Tag Archives: Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant invests in improved safety, functionality of shrimp boat docks
Much needed upgrades are coming to an important part of Mount Pleasant’s legacy. Town leaders are allocating money to renovate its shrimp boat docks in preparation for a busy shrimping season. “The more boats, the better the dock needs to be,” Rocky Magwood, President of SC Shrimpers Association said. The process of bringing shrimp from the deck to the table is a vision that’s coming to life as the Town of Mount Pleasant’s budget for shrimp boat docks will allocate funding for an updated look and safety upgrades. Magwood says that the docks are wearing out and it’s necessary for a refresh. Video, more, >>click to read<< 13:01
The Fleet fights back: Fishermen unite to curb shrimp dumping
Mount Pleasant’s Economic Development Committee met on Nov. 6 and voted in favor of the proposed economic disaster declaration from the South Carolina Shrimper’s Association and Southern Shrimp Alliance that asserts the Mount Pleasant shrimping fleet can’t sustain itself due to the harmful impacts of shrimp dumping, or the flooding of the market with imported, non-domestic shrimp. Mount Pleasant is the second municipality in South Carolina to declare a state of economic disaster for the domestic shrimping industry. Bryan Jones, vice president of the South Carolina Shrimper’s Association, said the declaration is more than symbolic — it’s one crucial part of a fight that is bringing fishermen from across the Southern United States together to defend their businesses, livelihoods and the shrimping industry as a whole. >>click to read<< 12:40
Shrimp boat that caught fire, sank on way to Blessing of the Fleet removed from water
A shrimp boat that caught fire and sank on its way to this year’s Blessing of the Fleet ceremony in Mount Pleasant was removed from the water on Tuesday, according to a witness. Rocky Magwood, who was there on April 30 when the boat caught fire, says that Coastal Dredging retrieved the boat and brought it to land – all free of charge. Michael Cobb says his 78-year-old father, Larry, was hospitalized after his hands were seriously burned. “I’m just thankful he’s alive,” he told reporter Natalie Spala.7 Photos, >click to read< 13:26
A windy celebration: The 36th annual ‘Blessing of the Fleet’ and seafood festival
It was the 36th annual Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood festival in Mount Pleasant Sunday. The events bring nearly 10,000 seafood lovers together to enjoy local shrimp and fish. The Blessing of the Fleet is how the town of Mount Pleasant sends good wishes to local shrimpers. “What we’re here for is to ask God’s blessing on their shrimpers and families,” said Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie. “It’s hard work, they’re out there in bad weather and good weather and they bring us the best shrimp in America.” >click to read< 08:50
Video Update:1 injured after shrimp boat catches fire on way to ‘Blessing of the Fleet’ Sunday
A shrimp boat on the way to the annual “Blessing of the Fleet” festival Sunday ended up catching fire and leaving a sailor injured, according to Mount Pleasant Fire officials. Fire officials said the boater attempted to extinguish the fire before abandoning ship. He was the only person onboard at the time and was rescued from pluff mud nearby. He was transported to the Medical University of South Carolina for treatment of unknown injuries, fire officials said. >click to read< 07:43
Shrimp Boat Burns During ‘Blessing of the Fleet’ off SC Coast – Fire decimated a boat during a celebration to kick off shrimping season along the South Carolina coast, photos show. >click for video<
Sunday, April 30th: 36th Annual Mount Pleasant Blessing of the Fleet, ‘Blessing of the Fleet’ shirts include tribute to Capt. Wayne Magwood
The annual Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival celebrates Mount Pleasant’s rich maritime heritage and highlights the importance of supporting our local shrimping/fishing captains and their crews who are prayed over for a safe and bountiful season ahead during the ceremonial boat parade as it passes the end of the Mount Pleasant pier. Video, >click to watch< ‘Blessing of the Fleet’ shirts include tribute to Capt. Wayne Magwood >click to read< 10:59
Mount Pleasant to celebrate shrimping season with annual Blessing of the Fleet
The Lowcountry will gather to celebrate the local shrimping and fishing industries during the annual “Blessing of The Fleet” on April 30. The Blessing of the Fleet is a tradition local shrimpers have been a part of for years. The annual event will feature a boat parade, seafood samplings, shag and shrimp eating contests, and local artists and food vendors. >click to read< 17:35
More than a dozen shrimp, fishing boats blessed during Mt. Pleasant’s ‘Blessing of the Fleet’
The 35th Annual Blessing of the Fleet took place Sunday afternoon at Mt. Pleasant’s Memorial Waterfront Park. Fifteen shrimp and fishing boats took part in the blessing and parade. The event is a way to show community support for those taking to the waters this season- along with those no longer with us. Wayne Magwood’s memory continues to be honored- through his former vessel making an appearance from its new home in North Carolina, 
to one the current local boats being renamed in his honor. Magwood’s daughter Melissa said, “this festival has been a part of my life like the entire time, the 35 years, of celebrating the blessing of the fleet.” It’s a time for Melissa and her family who is deeply rooted in the shrimp catching industry to honor the local “legend” who passed away in 2020. Photos, videos, >click to read< 14:49
South Carolina: The 35th annual Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival returns
It’s oh-fish-ial! The 35th annual Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival is returning this weekend. The festival has one purpose: To celebrate Mount Pleasant’s local fishing and shrimping industry. Held at Memorial Waterfront Park on Sun., April 24, this free event features a boat parade, live music, a dance competition, and a shrimp eating contest. The festival also includes a ceremonial blessing of the fleet. Attendees are encouraged to come hungry,,, >click to read< 08:05
Couple recovering after fishing boat sinks in Shem Creek
It was a difficult morning for a young couple and after their commercial fishing boat sunk in Shem Creek sometime during the early morning hours, dumping around 100 gallons of water into the creek as it went down. “We woke up this morning, came down to check the boat as normal,” said one of the boat’s owners. But things were anything but normal. Their source of income was gone. “We just have to keep our composure. It’s just a big old bump in the road, one foot in front of the other and keep on going forward. That’s just life of a commercial fisherman.” Video, >click to read< 09:03
Commercial fishing boat sinks in Shem Creek
Boaters are being asked to avoid the area of Shem Creek on Monday as crews work to clean up an oil spill that resulted from an overturned boat. According to the Mount Pleasant Fire Department, the Hampton Caroline spilled around 100 gallons of oil into Shem Creek. The boat was first reported sinking around 9:00 a.m. Monday, but officials believe it began taking on water overnight. video>click to read< Crews clean up fuel spill after boat sinks at Shem Creek – The clean up effort is underway in Shem Creek after a vessel sank in the early hours of Monday morning, leaking 50-100 gallon of fuel. photo, >click to read< 19:33
Mount Pleasant, S.C. Blessing of the Fleet honors late founder Wayne Magwood
For 34 years, The Blessing of the Fleet has honored Lowcountry fishermen. This year’s event focused on the life and legacy of late organizer and Captain Wayne Magwood. The community and family members say they remember the years of work their father put in to the one thing he adored. “He was always wanting to mentor younger generations. He would take anyone out on his boat with him just so they could see the hard work and dedication he put into his job,” says Melissa Magwood, one of Wayne Magwood’s daughters. The event honored dozens of boats, full of fishermen for their season ahead. This years event was the first without Captain Magwood who started the event. Video, >click to read< 06:59
“It’s time for our community to get back together,” Mount Pleasant Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival
A day filled with seafood snacking and shag dancing can only mean one thing – the 2021 Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival which will celebrate fishers and shrimpers in typical Mount Pleasant fashion. The daylong festival is April 25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park. There will be a variety of activities throughout the day with the boat parade and blessing beginning at 1 p.m. After taking a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival is “back in business.” Schedule, details, >click to read< 10:54
34th Annual Blessing of the Fleet will be April 25th, craft show applications available
The Town of Mount Pleasant Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival craft show applications are now available. The 34th annual festival will be April 25 at Memorial Waterfront Park. The Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival aims to promote local fishermen and the town’s seafood legacy, educate the public on the importance of supporting local fishermen and shrimpers by buying wild-caught and local seafood, and to give back to the community by giving proceeds to a nonprofit that supports Mount Pleasant residents as well as the event. >click to read< 14:44
Community gathers for sunset memorial honoring Captain Wayne Magwood
Friends and family gathered on Thursday night to remember the loss of Lowcountry shrimper, Captain Wayne Magwood. Dozens gathered at Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park to share stories, pray and walk the pier. When the group reached the end of the pier, they dropped flowers into the water. Moving forward, it’s Magwood’s legacy that will keep the community going. A boat parade in his honor is scheduled for this Saturday, October 3rd. Video >Click to read< 07:56
Magwood death a blow to Mount Pleasant. A Letter by Jimmy Bagwell
When I think of my hometown, my thoughts always go to Shem Creek and the shrimp fleet that has been the most recognizable image of our town for 70 to 80 years. On Sept. 11, one of the icons of that creek was killed in an accident on Coleman Boulevard. Wayne Magwood’s death was met with great sadness by all who knew and loved him. Wayne’s family began the shrimping industry on Shem Creek in 1930 when Capt. C. Magwood became the first fisherman to bring ocean shrimp into the creek. >click to read< 17:23
Saving Sylvia II: The story of restoring a historic wooden boat from NC
An old wooden boat built in 1934 is less than three months away from being fully restored and tying up in the water on Shem Creek.,, “These fishing villages, like Mount Pleasant used to be, are slowly disappearing and dying. And the boats are dying with them,” he said. A short while later, Graham was skimming through a magazine called Wooden Boat. He flipped to the last page of the publication titled “Save a Classic” to browse the wooden boats for sale and laid eyes on Sylvia II, a core fishing sound boat in Morehead City, N.C. Photo’s, >click to read< 09:24
State of SC, Mount Pleasant never inspected Shem Creek dock before collapse
It wasn’t closing time. But when the dock at The Wreck on Shem Creek collapsed Saturday night, the party was pretty much over. Karen Hollings was one of 20 people police say fell into the water. She was enjoying the evening, celebrating her friend’s birthday at The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene restaurant. While socializing on the dock, a random thought of a deck collapsing at a party crossed her mind. She didn’t dwell on it. Five minutes later, her mustard-colored sweater and black cocktail attire was soaked and she was swimming to a nearby boat for safety. >click to read< 10:13
Local shrimp industry a tradition worth saving
The town of Mount Pleasant is now in the shrimping business as the new owner of the Wando dock on Shem Creek. What happens there over the next few seasons will be crucial to the future of the local seafood industry, as well as the wider Shem Creek community. First, the town needs to listen to the fishermen and provide them with a serviceable hub of operations, sufficient dock space and easy access to fuel, ice and a processing facility. >click to read<12:46
Editorial: Deals for Shem Creek docks worth a look
Mount Pleasant is poised to take a direct role in propping up the local seafood industry by buying the Wando dock at the mouth of the creek using town funds, then leasing the tie-ups back to shrimpers and the onshore facilities to seafood processors. The roughly 1-acre property would probably contain a public pocket park as well. At the same time, East Cooper Land Trust is applying for $1.3 million in Charleston County Greenbelt funds to improve and preserve the Geechie dock, also on Shem Creek. Assuming the funding is granted, the land trust would place a conservation easement on the property to ensure it continues to operate as a seafood dock. >click to read<07:57
The struggle to preserve Charleston’s ‘working waterfront’
In McClellanville, longtime commercial fishing businessman Rutledge Leland is mulling retirement from Carolina Seafoods and talking to the town’s cadre of shrimpers and other fishing professionals about forming a co-op along Jeremy Creek. In Mount Pleasant, town officials stepped in to moderate an intensifying feud among residents, recreational boaters, commercial fishing interests and others over just what to do about Shem Creek. The town formed an ad hoc committee from among them. At issue is whether the working waterfront can be saved. As those two towns suggest, the answer might just vary from spot to spot. Read the story here 07:59
