Second hand fishing tackle
Second hand fishing tackle is sold four main ways in the UK: angler to angler on a dedicated marketplace, on general sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace, through the few tackle shops that still take used stock, and at car boots. GilledIt is the angler to angler option, with escrow backed payments that hold the money until the gear arrives.
GilledIt's marketplace is early and listings are still building. Set an alert in the app for the tackle you want.
Where to buy second hand fishing tackle in the UK
GilledIt marketplace
Angler to angler, listings photographed and condition graded. Payment sits in Stripe escrow until you confirm the tackle arrived as described, so a no-show seller never keeps your money. Browse on the website, buy in the app.
eBay
The biggest selection and reasonable buyer protection, but dispute resolution is slow and prices trend higher because sellers price in the fees. Watch for stock photos on used items and always check the seller's history on tackle specifically.
Facebook Marketplace and angling groups
Often the cheapest prices and good for local pickup, but there is no buyer protection at all. Never pay by bank transfer or PayPal Friends and Family: that is where almost every tackle scam happens.
Tackle shops with used sections and car boots
You can inspect before buying, which removes most risk. Stock is limited to what walks in the door, and shop margins mean prices run higher than a private sale.
What to check before you buy, item by item
Rods: sight down the blank for straightness and hairline cracks, especially around the spigot. Check every ring for grooves worn by braid and for cracked inserts. The spigot fit should be snug with a visible gap for future wear, and the reel seat should thread smoothly with no play.
Reels: turn the handle and listen for grinding, check the bail arm springs shut crisply, test the drag runs smooth from light to locked, and inspect the spool lip for dinks that will shred line. Ask whether it has been used in salt water.
Bivvies and shelters: check poles for splits, zips for missing teeth, the groundsheet for punctures, and sniff for mould, which never fully comes out. Ask for a photo of it pitched, not bagged.
Bite alarms: water ingress is the killer. Check the battery compartment for corrosion, test sensitivity across its range, and confirm the volume and tone controls actually change something.
Line: buy it new. Mono degrades with UV and time whatever the spool looks like, and a bargain rod spooled with old line is a lost fish waiting to happen.
What second hand tackle is worth
As buying guidance, used tackle in good working order typically changes hands at a third to a half of its current retail price, with like-new items closer to sixty percent. Big-brand carp gear from Daiwa, Shimano, Korda, Trakker and Fox holds value best. Check completed eBay listings for the exact model to anchor any price before you offer, and factor postage into the comparison.
Second hand fishing tackle near me
GilledIt listings come from anglers across the whole of the UK, and the app shows the distance to every seller, so searching locally means opening the app rather than trawling shop directories. Sellers choose between tracked delivery and local pickup. If you would rather handle the gear first, arrange a local pickup through the in-app chat and pay through the app so the escrow protection still applies.
How buying on GilledIt protects you
When you buy, your payment goes into Stripe managed escrow, not to the seller. The money is only released when you confirm the tackle arrived as described, or tracking confirms delivery. If something is wrong, you open a dispute and we mediate with the funds still held. Listing is free for sellers, with a small platform fee on sold items, and listings carry photos and a condition grade.
Second hand fishing tackle: FAQ
For buyer protection, a dedicated angling marketplace like GilledIt is the safest option because payment is held in escrow until the tackle arrives. eBay offers wide choice with slower dispute handling. Facebook Marketplace is cheap but carries the highest scam risk, especially PayPal Friends and Family payment requests. Tackle shops that stock used gear let you inspect before buying but carry limited stock.
Check the blank for hairline cracks, especially near the spigot or ferrule. Sight down the rod for straightness, check every ring for grooves or cracked inserts, make sure the spigot fit is snug with no twist, and check the reel seat threads run smoothly. Ask for photos of all of these before you pay.
GilledIt listings come from anglers across the UK, and the app shows the distance to each seller so you can choose local pickup or tracked delivery. Local tackle shops with a used section and car boot sales are the other in-person options.
Usually, yes. Quality rods and reels from brands like Daiwa, Shimano and Korda are built to last decades, and used prices typically sit well below retail. The exceptions are line, which degrades with age and should be bought new, and electronics with water damage.
Selling instead? How to sell your fishing tackle · Browse the full marketplace