Today we’d like to introduce you to Charleston Daulo and Gilbert Mallari.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Charleston and Gilbert. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Most companies begin with recognizing a need in a particular industry. Others are fueled out of a passion for something, ours is driven by both and lead by the need to do good in the world before increasing profit margins.
Our story began with two unsuspecting strangers that shared a common hobby – sport fishing. Gilbert and I met on a fishing trip and what was a hobby, evolved into an obsession, and has now grown to a passion.
We both took an interest in building custom fishing rods. At first, it started as something for us to do between fishing trips. Soon, we realized that there weren’t many options for buying the parts to assemble our humble works of functional art. Our hunger to learn other wrapping and building techniques soon grew insatiable as we spent more and more time surfing the web and YouTube for instructions. We sought more experienced builders and wrappers in LA and discovered that there wasn’t anyone formally teaching this skill. That’s when Fish On Customs was born. We wanted to share the knowledge that we spent countless hours learning with everyone while providing high end quality components for any all of your rod building needs.
Any true angler will tell you, catching a fish on any rod and reel is exciting. But any rod builder will tell you, catching any fish, large or small, on a rod that you made with your own hands offers an indescribable sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In our experience, owning a business of any size is never a smooth road. It’s what makes entrepreneurship exciting. The fishing industry is no different than many others, it’s competitive. Like all business, we’ve had challenges along the way, but we always found a way to conquer them. We’ve had to deal with leaking roofs, finding vendors and manufacturers, challenging orders, and creative ways to stretch our humble starting capitol. There’s just one thing that we have never struggled with, putting our customers’ needs first, the core principle that our company is founded on.
Fish On Customs – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We specialize in teaching people how to build their own custom fishing rods. We provide high quality components that is used in the building of fishing rods. Lastly, we take the time to personally review, explain, and compile the exact components for our customers exact rod build.
A custom fishing rod will not make an angler catch any more fish than a store-bought rod. It is not a magical tool that attracts fish to take the lure attached to an angler’s line. It is a tool used to bring fish to into our land based world. Just like any tool, there are some that are good, some that are better, and others that were made for your hands. A pair of jeans bought from a retailer may fit with satisfaction, but how often do we find a pair that fits perfectly? A fishing rod is an extension of the anglers hands wielding it. It must work in cohesion with your body to prevent excessive fatigue during non-fish fighting times. When you’re hooked on a fish of a lifetime, having the energy to fight it is crucial to the delicate game of sport fishing where your odds are stacked against you.
Most adjust their body mechanics to fit the rod, we give our customers the opportunity to design a fishing tool that fits perfectly for their fishing technique, body mechanics, style, and personality.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
One of the other business in the same complex of our shop is a music school. Parents and children would come every day, instruments in hand, for music lessons. One day, a young boy walked in with his dad, and couldn’t stop asking questions about the taxidermy fish mounted on our walls. I could tell this six year-old boy was absolutely excited about fishing. The father of the young boy was also new to the sport of fishing and was still in the process of collecting his gear. After several more visits between lessons, the boy’s father decided to take our rod building class. The little boy didn’t have a rod and reel of his own so, rather than buying a store-bought rod, his father decided to make his sons first fishing rod.
As I taught them how to assemble their fishing rod, I watched as father and son focused on the details of wrapping a rod. By the end of the class, both father and son were excited to head out to the nearest pier and break in that hand built gift. I was honored to be involved in creating many more wonderful experiences and memories for this father and son.
-Charles Daulo
Pricing:
- Beginning Rod Building Classes, $100 (includes all parts, components, and supplies to leave with a functional fishing rod)
- Cost of custom built rods range from $200 and higher
- Components, supplies, and tools range from $0.50 and higher.
Contact Info:
- Address: 24420 Vanowen Street
- Website: www.fishoncustoms.com
- Phone: 818-850-3331
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @wegotyouhookedup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fishoncustoms/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fish-on-customs-west-hills
- Other: snapchat: fishoncustoms
Image Credit:
Gilbert Mallari,
AK Sands
Donovan Sands
Roger Mendez
Ryan Mayers
Homer Cruz
Juan Soria
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
