DEK: Court records confirm a Chapter 7 liquidation filing in Eastern North Carolina. Industry reporting cites more than $100.9 million in liabilities and major unsecured vendor exposure.
Dateline: February 6, 2026 — United States
By: GuideFishing.com Investigative Desk
Big Rock Sports, LLC, a long-running distributor serving fishing and broader outdoor retail channels, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The filing date is listed as January 16, 2026 under case number 5:26-bk-00208, according to the bankruptcy docket. (PacerMonitor case listing)
In reporting tied to court documents, a FOX Business-syndicated account stated Big Rock listed more than $100.9 million in liabilities and $10 million to $50 million in assets. The same report said the filing did not identify one single cause, but described mounting legal pressure involving property owners, suppliers, and business partners. (FOX Business)
What Chapter 7 means for fishing retail
Chapter 7 is liquidation, not reorganization. For independent tackle shops and regional chains, that typically means orders may not ship, credits may be delayed or disputed, and future replenishment must be rerouted through other distributors or direct-from-brand programs. Trade coverage has emphasized that the disruption is likely to be felt most in staple categories that depend on frequent restocks, including terminal tackle, hooks, line, and high-turn accessories. (Fishing Tackle Retailer)
Liabilities, unsecured claims, and the vendor ripple effect
Angling International reported that about $83 million in unsecured claims are expected to go unpaid, a figure that heightens the stakes for brands and suppliers whose products moved through Big Rock’s distribution network. The outlet also described the collapse as widely anticipated within the trade and quoted a large customer saying, “It’s been coming.” (Angling International)
Angling International also quoted a U.S. vendor summarizing the practical impact on dealers: “There were a lot of retailers who never thought they needed another distributor until they stopped getting their orders.” (Angling International)
Warning signs before the filing
Fishing Tackle Retailer reported that Big Rock’s website is now defunct and noted the company closed a distribution center in Hamlet, North Carolina in 2024, details that align with a longer unwind rather than a sudden stop. (Fishing Tackle Retailer)
Separate insolvency reporting indicates Big Rock’s Canadian operation entered bankruptcy proceedings first. Insolvency Insider Canada reported that on December 5, 2025, BRS Canada Acquisition Inc. filed an assignment in bankruptcy and KSV Restructuring Inc. was appointed as Licensed Insolvency Trustee. The report also described a liquidation and collections process involving SB360 Capital Partners and discussed broader liquidity constraints tied to a revolving credit facility involving Regions Bank. (Insolvency Insider Canada)
The Outdoor Wire also reported the Canadian assignment date and referenced the U.S. Chapter 7 case number, characterizing the U.S. matter as a “no asset” case in its summary of the collapse. (The Outdoor Wire)
What retailers and brands should do now
- Verify open purchase orders: Confirm what is physically allocated and ready to ship versus only acknowledged in a system.
- Ask priority brands about alternate pathways: Many manufacturers maintain multiple distributor relationships or can offer vendor-direct options in limited circumstances.
- Stabilize core inventory: Protect availability of high-turn essentials and proven local best-sellers while new supply lines are established.
- Document credits and disputes: Keep invoices, return authorizations, and email records organized for any creditor or claims process.
What we’re watching next
In a Chapter 7 liquidation, remaining assets and inventory are typically sold under trustee supervision, and creditor recovery depends on asset realizations and priority rules. The early indicators cited by trade and insolvency reporting suggest that many suppliers may face limited recovery, while retailers adapt by shifting to regional distributors and direct programs as spring demand ramps up. (Angling International)
Sources
- PacerMonitor — Big Rock Sports, LLC bankruptcy case listing (E.D.N.C.)
- FOX Business — Report on Big Rock Sports filing, liabilities/assets, and litigation pressure
- Fishing Tackle Retailer — Trade coverage and distribution footprint context
- Angling International — Trade reaction, customer and vendor quotes, unsecured-claims figure
- Insolvency Insider Canada — BRS Canada assignment, trustee appointment, liquidation/credit context
- The Outdoor Wire — Timeline summary and case reference
