Brunswick, GA

Interviewee Collection Sort ascending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
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
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
Traci and Hinton Arnsdorff Boat Stories

Hinton and Traci Arnsdorff are a married couple who own and operate a home shrimping business. Hinton Arnsdorff has a long history with boats, having owned and operated many throughout his life. His first boat, the Bunny B, was a forty-foot vessel that he ran when he was about fifteen years old. After two years, he sold it and got the West Wind. He has also run the Grey Ghost, which he has had for over twenty years. Other boats he has run include the Notre Dame, which sunk off of Saint Katherines, and Ms. Kim, which sank off of Key West.

Amber Chulawat, Sierra Sutton Brunswick, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Jerry "Bubba" Austin Boat Stories

Jerry "Bubba" Austin Jr. is a seasoned fisherman based in Brunswick, Georgia. With over forty years of experience in the fishing industry, Austin has owned and operated three fishing vessels since 1995, the most recent of which is named Captain Snapper. Austin's career has been marked by both triumphs and challenges, including the sinking of his first two boats and the impact of environmental changes on the local shrimp population. Despite these obstacles, Austin has remained committed to his craft, demonstrating a deep understanding of the industry and a passion for his work.

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

Brande Bennett is a seasoned fisherwoman from Brunswick, Georgia, who has been involved in the fishing industry since her childhood. Her involvement in the industry is generational, with her father owning the Dora F, a boat she has been fishing on since she was four years old. Bennett also owned her own boat, the Brande Ray, which she sold a few years back. She has always preferred the role of a striker over that of a captain, despite being capable of driving the boats and performing all necessary tasks.

Kassidy Gunn, Frederick Lee 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
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
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
Thurmond and Marie Kern Boat Stories

Thurmond and Marie Kern are a married couple residing in Brunswick, Georgia. Thurmond has had a long history with shrimping and has owned several boats over the course of his life. His passion for fishing is evident in his inability to retire, leading him to purchase another boat, the Lady Raven, named after his granddaughter. Marie, while not directly involved in the fishing, has been a supportive partner throughout their journey. The couple has witnessed significant changes in the fishing industry and has concerns about its future in their area.

Amber Chulawat, Sierra Sutton Brunswick, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
Calvin Lang Boat Stories

Calvin Lang is a third-generation shrimper and fisher based in Brunswick, Georgia. He has been involved in the fishing industry for several years, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Lang currently owns two fishing vessels, the Miss Peggy and the Fifth Day, both of which he operates with his wife, Lisa. He previously owned the Lang's Pride, a 75-foot St. Augustine trawler freezer boat, which he sold due to difficulties in finding a crew.

Amber Chulawat, Sierra Sutton Brunswick, GA Georgia Southern University, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant