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HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

How We Got Our Start

Clark Buford Bait, Inc. is a live bait and tackle wholesale distribution company based in Cordele, GA. We are proud to have been in the live fish bait business for seventy-three years making us one of the oldest suppliers of bait in the United States.

Clark Buford returned from the war, and one of his favorite hobbies was to go fishing. In 1943, a lake was built in Celina, TN. He went out fishing in the lake, and he was catching a lot of fish. Some visitors watched as he caught plenty of fish and they did not. They approached him to buy the bait he was using, and he told them sure. They offered to pay him for the fish, but he turned down their offer to pay him for the bait. A few days later, the same men wanted more bait and insisted on paying him for the bait. From there, he came up with starting a bait and tackle store for profit as his new business. Clark Buford founded the business in Tennessee and Kentucky in 1948.

The business grew into Georgia, Alabama, and Florida during the 1950’s. We have our own transport trucks which means that we don’t have to depend on or wait on trucks to come in at a set time. We have built a great reputation in our seventy-one years in business. We pride ourselves in good customer relationships, a dependable supply, quality products, and an outstanding connection with our vendors.

Clark Buford passed away in 1995. The company is now owned and operated by Clark’s daughter, Kathee, and his son, Mike, in Georgia. Mike’s daughters, Ashley and Kathryn Leigh joined the business in 2010 and 2013, respectively, making Clark Buford Bait, Inc. a third-generation company. Our company is set up for another seventy-plus years in the live fish bait and tackle industry.

Our company is set up for another seventy-plus years in the live fish bait and tackle industry.

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