Want some fresh, locally-caught Lowcountry shrimp? Lucky for you, shrimp season 2019 is here
Attention all seafood lovers: Shrimp season is back in the Lowcountry.
Can’t you just hear Bubba from “Forrest Gump” listing all the yummy ways to serve up the coastal favorite?
“Shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it...” You know how it goes.
Commercial shrimp trawling opened Wednesday morning in designated waters in both South Carolina and Georgia, according to a news release from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.
After a relatively poor shrimping year in 2018 due to the harsh winter, fishermen and shrimp-eaters alike are hoping for a better season in 2019.
“That won’t be hard to pull off,” said Mel Bell, director of the Office of Fisheries Management for SCDNR. “We’re being very optimistic this year to have a good start.”
That seems achievable with white shrimp numbers appearing to have returned to at least the ten-year average, according to the release.
Shrimp season opening in the Lowcountry is also good news for folks that enjoy eating local shrimp.
“It’s a better quality product and you’re supporting South Carolina industry, which we always support,” Bell said.
The open season means the availability of Lowcountry shrimp will increase, which may even cause the price to decrease as well.
He said you can ensure the shrimp you’re buying and eating is local by purchasing them “as close to the source as possible.”
“It’s good if you are able to connect the shrimp you’re buying to a local shrimper or shrimp houses,” he said. “Local caught shrimp is good and usually means better quality and larger sizes.”
Where can you go for local shrimp in Beaufort County?
Luckily, there are plenty of places in our area serving up and selling fresh shrimp and seafood. A few of them include:
Benny Hudson Seafood (Hilton Head)
Benny Hudson’s Seafood has been been in their current location for more than 30 years, with the Hudson family being a fixture of the Lowcountry seafood industry since Ransom Hudson came to the area in the 1800s.
Bluffton Oyster Company (Bluffton)
Bluffton Oyster Company, located in downtown Bluffton, has been serving the Lowcountry since 1899. They have their own fleet of fishing boats including two shrimp boats.
Highway 21 Seafood (Beaufort)
Highway 21 Seafood has been serving seafood for more than 13 years.
Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks (Hilton Head)
Hudson’s Seafood on the Docks serves up fresh, locally sourced shrimp caught by their own private fishing fleet.
Sea Eagle Market (Beaufort)
Sea Eagle Market sells raw, freshly caught shrimp, while their restaurant serves them up any way you’d like.
This story was originally published June 1, 2019 at 10:45 AM with the headline "Want some fresh, locally-caught Lowcountry shrimp? Lucky for you, shrimp season 2019 is here."
