Pro Cut Baits has become synonymous with squid for many anglers.

“Buy some Pro Cut,” your fishing buddy tells you.  You know he’s talking about pre-cut squid strips. It’s like using the word Kleenex for tissues, Coke for cola or Tylenol for painkillers.

Pro Cut may need no introduction. But how did this company become so well known? And who provides the product?

Pro Cut’s pre-cut squid—strips of the bait cut in a long, triangular shape—put the company on the map. The squid has proven versatile and effective for many types of fishing, from winter flounder pounding in the rivers to wreck fishing for sea bass on the offshore grounds.

The squid comes soaked in shedder crab, shrimp, bunker or bloodworm scents and in the colors Snow White, Shocking Pink, Lime Green, Mello Yellow, blue, red, purple, green and orange.

The scents and colors permeate completely through the squid and not just on the outside. This reportedly means the scents and colors last.

The scents are not only made to attract fish but also to help disguise human scents that can turn off fish.

The dye is “color fast” to prevent it from bleeding. This means no dye ends up on you, your clothes or your boat.

The colors can be used for different fishing situations. For example, light colors can be used to stand out against a dark background like a mud bottom, and dark colors can stand out against a light background like a sand bottom. Darker colors are commonly known to work well if a fish is attacking from below and also show up at night with more contrast.

Colors also change appearance as bait sinks in the water. Scientists believe fish see no colors but see shades and contrasts. The company’s literature points out that orange appears as black below 20 feet, and yellow appears as white below 60 feet, but white remains fairly constant, and both fluorescent colors and blue change little at these depths.

Pro Cut also provides “Bloodworms” that are squid strips cut in a worm shape and are colored and scented like bloodworms. “Super Clams” are also available that are clam fingers scented with clam or shedder crab.

Founded in 1994, Pro Cut entered an agreement that made Forked River Freezer its sole producer starting in 2002. Many anglers from New Jersey are familiar with Forked River Freezer, the well-known processor and supplier of ice and baits. Established in 1952 by brothers Ted and Henry Hutler, Forked River Freezer is a landmark in Forked River along the Central Jersey Coast.

During its first 25 years, Forked River Freezer mainly distributed to local marinas, tackle shops and commercial boats. But over the past 25 years it expanded and now delivers from New York to Virginia.

Three generations of the Hutler family now remain active in the business. In addition to Pro Cut Baits, the company processes and distributes many different baits, from bunker, butterfish, ballyhoo and mackerel to clams, shedder crabs, spearing, sandworms and much more.

For more info, visit the Pro Cut Baits web site.