anglers behave. Vial complements that perspective with marketplace expertise. Raised in Texas and introduced to fishing early, he shares the same passion for the sport but focuses on the mechanics of scaling a platform – how supply is built, how transactions flow and how the marketplace evolves as activity grows.
Their app is now live in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Belgium and France. With that foundation in place, the focus is now shifting towards scaling the platform – and securing the right investment partners to help make their ambitions a reality.
What is the potential for Recast?
PdJ: The potential comes from the size of the category and how underdeveloped resale still is. Fishing is a large and highly engaged market across Europe, with millions of active anglers and a constant flow of gear being bought, used and replaced. At the same time, resale remains fragmented across styles, regions and informal networks. That creates the opportunity that we’re aiming to solve. If you can connect those pockets of activity and make it easier for gear to move between anglers, the market becomes much more efficient. Our approach is to build that foundation step by step. First by establishing strong activity in a few core markets, and then expanding across Europe while keeping the platform relevant to different styles of fishing. Over time, that creates a network where supply and demand are no longer limited by geography or niche communities. The potential is to become the place where anglers across Europe go to buy and sell gear, regardless of how they fish.
How will it make money?
We take a small commission on each transaction. When someone sells a rod, reel or any piece of gear through Recast, we take a percentage of that sale. That’s it. The business works if people keep using the platform to buy and sell.
Where is it launched and what is the rollout plan?
We are live in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Belgium and France. Right now the focus is on a few things. Bringing in more supply, strengthening the markets we have already opened, leaning into the categories and styles that are clearly working and investing in performance to reach more anglers who are already buying and selling. We are starting to see early patterns in each country. Certain styles and types of gear move faster depending on the market, and that gives us a clear direction on where to focus. That same data also helps us build better relationships with brands and manufacturers. As they think about their own product roadmaps, we can show them how gear is actually circulating and where the demand is coming from.
You are now raising funds, what will the capital be used for?
We are raising a small round to put more fuel behind what is already working. We are still early, so the focus is on staying disciplined and building things properly so they can scale. Most of the capital will go into growing supply and activity in the markets we have already opened. That means bringing in more sellers, working with affiliates and partnering with brands and OEMs to get more quality gear onto the platform. We are also going to be investing in performance marketing to reach more anglers who are already buying and selling, and continuing to improve the product so transactions are smoother and more reliable. It is less about trying new things, and more about doubling down on what is starting to work.
What should excite investors?
Fishing is a large and very active category, but resale is still fragmented and mostly informal. There is already a lot of buying and selling happening across Europe, just spread out across different communities, styles of fishing and local networks. That creates an opportunity to connect that activity and make it more efficient. What makes it interesting is that we are not trying to create new behaviour. Anglers already trade gear all the time. We are building the structure around that so it can scale.
What kind of investors are you looking for?
We are looking for a mix. On one side, investors who understand marketplaces or the fishing industry and can bring experience or relationships with brands, retailers and distribution. On the other, people who simply like the space, understand what we are building and are comfortable backing it without needing to be deeply involved day to day. At this stage, both can be valuable. What matters most is alignment and a long-term view on how marketplaces are built.
Are you open to multiple investors?
Yes, and we actually prefer it, as long as it remains a small, focused group. It allows us to bring in a few different perspectives, whether that is marketplace experience, industry relationships or simply people who understand what we are building and want to support it.At the same time, keeping the group tight makes it easier to stay aligned and move quickly. That balance is what we are aiming for.
