2022 IBEX Innovation Award Interview with Overboard Technologies

News Date: February 7, 2023

Overboard Pro Mounted Fish Dehooker

The mounted “hands-free” Fish Dehooker is made of 316 stainless steel and comes with a lifetime warranty. The boat version can be easily mounted to your boat or dock in a variety of locations and can be deployed in either direction for keeping or releasing fish. The revolutionary design allows for complete hands-free removal of fish from almost all standard hooks, and most single hook lures, without having to put your rod down. We designed the Fish Dehooker with conservation in mind. We understand the importance of getting the fish back in the water as quickly as possible while also keeping the precious slime coat on the fish, and not on your boat and hands. The end result is healthier released fish, more time fishing (not unhooking), a cleaner boat, and at the end of the day, less band aids on your fingers.

What problem does this product solve?
The Overboard Pro Mounted Fish Dehooker allows you to release, or keep, your fish quickly and easily. For fish that are being released, it gets them back in the water as quickly as possible, keeping their slime coat on their bodies and not on your boat or hands. The mounted design allows for release of fish in just seconds, greatly increasing the amount of time that you have on the water, and keeps your boat clean in the process.

How did you become aware of this problem?
“My experience as a lifetime angler with over 30 years fishing professional tournaments and 25 years of being a full-time fishing charter guide and commercial fisherman, has enabled me to be in lots of different situations and I’ve realized  the need for a better fish release system,” said Brady Nelson of Overboard Technologies. “Everything from hooks in fingers to getting poked by fish, doctor bills, messy boats, and some fish mortality have all driven me to bring the Overboard Pro to market. With all the changes in the world today, using every minute of your time on the water wisely, and releasing unwanted fish unharmed, has a greater impact now than ever. It’s just an overall better solution,” Nelson concluded.

Who is the target market for this product?
Our stainless steel Fish Dehooker can be mounted in many different ways on any boat/fishing craft, dock, or anywhere you fish. It can be flush mounted and works to keep fish, release fish, or take live bait off into your bait well. We have seen the Overboard Pro mounted to boat caps, decks, baitwells, fishboxes, docks, and coolers.

What is noteworthy about the technology used?
“Many full time charter captains agree, you will catch more fish in less time regardless of how you use this tool, whether it’s to keep fish, release fish, or for catching bait fish,” Nelson added. “The Overboard Pro Mounted Fish Dehooker will maximize your time on the water getting the most enjoyment out of every day.”

How is it different from any other solution on the market?
What sets our tool apart from all the other fish dehookers, pliers, and related tools on the market is that it’s mounted permanently to your fishing vessel, watercraft, or dock. Its sleek, low profile design keeps it out of the way when not in use and it never leaves that location, always ready to go. Look at it like it’s a first mate that you only have to pay one time. All of the your other tools are subject to being lost, misplaced, or falling apart, this tool is always where you put it, always works, and is one of the most dependable things on your boat.

What obstacles did you encounter in the R&D process?
“We did not encounter too many problems in the R&D process. I would say the biggest challenges we faced were in manufacturing and lead times due to the pandemic. The biggest problem other than that is how fast time goes by,” added Nelson. “We produced a few different prototypes, but overall, we knew the direction that we were going in from the outset and have come up with an amazing product that will last as long as you have your boat.”

What customizations are available to personalize this product?
It just simply works, wherever you dream of putting the Overboard Pro Fish Dehooker that works best for your needs, it can be mounted there. We have a few different models to choose from that will cover just about every situation. Our core group of captains and myself have been testing various prototypes for years now, and we are constantly finding new ways to use it. It is one of the most helpful tools on a fishing boat today.

How has the product been received?
Our product has been received well, customers love it. We launched the product in January 2022, have already have a few boat companies installing them on their builds. We have decent flow of sales through our website https://overboardpro.com, as well as some retail outlets around the country. Charter captains have contacted us to let us know how easy we have made their life on the water catching fish with far less handling. Recreational anglers are getting from fish to fish much more efficiently keeping the ones that they want and releasing the ones that they want to catch another day.

To see all the 2022 IBEX Innovation Award winners, click here.