capt.kirk
12-24-2005, 11:46 AM
In todays ST PETE TIMES,there is a story about a traveling BAIT SHOP
ran by a women named BONNIE VAN ALLEN,she was raised in MIAMI Fl,
and had a very sucessful business in florida,that was wiped out by the
no name storm of 1993,she was also a sculptor,and her last one was a
giant shrimp,made from pvc and aluminum,it now sets on the roof of her
24 ft pontoon boat that has 7, 50 gallon bait tanks aboard,she sets at the
mouth of the HOMOSASSA RIVER,every morning,selling shrimp,pin fish,and
other baits.she carrys no TACKLE,except for a few misc,things such as
hooks and first aid kits and does not charge any thing for them.At noon she
checks her bait traps thru out HOMOSASSA BAY.After lunch you have to
reach her by cell phone,or look for that HUGE SHRIMP on top of her roof.
When she is not busy selling bait and giving out tips to fishermen,she likes
to read,and many people stop by to give her books,she was also given a
puppy that she named GRACIE.she gave the dog that name because she
thought that it was a gift of grace,from a longtime customer.She likes to
see people fish,because fishing is a way to get away from lifes problems
and have an enjoyable day,she also comments that on the water you have
found a healing place,to focus on other things,leaving your problems at home.she closes with this,saying she started the business to make money
and had no idea how rewarding it would be to her personally.i look out for
my customers,and they look out for me.
TIP FOR THE DAY,To keep bait shrimp alive longer,if you dont have a live
well or a flow thru bait bucket,take a smaller cooler and add 2 inches of
ice,then wet a grocery bag,and fold it,put the bottom half on the ice,
add the shrimp then fold the other half of the bag over the top of the shrimp,to keep them from flopping around,and they will live several hours
this way,and will perk right up when dropped in the sea water.
KIRK
ran by a women named BONNIE VAN ALLEN,she was raised in MIAMI Fl,
and had a very sucessful business in florida,that was wiped out by the
no name storm of 1993,she was also a sculptor,and her last one was a
giant shrimp,made from pvc and aluminum,it now sets on the roof of her
24 ft pontoon boat that has 7, 50 gallon bait tanks aboard,she sets at the
mouth of the HOMOSASSA RIVER,every morning,selling shrimp,pin fish,and
other baits.she carrys no TACKLE,except for a few misc,things such as
hooks and first aid kits and does not charge any thing for them.At noon she
checks her bait traps thru out HOMOSASSA BAY.After lunch you have to
reach her by cell phone,or look for that HUGE SHRIMP on top of her roof.
When she is not busy selling bait and giving out tips to fishermen,she likes
to read,and many people stop by to give her books,she was also given a
puppy that she named GRACIE.she gave the dog that name because she
thought that it was a gift of grace,from a longtime customer.She likes to
see people fish,because fishing is a way to get away from lifes problems
and have an enjoyable day,she also comments that on the water you have
found a healing place,to focus on other things,leaving your problems at home.she closes with this,saying she started the business to make money
and had no idea how rewarding it would be to her personally.i look out for
my customers,and they look out for me.
TIP FOR THE DAY,To keep bait shrimp alive longer,if you dont have a live
well or a flow thru bait bucket,take a smaller cooler and add 2 inches of
ice,then wet a grocery bag,and fold it,put the bottom half on the ice,
add the shrimp then fold the other half of the bag over the top of the shrimp,to keep them from flopping around,and they will live several hours
this way,and will perk right up when dropped in the sea water.
KIRK