Big Fish Bait and Tackle is closing down with owner Bruce Weston saying the Rena striking the Astolabe Reef on October 5 was the final nail in the business' coffin.

'Rena is a very substantial factor, but not the only factor,” says Bruce.

The Big Fish.

'The recession, they keep saying; ‘just one more year and it will start coming right', well they have been saying that for the last four years.

'It's not coming right. We are continually having to prop the business up and it's got to the point where it's just not viable anymore.”

Kiwisaver, and two increases in minimum wage also impacted on the business, plus more and more fishing tackle retailers have moved into the area – and the area is only so big.

The ongoing recession means there has also been a continual strain on people's disposable income, says Bruce.

'Food prices going up means people are spending less money on their recreational activities.

'We are at the luxury end, not the necessity end. You are just not seeing the volume of people through the door.”

The repair and service side of the business will continue, as will the dive tank testing and servicing. That will continue out of the Newton Street shop until the building is either leased or sold.

It will be on a part time basis because Bruce has a new career as an ambulance officer. He saw the writing on the wall and began retraining two years ago.

'We are going to continue doing all our repair work because that's a very strong side of the business and that's pretty much the only viable side of the business now.”

'It's difficult because the shop's only going to be open when I'm available.

'If I don't have a shift scheduled, I'll come in here and do the service work that has to be done.”

Big Fish Bait & Tackle has been catering for recreational fishers and divers for 12 years. Three years ago there were three outlets; Te Puke, Sulphur Point and Mount Maunganui.

The Sulphur Point shop didn't last long, and Te Puke sold last October.

Bruce was on the point of selling the Newton Street business, but the buyers pulled out at the 11th hour.

That forced the closure, says Bruce.

By then both he and his wife had other commitments – and there was the 90 per cent drop in October income after Rena struck the reef.

'It's a big hit. I had to let all the staff go, couldn't afford to pay staff, I was struggling to pay rent, couldn't service my bills.

'We are clean now, but moving forward it's just not viable.”