A fun day with the Biloxi Shrimping Trip is what we are experiencing today. These tours were booked three years in advance before Covid. There have been three hurricanes in four years.
Our shrimp boat captain has a side hustle of starting an oyster nursery. One million oyster spat (eggs) in a golf ball size every 14 days. “There is some cheese in oysters.”
Shrimp migrate in a 400 mile circular pattern in the Gulf based on weather patterns. They were starting to get nervous because a February cold snap has delayed their circuit but the shrimp are just starting to return. Shrimpers are a lot like farmers; their catch is dependent on the weather.
Louisiana shrimp season opens this weekend. Mississippi starts June 1 to September. The Pearl River is a dividing line between Louisiana and Mississippi.
There are two seasons where boats are near the shore. However, shrimping occurs year round because there is also open ocean shrimping. If a boat goes out far, groups of 3 to 4 boats are needed for safety especially in bad weather which can turn quickly.
Shrimp live in the mud. Everything wants to eat them. Even shrimp eat shrimp.
Once the catch is brought on board, it is culled. Shrimp only. There are marine police. The bycatch is thrown out but one can see other fish and birds getting a free meal. It’s best to throw them out in the marina. You don’t know what is following the boat!!
A lot of marine resources are spent on fisheries. There is money in shrimp. One can catch 1,000 lbs in 6 hours.
Shrimp are sold by the count per pound. 60-70 count are the most common size sold. Shrimp season opens when there is a 68 count. A 100 count is called popcorn shrimp.
Shrimp grow one inch every two weeks. Popcorn-sized shrimp grow into 68-count shrimp. Overfishing is not an issue since the boatmen are catching only 2%. Shrimp give off millions of eggs.
Estuaries in different parts of the country are different. They can learn from each other, but what works there doesn’t work down here.
We likely won’t see dolphins. They don’t like the sound of outboard motors. Dolphins like calm waters. However, we do see some blue crab.
After our tour, the shrimp captain told us to eat at Mary Mahoney’s and order the stuffed shrimp. He also said that the gumbo is so good that celebrities have it flown to their homes. (Good thing I’m not a celebrity because it was good…but not that good.)
We learned that in Biloxi during the Civil Rights era 65 years ago to the day, a wade-in (like a sit-in) took place on the beach. I didn’t know that African Americans were denied access to beaches!!
On May 14th, 1959, Dr. Gilbert R. Mason Sr. went swimming with a small number of friends before being told to leave the beach by local police. Arrests were made. By 1968, a federal court ruling opened the beach to all citizens.
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