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From Accidental Lure-Maker to Industry Innovator

He never set out to be a lure-maker, yet today, Dave Venn and his hand-crafted JB Lures Australia have changed the game. His first lure, the Little Dingo, not only catches fish but has also reset the bar for big-game fishing.

“I got into lure-making almost by accident,” says Venn, whose Jervis Bay Tackle Co. and lure-making business sit just a block from the western shores of Jervis Bay, in Huskisson, New South Wales.

A Life Shaped by Adventure and the Sea

Venn grew up nearly 400 miles north of Huskisson, in Kempsey, where he embraced a lifestyle of sailing, surfing, fishing, and outdoor adventure. After finishing school, he spent a year as a jackeroo (ranch hand) before moving on to truck driving in Wollongong and Sydney.

As he approached age 30, Venn sought advice from his father about starting a business together. In March 1987, they purchased a hardware store in Huskisson, selling ships chandlery, camping gear, and—eventually—fishing tackle.

Discovering a Fishing Mecca

Jervis Bay, famous for its annual run of small black marlin, reignited Venn’s passion for fishing. After work, he frequented the Huskisson Hotel—locally known as the Husky Pub—where he met seasoned fishermen David Harrison and Mitch Green, both stationed at the HMAS Albatross naval base.

“I’d moved to a fishing mecca where you can catch marlin from the shore!”

The two anglers had graduated from shore-based game fishing to boat fishing but were frustrated with the instability of imported Hawaiian lures in rough Australian waters. To solve the problem, they designed their own lures, incorporating lead ballast and importing skirt materials from Japan. Their creations, known as Greenies Lures, became instant favorites.

The Birth of JB Lures Australia

Venn began selling Greenies Lures in his shop in 1988, moving about 30 lures a year. When Mitch Green moved back to Perth, the lures needed a new name. Venn suggested JB Lures—a nod to Jervis Bay.

“We had immediate success in tournaments using JB Lures, which included five shapes: the Chook, the Donger, the Ripper, the Hummer, and the Rocket.”

By 1996, tackle sales dominated the store’s revenue. Venn and his father planned to transition into a stand-alone tackle shop, and after selling their original business in September 1997, they launched Jervis Bay Tackle that December.

Stepping Into Lure-Making Full-Time

Soon after opening his new shop, Venn took over handcrafting JB Lures. His first year of production saw him making about 1,200 lures—a number that quickly increased to 3,500–5,000 lures annually.

The Evolution of the Little Dingo

In April 2004, Venn recognized a problem—when trolling at high speeds (15–18 knots), most lures flew out of the water, missing opportunities to hook larger fish.

“I decided to design my first original lure—a more stable, high-speed trolling lure. That’s how the Little Dingo was born.”

His prototype, featuring a pale green head and an eight-inch Lumo skirt, was an instant success. The very first test run aboard the Reel Quick caught an 80-pound yellowfin tuna.

The Little Dingo’s Immediate Success

A week after the initial test, local angler Tony Carnevale took a Little Dingo out and returned with six yellowfin tuna, all between 70–90 pounds—five of them caught on the lure.

Following this breakthrough, Venn expanded the lineup, introducing the Micro Dingo (6.5”), Dingo (10”), and Big Dingo (12.5”), ultimately growing the Dingo family to seven sizes, ranging from 6.5” to 20”.

Record-Breaking Catches with JB Lures Australia

Since its introduction, the Dingo lure has rewritten the record books, including:

• Heaviest game fish in Australian waters—five times
• NSW record for heaviest game fish on 130-pound test (six times), 80-pound (six times), and 50-pound (four times)
• 795-pound blue marlin off Sydney—the heaviest marlin recorded there
• 13-year IGFA All-Tackle World Record: 370-pound Southern Bluefin Tuna on an 80-pound test

“I always have a Lumo Little Dingo in the shotgun position and an Evil Dingo on the short rigger when fishing.”

A Global Reputation

Since launching his website in 2003, Venn has supplied JB Lures Australia to charter operators worldwide, including legendary captains like:

• Peter Bristow (Madeira)
• Stymie Epstein (Kona)
• Tom Francis (Tahiti)
• Greg Hopping (Samoa)
• Tim Dean (Cairns & Port Stephens)
• Leigh O’Brien (Townsville)
• Ross Finlayson (various international locations)

The most recent record-setting Dingo catch occurred in March 2023, when junior female angler Cooper Burley landed a 384-pound blue marlin on a 10-inch Dingo.

JB Lures Australia: Continuing to Make History

Today, Dave Venn remains at the helm of Jervis Bay Tackle, crafting high-performance game lures that continue to break records and catch monster fish worldwide.

With its legacy of innovation and success, JB Lures Australia is now synonymous with big-game fishing excellence.

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