By: Isabel Padilla
Todd Thompson store manager and dock manager walks into the store. In 1996 the marina changed owners and was renamed to Shellman Fish Camp.
Front boat strap and hooks and two back straps hanging. These are part of the boat lift that go to the front and back of boats to place and lift out of the water.
Employee, Henry Baker, is pictured (right) speaking to local (left) Dale Scarborough. Shellman Bluff where the marina is located, is one of the many fishing villages.
The scenery is of the crane that lifts boats in and out of the water. Memorial Day weekend is the camp's busiest time of year, last year estimated 70 boats that were put in on one day.
Henry Baker chooses what straps to use for the next upcoming boat. Henry, also known as “Dooner,” helps on the dock as well as catching the shrimp for bait that is sold in the store.
Customers bring their boat on a trailer to be placed in the water. “On a good weekend we can do 30 boats a day,” said Todd Thompson.
Chris Conrad, employee, guides the strap towards the customers boat. Chris also helps manage the dock.
Chris presses the controller to back the boat into the water. He is one of the three employees that work here.
Chris watches carefully as the crane begins to lift the boat. Shellman Bluff is one of the oldest fishing villages.
Dooner and local man Wayne hooks on the lift to the rear of the boat. Like Wayne many locals have been coming to the Shellman Fish Camp for years.
The boat lift lowers the boat into the water powered by Chris with the controller box. The marina's store sells hats, sunglasses, and bait ranging from all kinds depending on what fish the customers want to catch.
Dooner and Chris work together to lower the boat safely into the water. Dooner gives direction to Chris who is the marina's newest addition to the crew.
Dooner handles the controller box and watches as the boat gets lowered in water. The current owner of Shellman Fish Camp is Trey Coursey who took it over five years ago, he was not on site.
The boat is being lowered by Chris and Dooner. “In the past five years ever since Trey became the owner, business has increased every year,” said Todd Thompson.
Local man, Wayne, takes off the hook off the front of his boat while Todd assists with the back hooks. Summer months are the busiest time of year for boating and fishing around Shellman Bluff.
Dooner finishes up and walks the controller line back to the front of the lift. “We sell shrimp and will be sold out in one day on weekends,” said Todd Thompson.
Chris takes the controller and 5 ton weighted boat straps back to the front. Since Covid-19 hit Todd Thompson said business, “has tripped from covid.”
Dooner walks down the catwalk and guides the boat straps. Many customers who come to the boat lift have summer homes they come to visit but a small amount of people live full-time at the bluffs.
The two yellow controller boxes hang as the job has finished. Shellman Bluff was originally the location of Shellman plantation, until 1861 it was owned by William Cooke.
The Julienton River is the river that is pictured and that the marina overlooks. During Hurricane Irma in 2017 the marina had some structural damage to their docks they had to repair.
