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SHRIMP

 

  Sunday I went up to the Jacksonville fishing village of Mayport to see the shrimp boats. The boats were there, but the place was not in good shape.  A "shrimper" told me the number of boats is down 50% due to various setbacks such as fuel costs and hurricanes.

 

  

 

  He says he used to take out his boat and follow the shrimp all the way to Texas, but he can't afford to do this anymore.  He uses 200 gallons of fuel per day.  Some boats use 300 gallons.  He has a boat that operates with ice rather than refrigeration.  (The shrimp have to come to him.)

 

  

 

  He said he operates without insurance now because he can't afford it.  So he is careful with his boat.  He usually does not go out if the wind is above 20-25 MPH.

 

  

 

  He and his wife sold me one pound of headless shrimp, 21 count/pound, for $7.50.  I also bought some smaller shrimp, one pound for $3.50.  They were caught Saturday, so that is fresh.  They packed them in ice for me.

 

  

 

  He says these shrimp were caught during the daytime, but they also fish at night.

 

  

 

  This village is about to go through a big change, as developers are buying out the land and planning riverside condos.  It is the St. Johns River near a U.S. Navy port and a U.S. Coast Guard station.

 

  

 

  So, Monday lunch will be a shrimp lunch if Mark and Zach can cook shrimp. 

 

  

 

  The funny thing is that the catch right now is as good as it has ever been.  The reduction in shrimp boats may be a boon to the shrimp population around here. The cost of fuel probably prevents Gulf Coast and Savannah shrimpers from coming down here also.