Shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it…pan-fried, deep-fried, stir-fried… pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That’s about it.”
–Bubba Blue, “Forrest Gump”

Ahoy, matey! As summer quickly approaches, it’s time to sport your flip-flops, book a long weekend at the perfect beach-side resort and take an adventurous boat ride.

If you’re in the Saint Simons Island area in Georgia , a “can’t miss” day trip is a shrimp catch aboard the Lady Jane (www.shrimpcruise.com), a newly refurbished shrimping boat based in nearby Brunswick near Spanky’s Marshside. It’s the perfect way to discover the open waters of Coastal Georgia and catch a glimpse of life away from terra firma.

This unique, two-hour trawling excursion aboard the 60-foot steel-hull boat is led by the sea-worthy Captain Larry Credle and is the only shrimping vessel on the entire east coast that has been certified by the USCG to carry 49 passengers.

Watch as the captain and his crew empty their catch right in front of you as they identify each sea creature (make sure to bring your camera, sunglasses and a hat).

A group of travel writers, along for the ride for a special media outing with The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, were lucky enough to witness several cool catches, including tons of jumbo-sized shrimp, several sting rays, a few anchovies (hold the pizza), blue crab, a baby octopus, some jellies and the best of all, a baby loggerhead sea turtle. According to on-board marine biologist Paul Christina from the University of Georgia, he and the crew only catch about eight sea turtles each year, so we were very lucky.) All creatures except the shrimp (which were boiled and served on a plate with a side of crackers and delicious cocktail sauce) were catch-and-release. True to Captain Credle’s word, shrimp really doesn’t get any fresher than this.

Charters are available for special events, including weddings, sunset cruises, diving and bottom fishing. It’s perfect for families, group outings, corporate functions or anyone with a sense of adventure. And don’t worry —there’s a clean bathroom on board, an air-conditioned cabin, plenty of bottled water and a shaded covered deck.  It’s quite possibly the best-kept secret of the Georgia sea.

Tags: Brunswick, King and Prince Resort, Saint Simons Island, shrimp boat