Georgia Southern University

Interviewee Collection Sort ascending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Joseph Rauls Boat Stories

Joseph Rauls is a seasoned fisherman from Brunswick, Georgia, who has been involved in the shrimping industry for several decades. His journey into the world of fishing began in 1969 when his father bought a shrimp boat. Rauls was drawn to the entrepreneurial spirit of his father, who always found ways to make a living, including shrimping. Over the years, Rauls has witnessed significant changes in the fishing industry, particularly in the design and operation of fishing vessels.

Yhambria Simmons, Kimberly Singley Brunswick, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Johnny Bennett Boat Stories

Johnny Bennett is a seasoned commercial fisherman from Georgia with a rich family history in the industry. His first experience on a boat was at the tender age of two weeks, marking the beginning of his lifelong involvement in fishing. Bennett's passion for the industry is evident in his preference for the solitude and independence it offers. However, he has witnessed significant changes over the years, many of which he attributes to environmental and regulatory shifts.

Kimberly Singley, Yhambria Simmons Brunswick, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Andrew Ross Boat Stories

Andrew Ross is a seasoned commercial fisherman based in Brunswick, Georgia. He has been involved in the shrimping industry since he was 20 years old, initially working as a deckhand on his father's boat, the Burn East 2. As his father aged, Ross took over the role of Captain and has been operating the boat ever since. The Burn East 2, a wooden boat built in 1944, is one of the oldest boats in the area. Ross's family has a long history in the marine business, with his father involved in bridge construction and his great grandfather building jetties in the area.

Frederick Lee, Kassidy Gunn Brunswick, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Morris Butler Boat Stories

Morris Butler is a seasoned shrimper from McIntosh County, Georgia. He has spent over forty years in the shrimping industry, working on various fishing vessels such as The Sundown, The Turning Point, The Thunderbolt, The Sea Walker, and The Four Ladies. His career in shrimping began at a young age, introduced to the industry by his father. Despite health issues forcing him into early retirement, Butler maintains a close relationship with the shrimping community, reflecting fondly on his experiences and the camaraderie among fellow shrimpers.

Samantha Sheppard, Megan Bull Belleville, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Bobbie Smith Boat Stories

Bobbie Smith is a co-owner of Sapelo Shrimp Company, a fishing industry business located in McIntosh County, Georgia. Despite not having a background in the fishing industry, Smith has become an integral part of the company, relying heavily on her business partner, Bill Harris, for his wealth of knowledge about the industry. Smith's role involves managing the comings and goings of boats at Sapelo Shrimp Company, with the busiest times being from May to early July.

Samantha Sheppard, Megan Bull Belleville, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Curtis Carter Boat Stories

Curtis Carter is a seasoned shrimper from Darien, Georgia, who has been in the shrimping industry since the age of sixteen. Despite not having completed his education, Carter was able to support his family through his work in shrimping. His first boat was the "Night Train," which he owned and operated for about four years. He later worked on several other boats, including the Pay Tot and the El Mar in Key West, Florida, and the Shrimp Chaser, a giant herring boat.

Jamekia Collins, Amber Chulawat Darien, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Michael Sullivan Boat Stories

Michael Sullivan is a seasoned commercial fisherman based in Brunswick, Georgia. With a career spanning several decades, Sullivan has owned and operated multiple fishing vessels, including his most recent acquisition, a 60-foot research vessel previously owned by The Department of Natural Resources. Prior to this, he owned and operated The Flying Cloud, an 88-foot North Carolina built boat, which was one of the largest boats on the East Coast in terms of power and size when he purchased it in 1986.

Jamekia Collins, Amber Chulawat Brunswick, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Marty Collins Boat Stories

Marty Collins is a seasoned commercial fisherman with a rich history of working on fishing vessels. He began his career as a captain at the young age of sixteen and has since worked on numerous boats, including the Blackbeard and Cindy Marie. He has been with his current company for nine years and has spent the last four years on his current vessel, the Lady Denise, a 96-foot steel hull freezer boat. Prior to the Lady Denise, he worked on the fishing vessel Forgiven, which was named after the wife of the preacher he worked for.

Samantha Sheppard, Megan Bull Belleville, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Robert Todd Boat Stories

Mr. Robert Todd focuses on the history of his family’s commercial fishermen legacy. He discusses the boats run and operated by members of the Todd/Sawyer family. He discusses his short film, Trawling Traditions, which covers some histories of commercial fishermen on the Georgia Coast.  He also gives recommendations for the future of shrimping in Georgia. 

Yhambria Simmons, Kimberly Singley Darien, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Jim Dickey Boat Stories

Jim Dickey is a seasoned shrimper based in Brunswick, Georgia. Over the course of his career, he has worked on numerous fishing vessels, including the Captain Mama, Lady Susie Two, Lisabelle, Lady Belle, Captain Dickey, Erika and Derek, and Dickey Boys. His father owned twenty-five boats in his lifetime, and Dickey himself has owned several boats, including the Erika and Derek for sixteen years. He has a wealth of experience in the shrimping industry and has seen the evolution of the industry over the years.

Jennifer Sweeney Tookes Brunswick, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant