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 »

The Jekyll Island Foundation has changed the name of its annual Family Weekend to the Jekyll Island Foundation Sea Turtle Weekend. The name change commemorates the one year anniversary of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, the Foundation’s largest fund-raising project to date. This year marks the seventh year of the event and dates are June 27-29.Weekend packages - which include meals, beverages, accommodations, and tickets to all events - can be purchased by contacting the Jekyll Island Foundation at (912) 635-4402 or visiting their website at www.jekyllislandfoundation.org. The weekend begins with a Friday evening welcome reception at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the staff and take a private tour of the center. Saturday is filled with a variety of activities for the whole family, including a golf tournament, fishing excursion, kayak trip, kite flying demonstration and shrimp boat excursion. However, the highlight of the day will be an afternoon Birthday Celebration at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, starting with the release of a rehabilitated sea turtle. With crafts, activities and education sessions, the celebration is sure to excite kids and adults alike. As afternoon rolls into evening, guests are invited to the Jekyll Island Club Beach Pavilion to participate in a low country boil and live auction set amidst the ocean breezes. Sea Turtle Weekend is produced by the Jekyll Island Foundation as a fund raising event for the continuous restoration and conservation efforts of Jekyll Island. Proceeds from the event fund various projects on Jekyll Island. Sponsors include the Jekyll Island Authority, the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, The Coca-Cola Company, United Distributors,and Red Bug Motors.

Tags: family weekend package, fishing excursion, Jekyll Island Foundation, Jekyll Island Foundation Sea Turtle Weekend, Jekyll Island fund-raising, shrimp boat tours
Posted in Beachscape, June 2008 | No Comments »