A lone angler in a kayak on a relatively calm water, to a backdrop of trees and bushes ascending to mountain tops and a cloudy sky with patches of blue breaking through.

About Us

Equipment for anglers pursuing the sport with an unrelenting passion.

From 1921 to Today

In 1921, by the river of Mörrum in Svängsta, Sweden, Carl August Borgström founded AB Urfabriken. The company manufactured pocket watches, telephone timers and taxi meters. Borgström was a brilliant craftsman with a talent for light precision engineering; skills he had acquired during his years in the Halda watchmaking factory.

Unfortunately, World War II caused a sharp decline in the demand for taxi meters. Undaunted, ABU redirected its skills toward the development of precision fishing reels used by anglers the world over. That's why Abu Garcia later received the honor of being chosen "Purveyor To The Royal Swedish Court," a distinction bestowed upon a select group of manufacturers for consistently exceeding its highest standards of quality and craftsmanship.

Abu Garcia's influence on the sportfishing community is unmatched. The company remains firmly committed to maintaining its industry leadership position by providing anglers everywhere with the highest quality, most innovative products.

Our Story

2020's

  • 2026 – VoltiQ arrives. A new generation of digital casting control
  • 2021 – Abu Garcia celebrates 100 Years of service with Limited Edition collections

2010's

  • 2013 – The Revo Low Profile Family is completely redesigned to be lighter, more compact and more powerful
  • 2010 – The first Revo spinning reel is introduced with Revo Premier

2000's

  • 2009 – Abu Garcia releases the V-Series of rods with the Vendetta® and Vengeance®
  • 2006 – The Revo® low profile baitcast reel takes the angling community by storm

1980's

  • 1984 – The company name is changed from ABU to Abu Garcia when a company distributor in the US called Garcia was combined with ABU.

1970's

  • 1977 – The ABU museum is opened in Svangsta, Sweden

1960's

  • 1965 – The Cardinal® spinning reel makes its debut

1950's

  • 1956 – The ABUMatic® is introduced
  • 1955 – The ABU 444, the company's first spinning reel is produced
  • 1954 – Abu Garcia® unveils the Ambassadeur® 5000 at the New York World's Fair
  • 1952 – The world famous Ambassadeur® reel is introduced

1940's

  • 1941 – The first Abu Garcia fishing reel, the ABU Record® is introduced

1920's

  • 1921 – AB Urfabriken is founded as a watch factory in Svängsta, Sweden