Do you like to fish?

Perhaps not everyone is fully aware of it, but there are many ways to fish. At Casa Calicó, on Ávila Street—in the heart of Poblenou—they've always known them all. They're like Formula 1 of fishing, knowing the secrets of competitive, recreational, and traditional or food fishing. They know the quirks of anglers, the tactics for improving technique, the best accessories, what's best for a beginner, and what even the most experienced angler longs for.

For example, many sport fishing enthusiasts value the adrenaline rush of active fishing above all else, so they use attractive lures in the form of, for example, colorful little fish that they manipulate and move with the rod like puppets to attract the fish they want. This technique is called spinningOn the other hand, there are fishermen who prefer a more passive approach to fishing, gathering on the beach with friends and, while chatting or enjoying vermouth, keeping their rods in mind in case the fish bite. This more social aspect of fishing is known as surfingThere's also boat fishing, of course. Anyone who really enjoys this kind of fishing is quite likely to give it a try at some point. The prospect of returning home with a squid, a cuttlefish, or a nice bonito is very tempting. And let's not forget mountain fishing. In the river, there are the inevitable trout, and in the lake, carp.

A beach fishing rod can reach four meters and twenty centimeters. A river rod, on the other hand, doesn't reach two meters and is much more flexible. You could spend hours listening to Daniel Calicó, the current owner of the establishment, and his father, Enric, now retired but with enviable energy and memory at almost ninety years old. They are the second and third generations of this business, which has been located in Poblenou for eight years, but spent decades in Plaça de les Olles, until 2018, when, with the new urban lease law, the landlord decided to raise their rent to 8,000 euros a month.

Luckily, they found this new location, which wasn't at all unfamiliar to them. In the same neighborhood, by the way, where they had their old warehouse, and near the sea, their most natural and familiar habitat. A sadly recurring case in Barcelona today, which caused them to lose between 30 and 40% of their annual revenue. A major setback from which they have been able to recover and move forward with new customers and, above all, thanks to the wide variety of products they offer – some 8,000 different items – which allows them to withstand the onslaught of large supermarkets and online sales.

Specialization is a key factor, the ability to satisfy all kinds of tastes and demands. A few years ago, there were between fifteen and twenty fishing shops in Barcelona. Now there are only two. The shop in Plaça de les Olles was founded 175 years ago by Mr. José Borrull, who owned a fishing net factory and considered El Born an ideal location, next to the railway and the port, to open a fishing shop. With the crisis of the 1920s and mounting debt, the business was eventually handed over to Joan Calicó, Enric's father and Daniel's grandfather, who came from the leather industry and recognized the potential of recreational fishing to grow the business.

He was also the founder of the Kali brand of fishing products. In the 1970s, the business split in two. On one side, Calicó SA, responsible for manufacturing and distribution, and on the other, the shop. Materials have evolved considerably over the years. Before, the carts were made of aluminum. Today they are made of polycarbonate. The rods used to be made of natural cane and now they are made of carbon fiber. There are many options: different materials, qualities, sizes, and shapes. Having a quality cart is always advisable. An inexpensive one, costing 50 euros, might only last a year if you use it a lot.

Both Enric and Daniel have always loved and continue to love the business because they have been involved with it since childhood. They both fish, of course. Enric proudly shows us the photo of the 41-kilo corball he caught on a trip to Mauritania. "Everyone was amazed!" he recalls.