Used fishing gear in the US typically sells for $34 to $270. Tackle sells best as complete bundles, because a beginner needs everything at once and individual items are fiddly to post.
What fishing gear is worth in the US
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | $269 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | $229 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | $175 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | $121 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | $67 | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Guide ranges converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate, not quotes — sellers set their own price. Grades are seller-declared; WishThrift does not inspect or verify them.
What lifts the price
- Complete bundles covering rod, reel and tackle
- Reels with smooth drags and no grinding
What pulls it down
- Corroded hooks and rusted terminal tackle
- Incomplete bundles missing key items
Selling fishing gear in the US
Peer-to-peer payment apps dominate private sales, and buyers will usually offer one before they offer cash. Sales tax does not apply to a private sale between individuals.
Distances are the real constraint. State plainly whether you will ship or collection only, because a buyer three states away will otherwise ask.
Demand rises through the spring cleaning season and again around college move-in in August, when furniture and small appliances move fastest.
Working out what yours is worth
- Wind each reel and check the drag runs smoothly
- Discard perished line before selling
Getting it ready
- Test every reel for smooth retrieve and check the line, and inspect rod rings for cracks.
- Lay out the tackle box contents and count what is actually there.
Photograph
- The reels close up, showing brand and condition
- The rod rings and handles
Put in the description
- Rod lengths and test curves, and reel models
- Condition of reels, rings and any rust or damage
Discipline and contents: “Carp Fishing Bundle — 2 Rods, Reels, Alarms, Tackle Box”. Naming the discipline is what gets the right buyer. List the significant brands, since tackle brands carry real value differences.
March through September, peaking in spring. Carp and sea gear sell year round to committed anglers.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the $269 a buyer pays is the $269 you keep. You and the buyer settle up and arrange the handover between yourselves; WishThrift does not hold the money or ship the item.
Where in the US
The United States is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of the United States with their own page for fishing gear.
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Houston
- Phoenix
- Philadelphia
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- Dallas
- Austin
- San Jose
- Jacksonville
- Fort Worth
- Columbus
- Indianapolis
- Charlotte
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Denver
- Washington
- Nashville
- Boston
- Las Vegas
- Portland
- Detroit
- Memphis
- Louisville
- Baltimore
- Milwaukee
- Albuquerque
- Fresno
- Tucson
- Sacramento
- Kansas City
- Mesa
- Atlanta
- Omaha
- Colorado Springs
- Raleigh
- Virginia Beach
- Long Beach
- Miami
- Oakland
- Minneapolis
- Tulsa
- Bakersfield
Common questions
Where can I sell fishing gear in the US?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Peer-to-peer payment apps dominate private sales, and buyers will usually offer one before they offer cash. Sales tax does not apply to a private sale between individuals.
What discipline is it for?
Say it in the first line. Coarse, carp, fly and sea anglers need entirely different gear and a mixed lot appeals to nobody.
What should I check on a reel?
The drag and the retrieve. Grinding or a jerky drag means internal wear, which buyers test for.
Does old line matter?
Perished line is useless and can snap under load. Strip it before selling rather than passing it on.
More: how to sell fishing gear, what fishing gear is worth, or Sports & Outdoors across the United States.