An infestation of the famed leaf footed bug will do it for me. About the only insect that bothers my okra.

There are also a few types of aphids that will feed on okra and cause bumps and curling. Ladybugs usually take care of these for me, but if the plants are heavily infested, I spray with neem. You can spray neem as a preventive that is pretty good at stopping problems before they start.

DarJones

Thrips can also cause this damage...especially if you notice scars on the pods, too.

That's the problem, I could never catch anything doing the damage. Didn't see any aphids, my first suspect. I don't want to spray the pods with anything. I might try spraying the plant, just not the part I will eat.

that is why I suggested using Neem. It is pretty much harmless and acts more as a repellent than as an insecticide.

DarJones

Most of the damage done causing curling and knotting on the pods involve insects attacking the flower or flower parts pre-podding, fwiw.

Aha! So I need to spray before blooming starts and at intervals. It's just so strange, Grown okra for a lot of years at several different places and not had this problem before. I always think of okra as bulletproof.