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.

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

Shrimping is an important, and unfortunately endangered, industry in South Carolina. Cheap foreign shrimp have flooded our stores and restaurants, driving prices so low that local shrimpers must struggle to compete. These imported shrimp may be inexpensive, but they come with a high cost to our health, environment, economy, and community.

Most of these farm-raised shrimp are bred with harsh chemicals and antibiotics. South Carolina shrimp are naturally fresh and flavorful, and they are caught in our own coastal waters. When you eat local shrimp, you help prevent intense pollution and you provide much needed support to our state’s shrimpers.

SCIWAY thanks Jeffrey Akerson of Exeter, New Hampshire for submitting this chilly picture he took during a rare snowstorm in 2010.

Crosby’s Fish and Shrimp is a different company than Crosby’s Seafood at the base of the old Ashley River Bridge in downtown Charleston, though the two families are related. The former has its own boats and sells whatever its catching – along with bait, fishing tackle, beer, and ice. When the weather is good, it often hosts Friday-night dock parties.

Folly Beach calls itself the “Edge of America” and has a friendly and relaxed vibe. It has a lively downtown area and is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Learn more about South Carolina shrimp, South Carolina oysters, and Crosby’s Fish and Shrimp.

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.

Shrimping is an important part of our state’s economy. There are many local shrimpers who make a living providing fresh, tasty, wild-caught shrimp to residents around our state. Learn more about shrimping in South Carolina and the importance of buying locally-harvested seafood.

Lori Kaim, an artist from Conway, was inspired to create this acrylic painting during a November 2008 boat ride. She paints a variety of commissioned works including portraits and landscape drawings. Check out her website to see more of Lori’s artwork.

View more pictures of the historic Georgetown area.

When you eat local shrimp, you provide much needed support to your local industries. Inexpensive imported shrimp have flooded into stores, driving prices so low that local shrimpers are struggling to compete. These foreign shrimp may be cheap, but they come with a high cost to our health, environment, and communities. Most of these farm-raised shrimp are given harsh chemicals and antibiotics, which pollute the shrimp and the water they are bred in. Our very own South Carolina shrimp are naturally fresh and flavorful and are caught in our own coastal waters.

Howard Lawless of Lancaster captured this photo in April 2008 while visiting Georgetown. Learn more about the South Carolina shrimping industry, and how to find local, wild-caught shrimp in your area.

See more pictures of shrimping in Georgetown.

Christian writes: “The story goes that the captain was anchored when he went to sleep and woke up beached on Kiawah, about 75 feet from the dunes. I shot this picture the following morning, prior to the police setting up yellow caution tape. The Coast Guard and some heavy machinery pulled the boat back out to sea after it had been beached for almost a month.”

See more of Christian Hartsel’s pictures.

The banks of Shem Creek were originally inhabited by Sewee Indians. Its name is thought to derive from the Native American word Shemee. Variations of this word include Shamee, Shembee, and Shimhee. The creek begins near present-day Bowman Road, where several small tributaries meet to form its head, and continues to wind through Mount Pleasant’s Old Village before eventually emptying into the Charleston harbor.

Shem Creek has a long history as a working creek, beginning in the 1740s when Peter Villepontoux operated a lime kiln on its banks. Several notable businessmen, including Andrew Hibben, also established successful ferries on the creek during this time. Although ferries have since given way to bridges and charter boats, Shem Creek remains one of the most popular channels in the area.

Several mills and factories were stationed on the creek during the 1800s, but commerce came to a halt during the Civil War as the mills were either destroyed or abandoned. It wasn’t until the turn of the century that the seafood industry began to take shape. By the mid-1940s, shrimping had grown into one of the most important industries in the area and several seafood companies, including the Mount Pleasant Seafood Company, had already been established on Shem Creek.

Today Shem Creek is a favorite watering hole, where tourists and locals alike go to enjoy everything the Lowcountry has to offer.

Do you have more to add about the history of Shem Creek? Please let us know!

Readers Sound Off!

Charleston resident Elizabeth Gurley says, “Here in Charleston, we jump at every opportunity to take advantage of our coastal locale. Whether you’re cruising Shem Creek, or setting sail down the Intracoastal Waterway, the scenery leaves nothing to be desired. Whether you denote the changing of the seasons by the turning of the marsh grass, or appreciate the deep-seated tradition of local shrimping, there is something for everyone to enjoy and be grateful for from this Lowcountry vantage point.”

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.