Barry Gooch, a Port Royal native who provided this beautiful shot, tells us about his childhood memories of Sands Beach.

“When I was a child,” Barry says, “the beach created a fantastic playground for exploration and provided me with an ample supply of sharks teeth and other fossils. The dredged sand created a perfect swimming area for the local kids and we spent many nights camping on our ‘private’ beach.

“Around 1960 the US Navy landed a large LST (ship) near the spoil area to offload supplies for Parris Island. Up to this time, the point was inaccessible to vehicles and access was limited primarily to us kids who didn’t mind wading through shallow water and a narrow area of pluff mud to reach our ‘private’ playground.

“But life changed and when the Navy finished their exercise left a road and narrow causeway over the low-lying area, which opened the beach up to automobiles.

“My dad and other fishermen were quick to take advantage of the road and ramp left behind, and in a short time it was transformed into a boat ramp. As its popularity increased, the ramp became a favorite with teenagers and young marines as the smooth waters of the adjacent Battery creek provided an ideal site for waterskiing. And what goes hand-in-hand with water skiing? Sunbathing of course, and the sands became a popular site (and an alternative to the twenty-mile drive to Hunting Island beach) for sun-worshipers.

“Despite the erosion and settling of the dredged sand, the beach remains popular with sunbathers to this day. Eventually the county paved the old sand and rock boat ramp, and today it is one of the premier boat ramps in Beaufort County.

“I’m unsure when the boardwalk was constructed, but it provides an excellent site for a leisurely scenic stroll to enjoy the water, and fishing and crabbing are popular activities.”

Starting and ending dates for the three shrimp seasons in South Carolina are determined each year by the state’s Department of Natural Resources. Roe season comes in the spring, May or June, and begins when DNR determines an adequate number of eggs have been spawned.

June until August is the time for catching brown shrimp and then the white shrimp – the offspring of the spring spawn – appear in the waters. This long season generally peaks between September and October, and it lasts until December or January, when the water temperature finally drops to the mid-40s.

Those who make their living fishing South Carolina waters are closely attuned to yearly variations in conditions, and they work long days to maximize their catches.

SCIWAY thanks Paul Boulware of Okatie, who took this picture in August of 2010. He says that as a coastal South Carolina native, it is a familiar scene to him.

Cecilia Foster Morett took this picture in October 2009. She writes:”I grew up in Port Royal and had an uncle who shrimped from there. I’ve always loved the beauty of the boats. We were in the area on 10/17/09, and I stopped by the docks for a look. Warrior was there…her name and appearance summarizing the shrimping industry…fighting to make a living and scarred in the process.

“My ‘day job’ is bookkeeping, but I work as a striker on shrimp boats in my area for fun. No pay except the sheer enjoyment that the seven years has given me. I’ll be 60 years old this year and plan to keep going as long as the guys will take me!”

Learn more about SC shrimp and how to find local shrimpers in your area.

Port Royal began as a colony founded by Jean Ribault in 1562. During the 17th century it became a Spanish and then later a Scottish colony. The Emancipation Proclamation was first read under the Port Royal Proclamation Tree in 1863.

The town gained international fame when the hurricane scene from the movie Forrest Gump was filmed near its docks.

Special thanks to Matthew Brady who took this picture from the Dockside Restaurant in December 2009.

Barry writes: “The building shown to the left of the clock is Scheper’s Store. It was built in 1885 by F. W. Scheper. Mr. Scheper was a ship chandler and opened the store to support the burgeoning shipping industry in Port Royal. He also offered dry goods, groceries, as well as hay, and grain. Around 1900, he built an addition to the store which served as the local post office. The post office was relocated to a concrete building across the street after WWII. The post office addition was destroyed by Hurricane Gracie in 1959. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The registry states the store closed in 1950. This is incorrect. Mr. Scheper operated the store at least through 1956.

“A large two-story wooden building, formerly a tavern, stood on the opposite corner behind the clock. This was used as a warehouse until it too was destroyed by Hurricane Gracie. The Port Royal train depot was located near this intersection. The depot was the major debarkation point for young recruits destined for the Marine Corps Recruit Training Depot at Parris Island, across the river from Port Royal.”

Photographer Lamar Nix says that “today diverse nautical vessels pass by, from sleek sailing ships to working, shrimp trawlers. The Port Royal docks are an especially alluring nautical landmark that is rich with visual treasures, both nautical and avian.”

Photographer Jerry Britt writes: “I stumbled across this beautiful scene on a business trip to Port Royal. I went to the dock hoping to find the restaurant adjacent to the dock open for lunch. Unfortunately, the restaurant wasn’t open but at least I got a great picture that symbolizes the Lowcountry area.”

Find out more about shrimping in SC – shrimping resources, articles, photos, and recipes.