Shrimping tradition passes to next generation

A few days ago, I was driving and asked Siri to read a text message from my son Elliott.

 

Somehow, Siri got confused and began reading a text thread between Elliott, my brother Dave, and me.

 

It was a bit of a shock as Dave passed away two years ago.

 

I listened to the message thread and my shock turned to laughter. Elliott and Dave were wondering who catches the most shrimp per cast of the net when shrimp baiting.

 

Ultimately, they agreed that if I drove the boat better, they would both catch more shrimp. It was hilarious and typical of our time together.  

 

The recreational shrimp baiting season starts on Sept. 13.

 

Shrimp baiting is a pretty simple thing to do. Stick up to 10 poles into the bottom and throw bait balls at the base of the poles. Wait a few minutes and then cast your net at the base of the poles. Viola! Shrimp dinner.

 

While I love catching and eating shrimp, the primary reason that I go shrimping is to spend time with my family. 

 

With the season quickly approaching, it was time for my family to tune up their cast net skills.

 

Elliott coordinated schedules with his cousins and set Sunday as the official practice day. Dave’s daughter Amee and her two children Matthew and Emily were super enthusiastic about the practice session. So were my older sister’s daughter, Ryan, and younger sister’s son, Conrad.  

 

On Sunday, we had a cookout on the dock. It was fun just hanging out and being together. Then Elliott loaded his cousins, niece, and nephew into the skiff.

 

As they got ready to pull away from the dock, Amee told Matthew and Emily that this was her grandfather’s boat, and they were the fourth generation to go shrimping in it.

 

I counted the generations on my fingers and determined that Amee was correct. I realized that is why this practice trip had such enthusiasm.

 

My nieces and nephew were introducing Matthew and Emily to a family tradition. A way that we gather and spend time together. I hoped that Matthew and Emily liked shrimping.

 

Elliott pulled the skiff away from the dock and idled to the other side of the creek. I stayed on the dock as the skiff was pretty full.

 

From across the creek, I could hear them laughing and giving each other a hard time. I watched them take turns casting the net and critiquing each other’s technique. Then counting the shrimp to see who caught the most shrimp per cast. I laughed and figured it was some kind of genetic trait.

 

Upon their return to the dock, Ryan, Amee, and Conrad had mastered casting the net. They all agreed that if Elliott drove the boat better, they would have all caught more shrimp.

 

I smiled and thought to myself, some things never change. Matthew and Emily were excited and eager to show me their catch of shrimp. 

 

The torch had been passed and our tradition would continue.

 

Contact Captain Greg Peralta at captgregp@gmail.com or call (843) 224-0099.