Pemberton & Sons Bug Bait

Uz Pemberton and & Sons Bug Bait is their most famous lure. He was born in Florida in 1883 and the 1920 Florida census shows his occupation as a well driller. He was a designer of lures and received 6 patents between 1930 and 1932. Pemberton lures were made in Seffner and sold out of their office in Tampa in the 1930’s. The Bug Baits incorporate a patented feature on the hook to attach a piece of pork rind. Pemberton also had a design patent on the bug pattern painted on the lures. The box for the Bug Bait says it was manufactured by Pemberton & Sons. His next lures were the Busy Bait and the Florida Flapper. The box for the 12 Pack for the Busy Baits and for the wrapper for the Florida Flapper shows they were manufactured by the new company the Florida Casting Bait Co. The Busy Bait and Flapper lures came with pre-installed tails. The photo below shows some of the color variations. Pemberton is considered to be one of the great Tampa Bay Area Lure Makers.