Shell Bobbers Shark Tank Update – Shark Tank Season 4
Shell Bobbers came to the Tank looking to lure in a Shark with their fishing bobbers made from shotgun shells.
Shell Bobbers entrepreneurs Jeff Stafford and Dusty Holloway brought their fishing-related products in Shark Tank Season 4 Episode 22. The two lifelong friends and fishing buddies pitched their Shell Bobbers – a bobber made from a shotgun shell.
Check out other Shark Tank Season 4 Episodes.
About Shell Bobbers
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Name | Shell Bobbers |
| Founders | Jeff Stafford and Dusty Holloway |
| Industry | Outdoor Recreation – Fishing Accessories |
| Product | Fishing bobbers made from shotgun shells |
| Deal Status | Deal secured with Mark Cuban |
| Investment Asked | $80,000 for 20% equity |
| Deal Outcome | $80,000 for 33% equity |
| Valuation | $400,000 (At the time of the Shark Tank pitch) |
Fishing and hunting go together like white on rice, so when they spotted a spent shotgun shell floating in the water during one of their fishing trips, the pair decided to turn the idea into a product and start a business. The pair also had a cooler and tackle box combo in development, but the Shell Bobbers were the main product featured in their pitch.
Shell Bobbers Shark Tank Recap
Jeff and Dusty entered the Tank seeking $80,000 for a 20% stake in their business. At the time, they had only about a thousand dollars in sales, but there was strong interest from outdoor stores in their prototype. Since hunting and fishing are multi-million-dollar industries, they believed they had a winning idea.
Mr. Wonderful offered $80k for 50% of the business, with a 50-cent per-unit royalty until he gets his investment back, after which royalty goes to 10 cents in perpetuity; Jeff and Dusty declined. Robert did not think the guys had a real business, and he went out. Daymond followed suit on similar grounds. Lori was kind of interested, but hesitant enough to not follow through.
Mark told them they were smart not to take Mr. Wonderful’s offer and put $80,000 on the table for 33% of the business. Although Lori was still in the running, Mark pushed for an immediate decision. Jeff and Dusty eventually took Mark’s deal. Daymond initially thought they’d made a mistake, but Mark insisted Daymond couldn’t see the vision.
What Makes Shell Bobbers Unique?
These bobbers were affordably priced and added novelty and visual appeal to their category in a fun way. After all, who wouldn’t find it more entertaining to see shotgun shells floating on the water while trying to catch fish?
Shell Bobbers Shark Tank Update
Shell Bobbers were selling briskly on Amazon initially. The deal with Mark went through to the point that Jeff and Dusty appeared in an update segment in season 5 episode 9. Shell Bobbers were going into 3,000 7-Eleven stores while being in negotiations with Walmart.
They had moved twice since appearing on the show to keep up with inventory demands. The update segment showed their new facilities, with their employees and machinery. They say how proud they are to make their product in the USA. Before the show, they had less than $1,000 in sales.
Shark Tank propelled them to 7-Eleven stores nationwide and then to Walmart. They were projecting over $1 million in sales for 2014, and they were quite grateful to Shark Tank for their success.
Fast forward a few years, and as of July 2025, their website is down, and social media has not been updated since 2017. The products are also off Amazon and Walmart now, and it looks like they are out of business.
In February 2017, Stafford took a job as the Chief Marketing Officer at Darwin Automotive, and Holloway never closed the surveying business he’s operated since 2010. As of 2025, Jeff is a VP of sales at JD Power, and Dusty is running his own business, H&H Surveying.
Where Can You Buy It?
After its initial success run, the product has been off the shelves and from Amazon since 2018. If you are curious how exactly shotgun shells work, here is the product information about Shell Bobbers as seen on Shark Tank, along with their Facebook handle.
Quick Summary
- Jeff Stafford and Dusty Holloway pitched Shell Bobbers, a fishing bobber made from a shotgun shell, on Shark Tank.
- The Sharks were intrigued by the unique product and its potential in the large hunting and fishing market.
- The pitch concluded with a deal after some intense negotiations.
Shell Bobbers could not stay afloat for long, but if your interest in these businesses is still afloat, here are more business updates from the same episode:
I would like to see a video of this in action. Is that something that would be possible.
I looked on youtube, but there was nothing there.
Thanks
Dianna