This weekend marks the unofficial start of salmon season in the Pulaski area, meaning visitors from throughout the country will be gathering on the banks of the Salmon River. As our Candace Hopkins tells us, their arrival is expected to give local businesses a much needed boast.

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PULASKI, N.Y. -- It's that time of year again. Oswego County's once quiet rivers are now abuzz with fishermen and women from throughout the country.

"I grew up by the biggest lake in New Jersey, so I fished my whole life when I was a kid and I came up 16 years ago and it's world class fishing, four hours from home," said New Jersey resident Chris O'Donnell.

In fact, the fishing is so good that it not only brings visitors in, it has even converted some avid hunters, like Pennsylvania resident Kevin Pace.

"I was a big time hunter for quite awhile until about 15 years ago, I came up here for the first time Steelheading and I gave up hunting and I just fish," Pace said.

And while some that live in this area may take these conditions for granted, this is the one of only a few places on this side of the country to find this caliber of fishing.

"Outside of the Great Lakes, you've gotta go out to the West Coast to catch salmon. They have sea run salmon and trout out there and we have the lake runs and we get some nice ones in Jersey, five, six pound trout, but up here, you're getting 20, 30 pound salmon," said O'Donnell.

The village has already seen an influx of visitors, but this weekend, thousands more are expected and with their arrival comes a much needed boast for local businesses, like All Seasons Sports.

"The fishing is a huge part of everyone's lifestyle here. All the spin off businesses are really what builds this whole community," said owner Jim Dence.

And many of these fishermen say the best part of their trips is simply getting away.

"You meet new friends all the time, ‘cause everyone up here is doing the same thing. We're all up here to relax and have a good time," said Pace.

The salmon season is expected to last through October.