The major distributor of firearms, firearm accessories, and fishing gear has filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in North Carolina.
According to a report by SGB Media, “Big Rock Sports, the Graham, NC-based distributor of fishing, hunting and outdoor sporting goods, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation, listing just over $100 million in liabilities. Unsecured claims totaling about $83 million and including many vendors in litigation with Big Rock are not expected to be paid.”
Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a legal process that allows individuals to eliminate most of their unsecured debts through liquidation. It involves the sale of non-exempt assets to repay creditors, and it is often referred to as “liquidation bankruptcy” because of this process. Filing for Chapter 7 provides an automatic stay, halting most collections and legal actions against the debtor, and typically allows for a discharge of qualifying debts within a few months.
Their LinkedIn profile notes that, “Big Rock Sports sells to large and small retail customers throughout the United States and Canada. Our business is an integral part of the supply chain in the US and Canada. Big Rock Sports has a product inventory of over 180,000 SKUs in more than 600,000 square feet of warehouse space at four regional distribution centers in the U.S. and three across Canada. In addition, there are four satellite offices including corporate headquarters in Graham, NC, and an administrative office in Morehead City, NC. The company is strongly committed to protecting the rights of hunters, anglers and all outdoor enthusiasts.”
The financial concerns of Big Rock Sports haven’t been much of a secret, with news stories circulating for more than a year of the company’s troubles. Its website is now defunct, it closed a distribution center in Hamlet, NC in 2024, and most recently in December 2025, the Canadian subsidiary, BRS Canada Acquisition Inc., filed an assignment in bankruptcy under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act in Canada.
There was also a lot of chatter on the subject of the status and future of Big Rock from both vendors and retailers alike when I attended the recent Folsom Tackle Dealer Show held in Atlantic City, NJ, the first week of December. Concerns at the time primarily centered on who would fill the void left by Big Rock, specifically for smaller fishing retailers, but there was also much confusion due to some recent developments including the formation of Open Water Brands, LLC, which included former saltwater-specific Big Rock Brands Clarkspoon, Sea Striker, Star Rods, GOT-CHA, Calcutta, Billfisher, Krok, Beach Runner, Contour, and Nungesser. Further, Open Water Brands included many members of the Big Rock family such as Big Rock Sports Chairman Adrian Holler; Graig Zurn, former merchandise manager at Big Rock Sports; and Christian Bedsworth, a former global sourcing manager at Big Rock Sports.
With more than 20,000 retailers served by Big Rock in its prime, this developing story will have lasting effects on the fishing and outdoor industry.
