Two Fish Jigs combines precision manufacturing with a second chance, producing consistent surface irons while creating opportunities for former gang members.
For generations of Southern California anglers, few fishing techniques are as iconic as casting a surface iron for yellowtail. The long cast, rhythmic retrieve and unmistakable strike have become a rite of passage for countless saltwater fishermen, with many spending years searching for that one lure that swims just right.
But behind one of the region’s newest and fastest-growing jig manufacturers lies a story that extends far beyond the tackle box.
San Diego-based Two Fish Jigs has built a reputation for producing precision-machined aluminum surface irons designed to deliver consistent performance from one lure to the next. At the same time, the company has partnered with Rise Up Industries, a nonprofit organization that trains and employs formerly incarcerated individuals and former gang members in advanced manufacturing, creating opportunities for people working to rebuild their lives while producing a product that is finding success on Southern California boats.
It’s a partnership that brings together two seemingly unrelated worlds, offshore fishing and workforce rehabilitation, through modern manufacturing.
Surface irons have long held a legendary status among West Coast anglers. Unlike molded plastic lures, traditional surface irons are individually poured, shaped and tuned, with subtle differences from one lure to another. Those variations can mean the difference between a lure that swims perfectly and one that never develops the side-to-side “kick” anglers look for when targeting yellowtail.
Many experienced anglers have stories about discovering that one “magic” jig that consistently caught fish, only to eventually lose it to a snag, a breakoff or an unexpected encounter with a trophy fish.
For Two Fish Jigs founder Vadis, that inconsistency became an opportunity to rethink how surface irons could be built.
Rather than relying solely on traditional manufacturing methods, the company turned to computer numerical control, or CNC, machining. The process allows each lure to be manufactured to precise specifications, reducing the subtle variations that often exist between individually poured jigs.
“When you lose that magic jig, can you replace it?” Vadis said. “With machining, you can. You know every one is the same as the last.”
For anglers, consistency offers confidence. If one jig produces fish, replacing it doesn’t require sorting through dozens of similar-looking lures hoping to find another that swims the same way.
That consistency has quickly attracted attention throughout Southern California’s fishing community. Photos shared by anglers on social media regularly showcase yellowtail caught on the company’s jigs, while several local tackle retailers have reported selling through inventory shortly after receiving new shipments.
The growing popularity reflects not only the lure’s performance, but also increasing curiosity about how it’s made.
Finding the right manufacturing partner proved to be one of the company’s biggest challenges.
“What do I know about machining?” Vadis recalled.
He explored manufacturing options both domestically and overseas before discovering that the ideal partner had been much closer than expected.
Just miles from home, Rise Up Industries was operating one of the region’s most unique advanced manufacturing programs.
Based in San Diego, the nonprofit organization provides formerly incarcerated individuals and former gang members with vocational training, mentorship and employment opportunities through CNC machining and other skilled trades. Participants receive technical instruction while developing workplace experience intended to help them establish stable careers after incarceration.
For Two Fish Jigs, the partnership offered more than manufacturing expertise. It aligned the company with an organization focused on creating second chances while producing American-made products using modern precision equipment.
Each jig produced through the partnership represents both careful engineering and the work of individuals building new careers, illustrating how Southern California’s fishing industry can support communities beyond the waterfront.
The collaboration also demonstrates how recreational fishing businesses are finding innovative ways to strengthen local manufacturing while contributing to workforce development.
For anglers, the end result remains what matters most: a lure that casts well, swims consistently and inspires confidence every time it lands in the water.
Yet every yellowtail landed on one of these precision-machined surface irons also tells another story, one of craftsmanship, opportunity and the belief that both fishing equipment and people deserve the chance to perform at their very best.
