Peter of Saltwater Edge joins Dock Side Live Radio ahead of the Newport International Boat Show and the new fishing village.
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How the shop became the place Northeast anglers callTeaching and conservationRhode Island this fallThe fishing villageSaltwater Edge is a fishing tackle retailer in Middletown, Rhode Island. The shop focuses on surf, fly, light tackle, and offshore fishing. There is no freshwater and no ice fishing. The shop has been in business more than 31 years.
Peter said he goes to the Newport International Boat Show every year because his customers are there. This year the show added a fishing village. He said he does not get ten steps before another customer stops him. He is a sponsor of the fishing village.
How the shop became the place Northeast anglers call
Peter said he once donated a percent of holiday sales to a conservation organization and sent a press release. It was posted on a bulletin board in New Jersey. One person said more shops should pick a cause, advocate for it, and raise money to support it. Another said he ordered from Saltwater Edge and received his order in a day or two, even though there were shops in New Jersey that did not ship that way. Another said he called the shop and they had been fishing the night before.
Peter wrote a brand promise about twenty years ago from those comments. The shop will ship the order by 3:00. The shop will advocate for the resource. The shop fishes the gear it sells. He said consistency over 31 years is most of the reason people call.
Teaching and conservation
People know Saltwater Edge for rods and flies. They also know the shop for teaching and for conservation. Peter said a lot of time goes into both, and most of that work is given away. The shop’s position is that it is there to help people make the most of their time on the water.
He said a sustainable fishing business needs a sustainable fishery, so the fishery comes first. He said he does not preach. Ask ten people why they fish and you will get fifteen answers.
He also said tackle, navigation, fish-finding, and communication have never been better, and remote work means the best fishermen fish more. That puts more pressure on the resource. Recreational and commercial fishing both matter. Commercial fishing is how people who do not fish get to eat fish. He wants his son and grandson to be able to fish too.
Rhode Island this fall
Saltwater Edge publishes a fishing forecast every quarter moon. Peter said the forecast is there to help people make a memory. Rhode Island is south of Cape Cod and has more variety than waters north of the Cape. This time of year the list includes bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna, striped bass, bluefish, bonito, and false albacore. Tog is about to start. Sea bass and fluke are around all the time.
He said people should use saltwateredge.com. The site has more than 500 blog posts, about 300 videos, and more than 80 podcasts. People can also call the shop.
The fishing village
Friday and Saturday seminars cover false albacore, bluefin, bottom fishing, and fly fishing. Mike Hogan of Hogie Lures will give talks. Peter will give talks. Sunday is kids day. Kids are free that day.
Peter said a seven-foot light tackle rod can feel like too much for a twelve-year-old. Match the gear to the child. Take most of the hooks off a lure and leave one. Start with species that produce a lot of bites. The casting pond is for fly casting demonstrations. If kids come up, he said he will take the time.
He said some baits can go back in a bag when a child is done, instead of buying frozen bait that starts to thaw. After the show he said families should read the forecast and start with species that give a lot of bites. He sees too many kids handed a grandfather’s heavy rod with three hooks on it.
The interview airs Wednesday at 5 PM on Dock Side Live Radio. Encore is Saturday and Sunday at 5 PM. Listen at DockSideLive.com or on the app.
Visit saltwateredge.com.
