Nothing beats mid-April for this sport fishing equipment and supplies store in Charlottetown.
Going Fishing at the Sherwood Shopping Centre has been trying to keep up with the demand as sport fishing season finally gets underway on Sunday at 12:15 p.m.
“Oh my gosh, this is our Christmas,’’ said Helen Boshuis, who co-owns the store with her husband, Harmen. Friday and Saturday will just be very, very busy.’’
They’ve got the bait all set to go. In fact, boxes are stacked on top of boxes. The store has been selling lots of licences as well.
“We sell lots of worms. We just got a new shipment in of 24,000 worms. (We have even) more because we’ve got some in the cooler, we’ve got some in the house but 24,000, I’d say, with more on the way.’’
“We sell lots of worms. We just got a new shipment in of 24,000 worms. (We have even) more because we’ve got some in the cooler, we’ve got some in the house but 24,000, I’d say, with more on the way.’’
-Helen Boshuis
One shopper told The Guardian Going Fishing is a one-stop shop for avid recreational fishermen.
Peter Graham of Cornwall said he loves fishing and has been doing it for the past 45 years.
“I like the taste of it, love the taste of the trout and, oh, just the challenge,’’ Graham said. “You never know what you’re going to get and the next one might be bigger than the last one.’’
Kyle Arsenault of Stratford turns 21 today and can remember going out with his uncle for the first time when he was just 10 years old.
“It’s a big day (on) Sunday. I hope it’s a nice day. I love it,’’ Arsenault said. “It’s deep in my roots. My uncle and grandfather have been fishing for 50 years. (Opening day) is just something you kind of look forward to. I (think the excitement) is just because it’s the start of the year.’’
Arsenault said the biggest challenge is simply finding the fish.
“It’s hit or miss. Last year, we were on the Morell River and there was nothing. You’d find one fish, probably four or five pounds, and then you couldn’t find anything else.’’
One thing is for certain, fishermen Islandwide will be heading out to their favourite spot on Sunday.
“They’re spread out across the lake up there pretty good,’’ Arsenault said, referring to the Morell River. “And, apparently, it’s pretty good out Mount Stewart way, too, so I think we’re going to try there this year or we were talking Cardigan maybe.’’
Boshuis said it’s an exciting time of the year to be working in the store.
“We’re just running a little business here and helping all the boys,’’ she said. “They’re all coming in and getting geared up. Some of them are checking their tackle boxes and some of them are, like, well, ‘I might need this or I might need that.’’
