Tag Archives: St. Helena Island

Gay Fish Company to hold Blessing of the Fleet ceremony, public welcome

Since 1948, the Gay Fish Company on St. Helena Island has been fishing, shrimping, processing, and selling local seafood to thousands of customers from all over the country, and the world. After 76 years in business, you would be hard pressed to find many other families in the Lowcountry who are more synonymous with the shrimping and fishing industry. To do something special for the commercial fishermen that are docked there, and to raise awareness for the industry to the public, the family-owned seafood company is hosting its first ever Blessing of the Fleet Ceremony on April 27th, and the public is welcome to attend. more, >>click to read<< 06:22

Beaufort boat captain who helped start famed Shrimp Shack dies

A longtime Beaufort shrimper who helped spawn a must-stop Lowcountry food destination died Monday. Robert “Bob” Upton, 82, was surrounded by family at his marshfront home of more than 60 years on St. Helena Island when he died, Upton, with his wife Hilda Gay Upton, started the Shrimp Shack on Sea Island Parkway in 1978,,, He trawled the waters off the coasts of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina for more than 40 years before retiring in 2004. One of his boats, “Miss Hilda,” made a cameo in the hit movie “Forrest Gump.” and the load of shrimp that actor Tom Hanks drops on the deck after the film’s hurricane scene was bought from Gay Fish Co. Video, >click to read< 16:37