Reely Hooked Fish Co. Update | Shark Tank Season 9

Regular smoked fish dips are often loaded with mayonnaise and cream cheese. Steven Markley and James Arcaro noticed a problem: health-conscious consumers wanted a tasty yet nutritious option. This led them to create their signature dip using Greek yogurt, offering a healthier and flavorful alternative to fill this market gap. Did this fish dip hold its own? Let’s find out in our Reely Hooked Fish Co. update and pitch recap.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Reely Hooked Fish Co. after Shark Tank.

Steven Markley and James Arcaro entered Shark Tank Season 9 to pitch their healthy, fresh fish dip, seeking $75,000 for 25% equity. After their pitch, they secured a deal with Mark Cuban for the full amount.

In terms of a Reely Hooked Fish Co. update, the company initially gained traction following the episode’s airing but eventually went out of business. The founders attempted to establish another venture but were unsuccessful.

Shark	Result
Mark Cuban	Accepted offer of $75,000 for 25% equity
Daymond John	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer
Robert Herjavec	No offer
Kevin O’Leary	No offer

Shark Tank Reely Hooked Fish Co. Pitch

• Entrepreneurs: Steven Markley and James Arcaro
• Business: Healthy fresh fish dip
• Ask: $75,000 for 25% equity
• Result: $75,000 for 25% equity
• Shark: Mark Cuban

James and Steven, professional firefighters turned fishmongers, seized a unique opportunity with their new product. They entered Shark Tank to pitch Reely Hooked Fish Co.

Reely Hooked smoked fish dip is for health-conscious people who crave rich, smoky seafood without compromising their health goals.

It’s a flavorful and nutritious alternative to traditional dips loaded with mayo and artificial ingredients.

They prioritize fresh, delicious fish for their dip. King mackerel and amberjack, sourced from sustainable fisheries near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, make this a tasty and eco-friendly choice.

The founders claim the magic lies in their secret recipe, combining fresh, locally sourced ingredients with a unique smoking process using local woods.

The real game-changer, however, is the base. Instead of the usual mayonnaise or sour cream, they use Greek yogurt.

Despite the innovative product, the entrepreneurs faced challenges.

They had done only $10,000 in sales over three months, marketing primarily to microbreweries—three craft breweries and one small retailer. 

Production costs are $4.50 per unit, and the product retails for $12. However, production costs can be reduced only with higher-volume fish purchases.

Steven and James are looking for $75,000 to help them fund a better facility and operate the business full-time.

During their Shark Tank pitch, Daymond John expressed skepticism, noting that three breweries selling the product wasn’t sufficient, and he was the first shark to opt-out.

Lori Greiner advised the entrepreneurs to focus on their firefighting careers, and she’s out as well.

Kevin O’Leary felt that the sales revenue did not justify the $300,000 valuation and declined to invest.

Mark Cuban, however, saw potential and asked if they could achieve $1,000 in weekly sales.

Upon receiving an affirmative response, he offered $75,000 for 25% equity, matching their request, and they accepted.

Was this a good deal? Let’s find out in our Reely Hooked Fish Co. update.

Shark Tank Reely Hooked Fish Co. Update

Unfortunately, despite the deal with Mark Cuban going through, our research revealed that Reely Hooked Fish Co. has gone out of business. 

After airing, our Reely Hooked Fish Co. update found that = they sold their smoked fish dip in small stores across Florida for a while but struggled to grow. 

Further, shipping the fresh fish was a big challenge, so they focused on collecting names and emails until they could fix this issue.

Their last social media posts were in 2019, and their website is no longer active. 

Steven Markley’s LinkedIn profile shows he started a pool service company called Pools Next Door in July 2019, but it closed in November 2022. 

There is no update on the other owner, James Arcaro.

This looks to be the final Reely Hooked Fish Co. update.

You can find the other company updates from Season 9 Episode 11 here:

• ProntoBev Update
• Slumberkins Update
• Cut Buddy Update

Before you go, be sure to check out our Shark Tank Season 9 page for more updates!