John Tyre
Boat Stories
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"
Megan Bull
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. Tyre's boat has a unique advantage in that it only requires three and a half feet of water to float, allowing it to operate in shallow waters close to the beach. This advantage becomes particularly beneficial during the summer and early fall when the beaches open and fishing is permitted within the three-mile line in state waters.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with John Tyre, conducted on January 28, 2022, provides a detailed account of Tyre's experiences as a fisherman in Brunswick, Georgia. The interview is part of the research project and interview collection titled Boat Stories. Tyre discusses the history of his fishing vessel, The Warrior, and its operations, including the crew's daily routine and the unique advantages of the boat's design. He also shares his thoughts on the future of commercial fishing in Georgia. The interview includes personal anecdotes from Tyre's life, including a humorous story about a misunderstanding while swimming and a scary experience he had while fishing in Key West at the age of seventeen. The interview provides valuable insights into the life and work of a local fisherman in Georgia, contributing to a broader understanding of the fishing industry in the region.
Project Note
This project is supported under grant award #NA20NOS4190175 to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources from the Office for Coastal Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of DNR, OCM or NOAA.
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