Gary Clark celebrates 17 years with Fisherman's Seafood Paradise

The now Wagga local has been setting up outside the Farmers Home Hotel for nearly two decades to sell seafood.

It all started in 2005 when a couple of his mates at Ulladulla told him to have a go at selling to some of the regional towns inland.

"They told me they would support me with supplying the fish, so I thought I would give it a crack," Gary said.

"I haven't looked back since then.

"I went to some other towns apart from Wagga, but the customers here were always the best, so I kept coming back."

For the first 10 years, Gary was based in Ulladulla. That meant a 10-hour round trip each time he came to Wagga.

"The hardest thing was driving," he said.

"In the end, it does wear you out. You are wearing yourself out, and you are wearing out cars.

"Now we get a lot of it shipped here because there is a bit of demand for it."

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Gary decided to make Wagga home a while back but still sets up every Thursday and every Friday at the watering hole on Hammond Avenue.

While most assume Christmas is the busiest time of year, Gary said Easter is by far the big one.

"Naturally, prawns and oysters are popular, but country people love salmon," he said.

"Over the years, I have convinced them to try other things. We showed them there is more fish in the sea than salmon."

Gary said he has built up a loyal customer base. When he spots some of his regulars pulling into the car park, Gary will pick out what he knows they want, so by the time they walk up to the counter, it's ready to go.

"I love meeting different people all the time, and there's no stress being set up here. That's the beauty about it," he said.

"Thank you to everyone for the support over the years. I have made a lot of good friends just by being here.

"I like being able to get people what they want. Nine times out of 10, you can get it. You are pulling a rabbit - or a fish out - of a hat every week."

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