I MUST HAVE ONE!
And boy, it sure was nice talking to Carmen again. I told her, "Hang on...I'll be right there to come get it." But she stopped me quickly and said, "Now Dave, we're in a new store. Over in the Town & Country shopping center at University and Arlington Xpressway." "Wow", I said. Being that it's been a very long time since I've even been on University Blvd.
Carmen & Bill of "ABT" were sponsors of my Saturday morning radio show when Pelican and I were on ESPN 1460, years ago. And to chat with them is to quickly like them both. Carmen will likely be the most bubblie gal in a bait shop, you'll ever meet. And as usual, when I went to pick up the F.S. Tide Planner I was there for hours, talking to Carmen and Bill.
The new store is just only a month or so old. And it's NOT going to be your average bait shop. Carmen is going to make her sandwiches!! Besides being a full service tackle shop, with every concievable plug, soft bait and hook. They have rods and a impressive selection of reels. The new store has a "sitting room", that will be utilized as an area to just relax and BS and will also work as a future seminar room. They also have a full blown kitchen. So before, after, or during your fishing day, you'll be able to enjoy one of Carmen's special sandwiches..."Empanada's", mmmmmm.....
And as Bill put it, "they'll be just like home made. You'll bite into them and stuff's gonna fall out of them!"
(well...like Fishin' sometimes the best laid plans get a bit fuzzy. This is a cell phone photo of Carmen and her new shop, that I attempted to take.)
My new motto you'll be reading here, after turning up the volume and intently watching President Obama's message on TV last night, is a very old one we just don't hear enough of anymore.
KEEP AMERICANS WORKING!
We have to patronize our local neighborhood establishments, and Fishing guides too, don't forget! They're the fabric of our town, and our local fishing communitee.
I hope you will go on over to ABT the next time you need some fishing equipment, live-dead bait, a home made sandwich, for your fishing trip. Or just to have a good ole time chatting with Carmen and Bill. Remember, when the local barber shop was the place to meet all your freinds? Well, that barber shop is a "bait shop" for us fisherman.
ABT is located just down the street from Arlington road boat ramp, and the Lion's Club boat ramp north of Ft. Caroline rd. on University Blvd North, past J.U.
Presently, they have two more Florida Sportsman Tide Planners left. (Carmen said a quick order of one is not a problem either.)
They make great stocking stuffers.
Tell 'em Capt Dave sent ya. And you'll be in there for awhile, if you're anything like me.
There's plenty of parking, plus you can pull up behind the shop too, to load up a baitwell easily with live bait. The store is located in the "court yard area" of the Town & Country Shopping Center.
Visit: http://www.abtfishing.com/
The phone number is: 743-3200
983 University Blvd. N.
Jacksonville, Fl. 32211
