Its Shrimp Season - Blessing of the Fleet - The Hull Truth

bellsisland · 05-10-2008, 06:06 PM

a couple of weeks ago we had the blessing of the fleet here outside of Charleston here are a few pics of the boats, not as many as I would have thought, but here you go!!

Wolakrab · 05-11-2008, 04:02 PM

Is that on the ICW near McClellanville?

Get Grady · 05-11-2008, 04:05 PM

Its Jeremy Creek in McClellanville

grassguysc · 05-12-2008, 10:05 AM

Good luck to all of them. I hear they are doing well down here.

onejacker · 05-12-2008, 10:32 AM

Great pictures of what I'm afraid is a dying breed. Tough nut making it shrimping these days.

Thanks for the pictures bellsisland!

fishman 77 · 05-12-2008, 02:56 PM

A couple years ago I remember there was at least 30 boats involved. This year in Charleston harbor there was like 5 or 6. You are correct its a dying breed. Unfortunatly with gas prices I think this will be the last year for most of them.

All but 1 boat has a for sale sign on it in Shem Creek.

Lone Ranger · 05-18-2008, 08:34 PM

My Wife's cousin lives on Wadmalaw IS.,Gave it up[Shrimpin'] years ago,They still have the Boat."The Mary Barbara".

tprice · 05-19-2008, 04:25 AM

Great pictures, we were dowon at IOP that weekend but did not make it out to see the event and hate I missed it.

I was thinking the same things about this could be their last season. I knew they were having a tough time the last few years but the fuel prices this year may do them in.

I was thinking about years ago about Shem Creek while we were at RB's one day eating lunch. It was LOADED with shrimp boats but now it is charter boats and other boats but very few
shrimp boats.

I guess Forrest Gump retired at the right time

Just curious is the Gulf coats shrmip fleet facing the same doom

billyc · 05-23-2008, 07:12 PM

The Gulf Coast shrimp fleet is in dire straits also. First imported shrimp and now fuel. The only shrimp that will be available to consumers will be farm raised shrimp from China,Vietnam,and other cheap labor countries. I was able to sell my 45' boat last summer. Boy was I lucky! I did feel sorry for the fella that bought it though.

billh1963 · 05-24-2008, 06:50 AM

Quote:

fishman 77 - 5/12/2008 1:56 PM

A couple years ago I remember there was at least 30 boats involved. This year in Charleston harbor there was like 5 or 6. You are correct its a dying breed. Unfortunatly with gas prices I think this will be the last year for most of them.

All but 1 boat has a for sale sign on it in Shem Creek.

My father owned a shrimpboat through the late 1970's until around 1986. Shrimping wasn't really profitable then and is even less so now. The only shrimpers I know who had money were the ones hauling pot...and there were a lot of them doing that in SC at the time. Many were swept up in Operation Jackpot.

A few years ago shrimp were selling off the boat for around the same money we were getting in 1978! Imported shrimp keeps the prices down.

It's funny how times have changed. 30 years ago shrimpboats were viewed as unsightly and the city officials didn't want them to tie up to the Beaufort Waterfront. Now that almost all the boats are gone the city practically begs for shrimpboats to come in order to add "local flavor".

billh1963 · 05-24-2008, 07:02 AM

On another note the only "traditional" looking boat is the "Miss Georgia". The rigging, though, is the more modern "H" versus the classic "A".

The "Village Lady" has a traditional hull but has an updated wheelhouse.

The "Betty H" is a Gulf boat and looks like a Landry built hull (they had the flying buttresses supporting an extended roof)