by “Tackle Box” Billy Kelley

The Tackle Shop

Hey folks. How goes the battle? I’ve been a little topsy-turvy, health-wise. That’s why you haven’t heard from me lately. I went through a bout of pneumonia last month but managed to recuperate from that devastator. I hope none of you folks ever have to deal with that illness. It really fucking sucks.

I wanted to tell you about The Tackle Shop, the gear and bait shop on India Street that’s the latest well-loved local business to pull out of that gentrifying neighborhood. It’s certainly not the biggest waterfront industry, but The Tackle Shop has the charisma of Portland’s fishing-town past. Another nail in the coffin, right?

Actually, they’re not closing, just relocating to Veranda Street, in East Deering, not too far from Tukey’s Bridge, where I’ve also done a lot of fishing. I’m glad they’re not gone for good. They won’t be on the peninsula, a stone’s throw from one of my all-time favorite spots, the Maine State Pier. But hell, even if you ain’t got a vehicle, you can jump on the No. 7 Metro bus and zip, you’re there.

The folks behind the counter are very knowledgeable, and they’ll still be working there. I’ve been going to The Tackle Shop for years — at least since ’99 — and boy, when I walk in I’m right mesmerized every time by all the lures and poles and reels and eels, the hooks, lines and sinkers!

But the wolves are howling, the big-time developers are at the door, and India Street is prime-time real estate. As Dana, the owner, states, “the customer base is forever changing.” The waterfront is too. And you know what? It’s not to my liking. I don’t wish at all for an India Street with condos, uppity recreation, fine wine or whatever else rich folk might be content with. I’d be much happier with the “old days.” But, as Mr. Bob Dylan says, “the times they are a-changin’.” Oh well.

Dana’s not mad about the move. As far as business goes, it’s probably a smart move — folks who fish don’t live around there no more. But if you ask me, the outlook is pretty fucking sad. Not just for the shop. The whole city’s in a sad state of disarray. I told my pal Chris I think they should play “Taps” on The Tackle Shop’s last day. A whole goddamn way of life is dying.

The influx of tourists and yuppies and rich retirees is forcing locals and the poor to move up or move out. Mostly they’re moving out. I think there might end up being some kind of property wars. I see fights a-comin’.

It don’t take a genius to hear what I’m sayin’ or see what I see. Maybe I should become a fortune teller? If we could predict the future we’d all be rich beyond our wildest dreams. Me, I’d buy Fort Gorges.

Here are my predictions…

I predict The Tackle Shop will do well in its new location. They’re good at what they do, so they’d do good wherever. I just wish they didn’t have to move.

I predict we will surely keep stabbing ourselves in the back with our overfishing, which is one of the key reasons we’re losing our port.

And I don’t see any halt to global warming. Look what’s happened with all the hurricanes down there in Jimmy Buffett’s territory. Talk about getting wasted away in Margaritaville! There’s a woman to blame, alright. Her name was Irma, and then it was Maria. They’re getting blasted on those islands. If there’s one thing good about this fiasco it’s that the forecasters are getting much more adept at what they do.

It has occurred to me that this column might be a bit depressing. Good. It was meant to be. But for any folks needing a brain-lifter, let me state that I’ll even things up a bit in next month’s issue.

Now, would you mind if I went and enjoyed a margarita with Jimmy Buffett? The news guys say they’re on the road to recovery down there in the Caribbean. Good prediction, huh? Have they ever been wrong before?