The Georgia Shrimp Association and the Jekyll Island Authority are proud to bring you Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival in celebration of the sweet, wild Georgia shrimp harvest!

Commercial shrimping defines the look and feel of the Georgia coast. Shrimp boats trawl the horizon or sweep near shore as sunbathing tourists watch with interest and children try to catch a glimpse of the captain at his wheel; at rest, the boats distinctive rigging proclaims the freshness of local seafood at picturesque docks and fishing villages. And it’s not just for show - shrimping is among the nation’s largest fisheries and Georgia shrimpers and shrimp are counted among the best in the nation.
The shrimping tradition in Georgia is old and proud, and it is the state’s most important and vibrant connection to the life of the sea. Making a living from the sea is one of the most ancient and esteemed pursuits of man.

The Georgia Shrimp Association seal signifies that the shrimp is local, gathered from coastal Georgia waters and packaged according to strict Georgia Shrimp Association guidelines. While Georgia shrimpers face competition from foreign imports who grow pond-raised shrimp, the size and taste of the seafood fails in comparison to the sweet, jumbo sized wild Georgia shrimp.

Jekyll Island and the Georgia Shrimp Association welcome you to celebrate Georgia’s shrimp and the hardworking shrimpers who trawl our waters. Friday, September 19, through Sunday, September 21, the beautiful Jekyll Island Club National Landmark Historic District will feature great professional and amateur shrimp and grits chefs, shrimp eating contests, a kids fun zone, and vendors galore. For more information, visit www.jekyllisland.com/shrimpandgrits or call the Jekyll Island Visitors Information Center at 1-877-4JEKYLL.

Tags: coastal festivals, cooking competitions, family fun, Georgia Shrimp Association, Jekyll Island Club National Landmark Historic District, jekyll island festivals, Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival, shrimp and grits, shrimping
Posted in Beachscape, September 2008 | No Comments »

Cruising the costal waters is a unique experience when on a shrimp boat excursion with Captain Larry Credle. Born in Belhaven, NC, Captain Credle started shrimping in his early teens on weekends and summers with his dad. Working with a fleet of five vessels at the age of fourteen, he became the captain of his own shrimp vessel in 1979. Being a captain for nearly 30 years, Credle has had fun, interesting, and educational shrimp excursions on the Lady Jane.

Consisting of a two-hour voyage along the Marshes of Glynn, shrimp excursions were made famous by the poet Sidney Lanier. With much to see, such as dolphins, shorebirds, and minks, guests can observe the crew deploy the shrimp net and retrieve a bountiful catch of various sea life. Shrimp nets can catch shrimp, crabs, fish, horseshoe crabs, manta rays, and so much more. The day’s catch is “like Christmas, you never know what’s in the nets’ bag,” states Credle. While guest take pictures and learn, the crew prepares a fresh shrimp boil with the recent catch and guests can taste “fresh out of the water, Georgia sweet white shrimp.”

Captain Credle’s Shrimp Excursions are taking part in the 2008 Shrimp & Grits: Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival by offering two shrimp boat tours daily on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The tours take place on the Lady Jane, a United States Coast Guard certified 49-passenger steel shrimping vessel retired after years of loyal service to the shrimping industry. The Lady Jane has been refurbished for the cruising pleasure of her tourists. While enjoy the sights, sounds, and wonderful tastes of Jekyll Island’s Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival, be sure to take part in a true shrimping experience and see first-hand how much hard work goes in to retrieving this southern favorite. All of the trips September 19 - 21 will depart from the dock on Highway 17 in Brunswick, located behind Spanky’s Marshside. Trips are $39.95 for adults and $25 for children 10 and younger. You can also check out the Lady Jane online at www.shrimpcruise.com

To experience the fun of Captain Credle’s shrimp boat excursions call 912-265-5711 or e-mail captain@shrimpcriuse.com. For more information on the 2008 Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival, visit www.jekyllisland.com/shrimpandgrits or call the Jekyll Island Visitors’ Information Center at 1-877-4JEKYLL.

Tags: captain creadle, coastal boat tours, georgia shrimp, Jekyll Island family fun, jekyll island festivals, sea excursions, Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival, shrimp boat tours, shrimping
Posted in Beachscape, September 2008 | No Comments »

Local restaurants celebrate the most craved seafood in the south- Wild Georgia Shrimp. Golden Isles restaurants are taking part in September’s Wild Georgia Shrimp Month by offering special shrimp dishes featuring only Wild Georgia Shrimp. No matter what your taste buds crave, fried, grilled, or sautéed, they have it all.

Visit one or all of these local restaurants to enjoy the delightful tastes of shrimp cooked to perfection. Participants include:

Blackwater Grill
New Orleans BBQ Shrimp appetizer
260 Redfern Village, St. Simons Island
912-634-6333

The Grand Dining Room at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel
Speciality Jekyll Shrimp and Grits dish
371 Riverview Drive, Jekyll Island
912-635-2600

Seajay’s Waterfront Café and Pub
Seajay’s Shrimp Salad Croissant
1 Harbor Road, Jekyll Island
912-635-3200

Blackbeard’s Seafood Restaurant
One-of-a kind Shrimp and Grits dish
200 N Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island
912-635-3522

Latitude 31/ Rah Bar
Array of dishes including romano crusted shrimp appetizer, desert fire fettuccine, surf n surf, children’s fried shrimp, peel n eat shrimp, jumbo Georgia White Shrimp, and low country boil.
1 Pier Road, Jekyll Island, GA 31527
912-635-3800

Time Out Sport Grill
Shrimp Carbonara; sauteed jumbo shrimp tossed with tomato, bacon, peas, mushroom and a cream sauce served over fettuccine.
975 N Beachview Dr, Jekyll Island
912-635-2531

Saydee’s Restaurant
Resort-chic restaurant offers a wide variety of seafood entrees. The many shrimp dishes capture the essence of coastal cuisine and more.
1175 N Beachview Dr, Jekyll Island
912-635-3588

This is an event you do not want to miss. The Shrimp and Grits festival will be September 19-21. For more information visit www.jekyllisland.com or contact the Jekyll Island Welcome Center at 1-877-4-JEKYLL.

Tags: blackbeards, blackwater grill, Jekyll Island Club Hotel, jekyll island festivals, jekyll island resturants, latitude 31, rah bar, saydess resturant, shrimp & grits: wild georgia shrimp festival, shrimp and grits festival, time out sport girll, wild georgia shrimp month
Posted in Beachscape, September 2008 | No Comments »

The recipes may be passed down or home grown. The chefs will range from back yard burner to culinary craftsman. What all of the cooks will have in common during Jekyll Island’s 3rd Annual Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival September 19-21st will be two key ingredients: shrimp and grits. Amateur and professional chefs will spin their culinary creations for top honors and cash prizes in this 3rd annual cooking competition.

“The quality and creativity of the entries is always and interesting and delicious surprise,” said Beth Burnsed, Event Marketing Manager for Jekyll Island. “The variety of shrimp & grits recipes makes the competition harder and harder every year. These contestants mean business!”
On the amateur side, individuals or groups are able to participate. This year there will be amateur competitions, both on Saturday and there is an entry fee of $30 per group which provides entrants with shrimp, grits, and a festival T-shirt. Each chef will need to furnish all other ingredients, a propane cook-top and cooking utensils necessary to create their shrimp and grits specialties. The first place recipient will receive a $500 cash prize. The second place recipient will receive $300, and the third place contestant will garner $100.


The entry fee for professional chefs, those who have worked within the restaurant business for 2 years or more, is $100 and includes shrimp, grits, and a festival T-shirt. The first prize winner will take home bragging rights, $1,000 cash. Second place will receive $800, and the third place contestant receives $500.


The Amateur Cook-offs will be held on Saturday, Sept 20th beginning at 10 a.m and 3:30 PM. Professional chefs will compete on Sunday, Sept 21st beginning at 12:00 p.m. The competition will utilize staggered start and stop times to ensure each entry is freshly served to the panel of judges. Contestants will be judged on recipe/ingredients, taste, originality and presentation. Recipes can be centered on any meal day part and include an array of ingredients, but all must contain both shrimp and grits. Participation in both cook-off events is on a first-come, first-served basis with space restricted to ten entries per competition. Registration forms can be obtained online
www.jekyllisland.com/shrimpandgrits.


Providing the key ingredient, Wild Georgia Shrimp, will be the Georgia Shrimp Association, the events title sponsor.
Other activities taking place during the festival weekend include shrimp-eating contests, an arts and crafts show, kids play area, live music and lots of food. We will even have a the Lady Jane, a real shrimp boat, available for tours and a sunset cruise! For more information on the Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival visit www.jekyllisland.com/shrimpandgrits or call 1-877-4JEKYLL.

Tags: amateur cooking, chefs, cooking contests, Georgia Shrimp Association, jekyll island festivals, professional cooking, shrimp and grits festival, wild georgia shrimp
Posted in July 2008 | No Comments »