Boat Stories

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Jennifer Sweeney Tookes, Bryan Fluech
  • Commercial fishing has deep cultural ties to the Georgia coast, particularly the shrimping industry, which is the state’s largest and most economically valuable fishery. Shrimping has played an integral role in shaping the identities of the commercial fishermen who have spent most of their lives on the water. At the heart of these identities are the fishing boats that have carried captains and their crew for decades. 

    These vessels have been bought and sold by fishermen up and down the coast for decades, connecting multiple generations of fishing families. They serve as the backbone of Georgia’s shrimping industry and have become iconic symbols for fresh and locally harvested seafood for the millions of residents and tourists who visit the coast.

    In 2020-2021, Anthropologists at Georgia Southern University collaborated with Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant to record the stories and experiences of local shrimpers and their boats. Funded by Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resource Division through a Coastal Improvement Grant (NOAA #NA20NOS4190175), student researchers learned about commercial fishing as they conducted these oral history interviews.   These recordings powerfully preserve the voices and culture of commercial fishing to be shared with current and future generations. This database of knowledge is also available to guide science and regulatory decisions. Get to know Georgia's commercial fishermen by listening to their "Boat Stories"

Interviewee Sort descending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
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
Jimmy Moore Boat Stories

Jimmy Moore is a retired local fisherman from McIntosh County, Georgia. He has a rich history of working on fishing vessels and has been a part of the commercial fishing industry for many years. Moore owned a fishing vessel for twenty years before selling it to a man named Bill. He currently co-owns a boat named Brenda K with Bill. Despite being retired for twenty years, Moore's experiences and stories from his time in the industry provide valuable insights into the changes and advancements that have occurred over the years.

Kassidy Gunn, Frederick Lee Townsend, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
John Tyre Boat Stories

John Tyre is a local fisherman and firefighter based in Brunswick, Georgia. He has a rich history in the fishing industry, having worked on a variety of different vessels throughout his career. Tyre owns a 50-foot fiberglass boat named The Warrior, which operates three to four days a week with a crew of three, including two of his cousins. The Warrior primarily fishes for row shrimp and operates in and out of Brunswick, leaving in the early morning and returning to dock in the afternoon.

Samantha Sheppard, Megan Bull 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
Jonathan Bennett Boat Stories

Jonathan Bennett is a commercial fisherman based in Brunswick, Georgia. Born into a family deeply involved in the fishing industry, Bennett has been engaged in commercial fishing since birth. His grandfather owned boats and his uncles ran bait businesses, providing him with a rich background in the industry from a young age. After graduating, Bennett began running boats and has since dedicated his life to the profession. He has worked on several vessels, with his most recent being The Flying Cloud, an 85 by 24-foot boat with a twin Caterpillar unit.

Kimberly Singley, Yhambria Simmons Brunswick, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Cooperative Extension
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
Lindsey Parker Boat Stories

Lindsey Parker is a long-standing member of the commercial fishing community in Georgia. He has a rich history as a commercial fisherman and has been involved in various projects at the UGA Marine Extension. Over the years, he has captained several boats, including the Georgia Bulldog, the Morning Star, and the Southern Comfort. His career spans over 36 years, during which he has formed numerous friendships within the fishing community. Parker is known for his candidness and willingness to share his experiences and insights into the fishing industry.

Samantha Sheppard, Megan Bull 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
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
Michael Vernon Boat Stories

Michael Vernon is a seasoned fisherman based in Eulonia, Georgia. He has extensive experience working on various fishing vessels, having served on approximately ten to twelve boats throughout his career. Currently, he is the captain and partner on the Miss Doris, a position he has held for the past three years. Prior to this, he worked on the Golden Phase, one of the oldest boats in the county, for the longest duration. His experience spans from North Carolina to Key West, with stints on boats such as the Lady Denise, Megan Elaine, Daddy's Girl, and War Horse.

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