The Saltwater Edge Drops Anchor at New Aquidneck Ave. Spot

For just over 20 years, The Saltwater Edge has been supporting anglers on Aquidneck Island — home to some of the best saltwater fishing in the world.

Today, the company, which operates a retail tackle shop and kayak centre along with a growing online store, hangs on in a tough business with competition from the likes of Walmart and West Marine.

But people keep calling The Saltwater Edge their home for fishing gear thanks to personal service and a relationship that can only come from a locally-owned business.

The big chain stores “sell everything on price, not much in terms of personal experience,” said Scott Wilson, a Newport native who has worked at the store since 2011 and is an avid angler himself.

The store is celebrating its new home these days at 1037 Aquidneck Ave. in Middletown. Over the years, they’ve migrated from Newport, to Valley Road, and now to their new location — a short swim to nearby Frosty Freez.

Along with the retail store, owner Peter Jenkins has kept with the times, launching an online store, www.saltwateredge.com, which promises the same kind of personal service you get when you shop at the brick and mortar location.

They sell lines, tools, rods, reels, tackle, clothing, footwear, and even fishing art.

They also host the Orvis Fly Fishing 101 school, a free introduction to saltwater fly fishing, with classes scheduled through the spring and summer. And then there’s the new fishing tournament, FISHswe.com, a new experienced-driven fishing tournament that has few and simple rules that is really about collecting photos and stories from people.

“In turn, the growing catalog of fishing experiences will encourage others to get out and enjoy the journey,” a FAQ for the tournament explains.

The initiatives are a concerted effort to catch more business, for sure. But Wilson said there’s another motiviation.

“The island is an incredible place to fish,” he said. “We’re in a situation where we’re forgotten a lot of times. When people come and fish here, they can’t believe the resources we have here.”

Photos: The Saltwater Edge via Facebook