Northeast Florida Shrimp Boats
Shrimp Boats entering through inlet in St. Augustine.
I’ve always loved shrimp boats almost as much as I love the taste of wild native shrimp. When I see shrimp boats in the Gulf scooping up oil from BP’s Deepwater Horizon disaster, my heart sinks as the environmental and economic disaster unfolds and wonder how the oil spill will affect Florida beaches and coastal waters.
Shrimping off northeast Florida beaches starts off Ortega River Inlet near Jacksonville Beach.
Commercial fishermen are a hardy bunch of folks, they work hard for weeks and months as their seasonal catch builds their financial reserves. When the fishing season is over, they must budget their money until the next season starts.
Shrimp Boats along the St. Johns River.
Northeast Florida shrimpers typically catch brown shrimp, white shrimp, deep Atlantic royal red shrimp (PDF) and rock shrimp. Wild native shrimp taste better and are healthier than imported farm raised shrimp. You have to visit a local Florida seafood restaurant like Dixie Crossroads in Titusville who operate their own shrimp boats, they have lots of different varieties of local shrimp depending on the season.
Shrimp boats are a popular sight along Daytona Beach.
As Bubba says “Shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey’s uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that’s about it.” It’s just a shame Bubba Gump Shrimp Company doesn’t serve real native shrimp, according to a waitress I asked.
This Ponce Inlet shrimp boat was photographed behind Down The Hatch, they offer wild native shrimp.
I once heard God Hates Shrimp, God doesn’t hate shrimp, what’s up with all the hate out there.
Offshore of New Smyrna Beach, a shrimp boat is working while others are having fun surfing.
Port Canaveral shrimp boats catch a lot of rock shrimp which are served like miniature lobster.
One place to watch the Port Canaveral shrimpers pass and enjoy local rock shrimp is Grills Seafood & Tiki Bar.
As far south as Cocoa Beach you’re likely to see shrimpers working the beach.