Chatham Isles Living May June 2016

Whitemarsh, Oatland, Talahi, Wilmington

and Tybee

Maddy Williams Tybee Lifeguard

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SPECIALIZING IN: Maternity • Newborns • Children • High School Seniors Engagements • Weddings & Event Photography

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CONTRIBUTORS

STAFF Katrice Williams She is a married mother of two. She graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. She moved to the Atlanta Metropolitan Area to pursue business career endeavors. A few years later, her husband, Tony, received a job offer in our local area, and the family eventually moved to Pooler. After spending a fulfilling amount of time as an at-home mom, she decided to pursue an area of personal attraction—writing. In her spare time, Katrice enjoys the 3F’s: family, food, and fun!! She’s also fond of occasionally writing a bit of good poetry.

Jeff Whitten

David Pena was a Language Arts teacher in the Georgia public school system for over twenty years. Also a professional musician on the weekends, he enjoys writing about local happenings and the interesting, diverse mix of cultures that make up the Southeast. He loves to spend time with his son Carter, golf and play tennis.

Tonya Chester Perry is a married mother of two children.

Lane Leopard

She is a full time photographer with a studio based in Rincon, Ga. She graduated from college with a degree in business. She is originally from Louisiana, after living in different states, she now resides in Effingham County. She is a Maternity, Newborn, Child, High School Senior and Wedding Photographer.

When not working she enjoys spending her time with her husband & kids.

Heather Lowry has been in Savannah for about six years, hailing from Ohio. After seven years, she is taking a break from teaching freshman composition and enjoying a change of pace. She has a 10-month old daughter, Elliette, and a son on the way, due at the end of September.

Lea Allen

Marsha Stewart

DiAnna Jenkins

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CONTENTS May/June 2016

features

08 Sand, Maddy Williams Surf and Keeping It Safe on Tybee

14 Cecil and Elizabeth Johnson Exploring The Wonders of the Isles

18 Living The Last Of A Dying Breed The Wildlife 22 Captain J. Gary Hill, Renaissance Waterman

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departments

07

Publisher’s Letter

28

Fishing Report

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PUBLISHER’S Thoughts

Julie Hales owner/publisher julie@idpmagazines.com Jeff Whitten editor jeff@idpmagazines.com Lane Leopard graphic designer lane@idpmagazines.com Lea Allen administrative assistant/circulation lea@idpmagazines.com DiAnna Jenkins account executive dianna@idpmagazines.com Marsha Stewart account executive marsha@idpmagazines.com

Chatham Isles Living is proudly produced by:

LOVING THE WATER Anybody who knows me, knows that my favorite place to be is near the water. It just has a soothing, calming affect on my soul. Actually, I would say that being near water is my greatest stress reliever.

And if you have my job, you know what stress can be like.

I love exploring the waterways in our area and finding out as much as I can about them. Not only their history, but their everlasting invitation to the people who are around them.

This issue, our annual ‘Life on the Water’ issue, brings you some really cool stories of people in our area who live and work on our local waters. From keeping us safe, to catching our dinner, to giving us an education, to just pure having fun...this issue is all about the water.

Reading the stories that follow on the next pages gave me happy thoughts. I just imagined myself Julie Hales, PUBLISHER on the water or beach with these people...looking at the ocean at swimmers to make sure they were safe...riding on a boat and watching the dolphins swim around me...being on a shrimp boat and seeing what was in the nets as they were pulled back on board...seeing a new area and learning its history...each story has its own unique appeal.

I am very appreciative of these folks for what they do, and for letting us share their stories. No, if I could just talk them in to taking me on their next adventure!

It was a thought!

108 International Drive, P.O. Box 1742 Rincon, GA 3126 (912) 826-2760

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Write to us and tell us what you think. Chatham Isles Living welcomes all letters to the publisher.

Please send all letters via email to Jeff Whitten at jeff@idpmagazines.com, or mail letters to P.O. Box 1742, Rincon, GA 31326. Letters to the editor must have a phone number and name of contact.

Phone numbers will not be published.

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS Chatham Isles Living welcomes story ideas from our readers. If you have a story idea, or photo essay you would like to share, please submit ideas and material by emailing Jeff Whitten at jeff@idpmagazines.com.

Stories or story ideas must be submitted via email.

Only feature stories and photo essays about people, places or things on Whitemarsh, Oatland, Talahi, Wilmington and Tybee Islandsvwill be considered.

CIRCULATION: Chatham Isles Living is publlished bi-monthly (six issues a year), printing 10,000 copies and distributed to over 160 locations.

ABOUT THE COVER Meet Maddy Williams, Tybee Island resident and Lifeguard for Tybee Ocean Rescue. Maddy shares with us her experiences about being a lifeguard at the beach and her passion for her job.

Cover Photo By Tonya Chester Perry

Reproduction in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | May/June 2016

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Sand, Surf and Keeping It Safe ON TYBEE ISLAND Lifeguard Maddy Williams reflects on keeping beach goers safe and happy while going home every day feeling a ‘good kind of tired.’ story by david pena photos by tonya chester perry

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ust in case you’ve been out of the loop lately, Hollywood has descended on Tybee Island, and with filming for the Baywatch movie almost at its conclusion, the glitz and glamour of life on the beach nears its inevitable end. And, while Hollywood is all about entertainment, obviously in movies and television, there isn’t always room for realistic portrayals. If on-screen clichés were true, everyone would wake up with perfect hair, happy endings would be the norm, and every person in high school would look twenty-five. Misconceptions on television are so common that they are slowly woven into the fabric of reality, and it should not come as a surprise that Hollywood does not always focus on reality when portraying lifeguards.

“The lifeguards on Baywatch are shown working out on the beach, and we don’t normally have the time to do that. We work out before or after work, and let’s not even get into the running in slow motion,” says Madelyn Williams, a twentyone-year-old lifeguard who is in her second season with Tybee Ocean Rescue.

Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Madelyn, or “Maddy” as she is known to everyone, moved to Tybee several years earlier with her family. Maddy’s mother, who was from Florida, always wanted to move near the beach. Her uncle, who works in Savannah, suggested taking a look at Tybee, so the family came down for what they thought would be a brief visit in order to scout the area, but as it turned out, that visit was life-changing. “ About nine years ago, we came out to look for a day or two, then we stayed for a week, then a month... and before I knew it, we were moving down. I didn’t even know Tybee existed before I moved here.”

A self-described “gym rat,” Maddy’s foray into lifeguarding ironically came as a bit of detour. “I had just finished school with a major in kinesiology (the scientific study of human or non-human body movement) when last season started. I was working the front desk at the Tybee YMCA, and a co-worker who worked as a lifeguard the previous summer suggested that I apply. He knew me pretty well, and he thought would be a good candidate who’d really be into this. I’m very athletic and competitive by nature, and I’m in and out of the gym pretty much every day. He explained that the job is physically exhausting but also rewarding, and he figured it would be right up my alley. It turns out he was right.”

Another peer that sensed Maddy’s potential to be a suc-

cessful lifeguard almost immediately was Josh Janufka, captain of Ocean Rescue at Tybee. When Janufka met Williams for the first time, he sized her up pretty accurately. “My first impression of Madelyn was that she seemed hardworking, athletic and knowledgeable, someone that I would not have to worry too much about,” Janufka says. “She’s confirmed my initial feelings many times over. I’m a big fan of low maintenance workers, and she’s definitely one of them.”

The lifeguards at Tybee Ocean Rescue are among the modern-day guardians of the sea, minding one of the busiest coastlines on the east coast. For those whose job puts them up against riptides, quickly changing tidal conditions and crashing waves, being athletic and resourceful is a must. The secret to their survival (and success): “Training in those conditions keeps us ready for when we have to make a rescue,” Maddy emphasizes. The beginning of their orientation is comprised of three qualifying activities that each prospective lifeguard must pass. Candidates must be able to run two miles in seventeen minutes, swim 500 meters in ten minutes, and tread water for five minutes with and without hands. Once they get through the qualifiers, then there’s rookie school. “It’s a week-long intense series of insane scenarios. There are plenty of physical tests, running in and out of the water, practicing pulling people out of the water, sometimes with a 135 pound dummy thrown many yards out in the ocean. Anything that could go wrong out there, we have a challenge designed to test us.”

As it turned out, Maddy’s first day on the job was a trial by fire, calling on her training and instincts almost immediately. “On my very first full day as a lifeguard, I wasn’t in the tower for twenty minutes when we saw three teen-aged girls swimming on the north end near the jetties. All of a sudden their heads went under and they were gone.” Williams was there with two other lifeguards, and they instinctively ran into the water. Harking back to their training, the three lifeguards swam around the rocks and thankfully reached two of the girls pretty quickly but couldn’t locate the third girl. Maddy continues, “We finally saw her reaching out for the jetties in a ‘fight or flight’ mode, grabbing anything to survive. She was cut up really badly from the rocks and barnacles, which is why we always warn folks not to swim near them. Our third lifeguard managed to pull her in finally but she was really bleeding from her cuts. That was a pretty intense first day!”

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Emboldened by her first day’s performance, she felt an immediate kinship with her team and her new vocation. “I expected myself to panic more than I did, but after that week of being there (during rookie week) at the crack of dawn, going through all the intense drills and practices, I thought, ‘this is my job now.’ I definitely felt a sense of accomplishment and pride,” she reflects.

To physically prepare for the demands of the job, the guards prioritize physical fitness. “You have to be practical, you have to be agile,” adds Williams. Despite the iconic, stylized version of a lifeguard as a bulky muscle man, that’s not the only body type you’ll encounter on the Ocean Rescue team; instead of all guards emphasizing size as a main attribute, some of the the lifeguards at Ocean Rescue focus on swimming, surfing, mountain biking, trail running, and other activities that keep them lean and flexible for when duty calls. At 5’8” and 135 pounds, Maddy Williams doesn’t initially strike an imposing presence, but by all accounts, she can keep up with the rest of the boys. “I don’t want to pat myself on the back, but I’m one of three girls on a team with more than twenty men, and I’m one of the few people on the team who can pick up 300 pounds since I’m also a personal trainer. I definitely have more strength than I seem to have. Some people see a really buff guy and think they can definitely save them, but we have a lot more power behind us than we look.”

Physical strength is not Maddy’s primary asset, according to Janufka. “She’s very motivated, great with people, and well-liked by staff. She’s also great with kids, which is not always the case with lifeguards. We’re happy that she came back this year, since she finished college and many times lifeguarding at Tybee is a stepping stone.” Maddy’s great work ethic and professionalism are the results of her desire to complete the task at hand while maintaining grace under pressure. “You can’t let yourself panic or freak out. If someone needs your help, you are that person’s lifeline and they depend on you, so you have to be able to communicate with people really well and always think way ahead in every situation,” she notes. “You’re not just sitting in a stand, watching

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the water. You may have to calculate and put together all the variables quickly.” And with some of the biggest tidal changes on the east coast, these variables can become quite unpredictable really quickly, which includes, of course, the dangers of rip currents.

However, Janufka emphasizes, “I don’t worry too much about Maddy; she’s very capable, one of the best we’ve got.”

Currently in her second year as a lifeguard, the demands of the job vary as often as the changing tides, and compared to other occupations, the pay can best be described as adequate.

Maddy wouldn’t have it any other way, since she views the job as the reward itself. “It pays pretty well, but that’s a great bonus to the job itself. You get out there for one summer and you’re hooked because these are the people that you can call at four in the afternoon if you need help with a rescue or at four in the morning when your car breaks down. These people become like family, and, while the pay is pretty good, you come back because this is where you belong.” Despite working a job whose risks are often part of a daily regimen, there are actually some humorous aspects to being a lifeguard that help break up the monotony. She continues, “People constantly ask us when we’re going to let the dolphins out. They think we control every creature in the ocean and are curious to know how we train them to do tricks, letting certain creatures, like jellyfish, in and out of our ‘special nets.’

Like at three o’clock, it’s the dolphin show, at five here come the whales...It’s hilarious, so we just play along sometimes.”

When pondering her future on the beach, Maddy contends that she feels at home keeping beach goers safe, and feels a sense of camaraderie with her team at Ocean Rescue. “I feel that I’ll be out here a while. I like the job, the people that I work with as well as the intensity of the work. When I go home, I’m a good kind of tired,” she says. As for the glamorous Baywatch depiction of lifeguarding, she prefers the well-grounded approach. “I’m just doing my job, what is required of me. I don’t think I’m anything special.

I knew exactly what I was signing up for. I just want to make sure that everybody on the beach goes home tired and happy, too.”

“You can’t let yourself panic or freak out. If someone needs your help, you are that person’s lifeline and they depend on you, so you have to be able to communicate with people really well and always think way ahead in every situation.”

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U.S. DOT No. 1783534 | MC 650190

TYBEE ISLAND MAIN STREET PRESENTS:

Grab your blanket or lawn chair, pack a picnic, bring your kids, friends, families, and neighbors and join us for FREE movies in Memorial Park* at sunset on the third Saturday of every month this summer! * Movies will be shown in the YMCA Gym in case of rain.

Thanks to our generous supporters!

Saturday June 18

Saturday July 16

Saturday August 20

www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | May/June 2016

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Cecil and Elizabeth Johnson

Exploring The Wonders of the Isles

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story by katrice williams photos by tonya chester perry

aptain Cecil and Captain Elizabeth Johnson, co-owners of Tybee Island Charters, have been in the charter boat business for over 30 years after moving to the local area in 1982. In fact, Tybee Island Charters was started by the couple in 1985. Cecil, a North Carolina native, admits that he met the love of his life, Elizabeth, an Iowa native, over 35 years ago in Atlanta. The two were smitten with each other, and they wed some time later.

Cecil knew that he wanted to live off of the coast and near the water--the other big love in his life. Both he and Elizabeth loved what Tybee and the surrounding area had to offer. Cecil participated in commercial fishing for a while. He soon crossed paths with Captain Charlie Walsh, who inspired him to get into the chartering business. After training with Captain Walsh for several years and even acting as his 1st Mate, Cecil was more certain than ever of what he was truly passionate about. Thereafter, he fulfilled the requirements to receive his captain’s license.

Interestingly enough, a short time later, Elizabeth acquired her captain’s license after undergoing extensive training with Captain Walsh and Cecil. What’s more, Cecil has been a retired Savannah Fire Fighter for over seven years now, a career that he had for 25 years; for over 15 of those years, he was an integral part of the department’s Technical Water Rescue Team. Cecil also earned his Divemaster Certification.

He comments, “I enjoyed fire fighting; it was a great career.”

Cecil’s firefighting schedule allowed him time for offshore fishing on his days off. However, he still loved the idea of spending even more time on the water and was able to do just that

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after completing his successful fire fighting career.

Cecil remarks, “I tell everybody I’m a boata-holic. I just love boats. I’ve just loved the water and every aspect of water all my life.”

Cecil and Elizabeth both give Captain Charlie Walsh an incredible amount of credit for being an undeniable inspiration to their lives. He passed away about 20 years ago at age 87 after retiring from the charter boat industry only two years prior. The couple still speaks highly and fondly of him.

“Captain Charlie was such a strong influence. He kind of took me under his wing,” Cecil notes.

Elizabeth goes on to say, “He was such a grand influence. He never met a stranger.

Everyone he met was a friend. He just had the best attitude and was so knowledgeable about so many things in life.” Cecil and Elizabeth still live in the home they purchased from Captain Charlie a long time ago. He lived with them until he passed away.

Tybee Island Charters has grown over the years, and the couple is well pleased with where it is today. They are both confident that they provide an exceptional charter boat experience for their customers. That strong customer focus is what Elizabeth feels sets their company apart from others in the industry.

“We’re very personalized. We like to talk to people. We really encourage calling and talking to us, so that we can decide exactly what they are looking for…what activity suits each customer,” Elizabeth declares.

She later adds, “I think it’s our personal service. We’re very customer-oriented. We want everyone to have a good time—a safe time. We want it to be special for them.”

There is a plethora of fun activities that customers can be involved in under the lead-

ership of the two captains that are both competent and knowledgeable about the job that they love to do. They insist that their customers have a top-notch experience.

Tybee Island Charters offer in-shore and off-shore/overnight fishing, nature tours, dolphin tours, barrier island exploration, fossil hunting, beach picnics, dinner cruises and more. The “overnight cruises focus on the very beautiful barrier islands from Tybee to Wolf Island.” Specialized cruises beyond Wolf Island can be scheduled. Many of the islands are unde-

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veloped and not often explored by others, offering their guests a “true get-away” experience. Though certain activities may be somewhat seasonal, the couple strives to do what it takes to make their customers happy with their experience.

They often operate three boats, depending on the desired activity. They take small groups out with a maximum of six individuals at a time, especially since that allows for a more personal feel and allows them to give each customer the attention they deserve.

The couple wants to give their custom-

ers, both the long-distance and local ones, an unforgettable experience.

Elizabeth states, “We have an amazing coastline. It’s just a wonderful thing to share with people. Your world just kind of disappears; it’s all about having fun.”

Cecil smiles as he mentions the names that he gave their boats, names inspired by his wife--The Isabella and The Elizabeth II. The Flounder is a skiff due to its flat bottom.

Cecil and Elizabeth take a great deal of pride in the islands. Additionally, Elizabeth feels that the “nature and the beauty and the history of them is just astounding.”

She mentions, “It’s just a golden opportunity to explore the Golden Isles—to explore this natural wonder that we have here. It’s just a secret paradise.”

The couple is quite content with where they are at and pleased with how well their business has done over the years. Even more, they are delighted that they have been afforded many opportunities to help other individuals make beautiful memories. Elizabeth insists that they want to “continue to have a good time, enjoy life and help others.” Besides their customers, the couple is grateful to have mentored several mates, or those individuals who have worked closely with them and assisted them in their chartering business over the years, several of which were inspired to become captains themselves.

Elizabeth states, “We hope we inspire them to be better people doing something they love…to develop a good work ethic.”

Many may wonder what Cecil and Elizabeth enjoy doing as pastimes. Well, more water is involved. Even with their lives seeming like a daily vacation, the couple still enjoys traveling to areas with beautiful beaches like the Bahamas. They admit that they really “like the clear water.”

Regarding their vacations, Cecil laughs and says, “We rent the same house, the same boat, the same golf cart and go with the same people.”

Cecil and Elizabeth agree that they want their customers to get the most out of their time with Tybee Island Charters. After all, it is about what makes them happy and what they would like to get out of the overall experience.

“We enjoy sharing the experience of being here,” Elizabeth says.

Captains Cecil and Elizabeth Johnson of Tybee Island Charters understand the value of the beauty all around them, and they want to share it with others. They are proud of the services they provide their customers, and they are excited to see what the future has to offer.

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YMCAofcoastalga.org www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | March/April 2016

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The Last of a Dying Breed Two local shrimpers are finding a way to stay afloat in an industry that may soon be capsizing. story by david pena

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photos by tonya chester perry

S

hrimp routinely tops the list as America’s favorite type of seafood. We love our shrimp grilled, fried, boiled, broiled, stir-fried and stuffed. However, if you think that most of the shrimp you eat is being harvested off U.S. shores and brought fresh into market, ala Forest Gump style, then you’re simply being misled. Today, the vast majority of shrimp come from industrial shrimp farms off the coasts of countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Ecuador, among others. These farms are plagued with the same problems as land-based confined animal feeding operations or CAFOs, all of which makes for a precarious state of affairs for local shrimpers, especially for the independent fishermen out there trying to make ends meet.

Despite this rather bleak outlook, two local shrimpers have found a way to “stay afloat,” as it were. Brian Anderson, along with his brother Steve, are second generation commercial shrimpers who have been selling and delivering fresh shrimp right off their family-owned boats for over 35 years. About four years ago, the Anderson brothers began Scuba Steve’s Seafood off of highway 80, a fresh, local seafood market, with the operative words being “fresh” and especially “local.” The enterprising siblings started the business out of an old storage rental place, and they recently discussed how the business originated, how the industry has changed over the years, and most importantly, how they’ve managed to survive in an industry rife with seemingly insurmountable odds against them.

Ever since the siblings were toddlers, Johnny Anderson would work all day at the railroad, and then pick up his sons after work to take them shrimping, teaching them the skills he’d amassed in his forty years of experiences on the sea.

The pair now operate the business themselves, with each sibling having a distinct role to play. “I like to think of myself as the nuts and bolts of the business, while Steve makes it all customer friendly. Being the wittier brother, that’s his cup of tea,” Brian says with a chuckle. Steve returns the compliment, lauding his brother’s amazing work ethic. “With the exception of my father, Brian probably has one of the best work ethics of anyone I’ve ever met.

Since he and I both grew up shrimping with my dad,” he states, “we pretty much learned everything from him. Then I kind of inherited his extensive customer logs, so I would take the orders and make deliveries to homes all over the Savannah area,

delivering what my brother and dad had caught. The business really started from there.” Beaming with pride, Brian adds how shrimping actually helped finance his education. “I always shrimped with my dad part time back in middle and high school.

In fact, when I was fifteen, I was running my own speedboat. Shrimping helped pay my way through grade school and Benedictine. Then it helped with college, so when I graduated, I didn’t owe a dime at all,” he proudly states.

While the Anderson brothers are now firmly entrenched in the industry that’s been integral to them since childhood, they both admit to going a more traditional route after college. Steve states, “Brian and I got our degrees from the University of Georgia and went our separate ways to work in the corporate world. We quickly found out, though, that if you’re

not writing your own checks, you’re not really making a living while still answering to someone else.” Brian was further convinced to return to shrimping after a life-changing and unfortunate turn of events. Brian recalls, “Well, my first wife didn’t want to be married to a shrimper, so when we got divorced around 1999, I took my equity from the sale of the house and bought a thirty-five foot shrimp boat, which paid for itself in two years. Around 2001, I began shrimping full-time and soon added another boat. Now compared to (life in the corporate world), catching and selling shrimp is a piece of cake.”

These days, Brian generally works out of Lazaretto Creek, Tybee, Little Tybee, Hilton Head and Daufuskie Island. For about twenty days out of the month, Anderson is on the water, usually bringing in about 400-500 pounds of shrimp a day on

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average. Brian reveals how the brothers keep the revenue coming, even when the season ends. “I’m usually out there, except during the months of February through April, and even then you can go into federal (offshore) waters three miles out.” During those down months, Anderson plans to charter some boats along the coast using his captain’s license, while Steve reveals another trick of the trade. “To survive the winter months, we freeze some of the shrimp that we caught during the season in five gallon buckets to sell during our down time. That way we can ensure fresh, local product year-round. Plus I’ve learned from my short time operating this business that if you have a superior product, people will come to buy it,” but he adds with a gleam in his eye, “but it also helps if you have a brother who has his own shrimp boat.”

The Andersons also reflected on the the current state of an industry that they’ve been a part of most of their lives. “The commercial fishing industry is dying in the United States. We’re at a disadvantage because we’re not really competing against the shrimpers in Asia and Ecuador; we’re competing against the governments which subsidize production of shrimp over there, be it pond raised or (through the use of) slave and child labor.

These countries also allow the use of antibiotics, pesticides and herbicides, which (the U.S.) has strict regulations against. Then they’ll ship the shrimp overseas with no restrictions and very little testing,” he emphasizes. Steve comments on another important variable in the life of a commercial fisherman. “Most of your cost is in fuel, so when the fuel prices went up to over $3.00 a gallon for diesel, that forced many commercial fishermen out of business. By the time you paid for your fuel, your boat and health care, you wouldn’t have anything left over,” he states. “We can always raise the price of our shrimp, but if the price of domestic shrimp gets too high, the restaurants, especially the chains, will just buy the imported shrimp. They can dress it up in batters and seasoning, so no harm done as far as taste is concerned, but people come

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to Savannah to eat our local shrimp. Believe me, that’s not what they’re getting most of the time.”

Amazingly, the Andersons have managed to stay afloat in an industry rife with heartaches and pitfalls. Their previous lives in the corporate world aside, this is in their blood. Brian jokes, “It’s funny because I was telling another shrimper the other day that I could put on a coat and tie tomorrow and go back to the corporate world, going toe-to-toe with anyone, but that’s really not what I want to do. I like to get out there and be paid to go hunting and fishing.” To offset the inundation of foreign products into the U.S. market, the Andersons believe that commercial fishermen need to rebuild their own retail market, invest in multiple boats, and operate with a reliable customer base. “That’s why we started our business. An independent shrimper really has little chance of competing. I’d be out of business if I didn’t have an outlet to sell my shrimp, but we’re doing alright so far,” Brian somberly notes.

Commercial shrimping defines the look and the feel of the Georgia coast, and Georgia shrimpers like the Anderson brothers, as well as the shrimp they catch, are generally perceived to be among the best in the nation. The shrimping tradition in our state is an old and proud one, and it is Georgia’s most important connection to the life of the sea. Making a living from the sea is one of the most ancient and esteemed pursuits of man, and despite the Andersons’ relatively short stints in the corporate world, Steve explains what enticed them to return to the shrimping industry.

“It’s funny. Brian has a degree in marketing, and I have an economics degree, and we’re now back to doing what we did as kids.

I guess it’s in our blood.” Ironic? Perhaps, but not so long ago, when you claimed that someone was a good fisherman, that was high praise indeed. Today, however, that praise takes on a whole different signification because, like Brian and Steve Anderson, the commercial fisherman may just be the last of a dying breed, at least in this region of the country.

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www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | May/June 2016

21

Captain J. Gary Hill

Renaissance Waterman: Retirement’s Dream Is Never Too Soon story by heather lowry

22 May/June 2016 | www.ChathamIslesLiving.com

photos by tonya chester perry

T

here’s a brotherhood among those who define themselves as “watermen.” There’s also an air of playfulness and pure bliss that only comes with finding satisfaction in life’s work. Out of this grows an entertaining captain who is one part storyteller, one part historian, one part teacher, and one part artist. This is Captain J. Gary Hill.

Anyone who has worked with Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill will agree, he is a storyteller. He jokes and has a good time; he enjoys what he does. He tells stories that will make guests smile and second-guess what they hear. “I enjoy watching their expressions when you tell them that pelicans are born as full-sized birds.” Gary asks, “Have you ever seen a baby pelican?” One can’t help but smile when pondering this.

Growing up, Gary was a mountain-child from Virginia.

When his parents moved to Atlanta, Gary asked to live with his grandparents back in Virginia to “hunt and fish.” Gary states, “I didn’t want to live in the city; I grew up in the country.” His first boat was “a car top off a ’55 Dodge when I was 12 years old.” Being in nature was where he started, and where his heart never left.

As a teenager, he joined the Army after Vietnam, and started racing hobie cats in Myrtle Beach. He eventually got married and the plan was to retire near the water and buy a boat.

To his chagrin, that plan changed when Gary got divorced.

Gary says, “after the divorce, it was like, why not now?”

So he “bought a sailboat, took off, and went sailing,” because Gary says, “I always wanted to be out on the water.”

Since he had a little bit of money and a little time, he bought that boat even though he laughs and says he didn’t “have enough common sense to know that he didn’t have money for a boat…they tend to drink an awful lot.”

After his sailing adventure, he was in need of a fresh start, so Gary became a general contractor for several years. He ran a marina for about four years and “just about went crazy doing that.” The monotony of an office setting wasn’t working for him, and he got to the point where he had to be on the water.

While a contractor, he joined a sailboat racing crew. He raced with the local regatta, from Daytona to Charleston, on a Morrissey design sailboat. Traveling up and down the East coast is where he learned the most about boating. This is when he realized he needed to be on the water.

To get out of an office, Gary started working for a company out of Bull River giving kayak tours around the islands. After a few years of this, he was asked to get his captain’s license so he could take people around on the boats. “I asked, ‘Do I get paid?’ They said, ‘Yep.’ I said, ‘Sweet! Sign me up for that.’”

He hasn’t looked back since. In earnest he says, “As far as the job goes, I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

For his story, Gary claims to be “a native by osmosis.” He moved to the Savannah area about 20 years ago and has since immersed himself in his semi-lifelong dream.

And Savannah is where Gary will stay. He claims, “I’ve been a historian all my life…what keeps me in Savannah is that there is colorful history here.” He’s learned as much as he can about Savannah’s history, from first being settled, and enjoys sharing this information on tours. He’s also “gathered up all the local lore” because it’s “what makes this area what it is.”

Gary especially enjoys learning Civil War history (which www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | May/June 2016

23

I’ll probably be doing this until I die, honestly.

I really don’t see myself retiring. As long as the Coast Guard will continue to renew my ticket, I will be running boats until I’m no longer safe to run a boat.”

24 May/June 2016 | www.ChathamIslesLiving.com

may also explain Savannah’s appeal), but he feels there is value in knowing one’s own history so the same mistakes aren’t repeated. Gary has taken a special interest in learning the history of where he lives, including the creeks and Tybee’s history.

Another part teacher, Gary wants to share this information on his tours. Claiming to attend “YouTube University,” he says there is value in knowledge. And, “if you’re going to live or visit here, you might as well know something about the area.” Plus, tourists and locals enjoy hearing the nuances of the area and the creative ways in which Capt. Gary incorporates those tales.

Not only does Gary know about the area, but also the ecological system. When helping out Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventure tours, Gary thrives on watching the joy of others as they locate dolphins in their natural habitat. Gary says, “I want people to be aware…make sure people understand our relationship with wild animals.” Taking tourists out on the water is all for their education and enjoyment.

Gary is not in it for the money. Of course paying rent helps, but when you find what you love, the money doesn’t matter.

The biggest tip he’s gotten so far, “I had a kid give me two pieces of Jolly Rancher candy as a tip…ya know how kids are with their candy?” That gesture meant more than getting money.

When the slow season rolls around, Capt. Gary enriches his artistic side. He’s a photographer, a writer, a videographer, a graphic designer, a cameraman and an editor. In fact, Gary says, “I’ve been taking pictures since 1969 when I had my grandparents’ brownie camera.” Now he uses drones to capture aerial views around the area.

Taking pictures of nature is also how he got the nickname

“Gator.” He jokes with tourists, saying “I tell them it’s French, pronounced ‘ga-tour’ [rhyming with couture].” But in all honesty, he was at the Wildlife Refuge photographing alligators, “which are boring to shoot.” He decided to get one’s attention.

He splashed around the water, and the gator began heading straight for him. Having his eye in the camera, Gary didn’t realize that his depth perception was off and that gator came open-mouthed right at him. The result was a great picture, and others calling him “gator dude.”

He believes there’s plenty of pie for everyone and doesn’t mind sharing. He also says, “If I can help out any other person, I will. Whether it’s giving them a tow or filling in for them, to me, that’s what it’s all about.” He helps out those who ask, from charter fishing to dolphin tours. He also runs his own charters on top of that. His love of the water is so strong that he has a hard time saying “no” when asked if he will be the captain of a ship. During the on-season, he’s a hard guy to catch on land. He says, “From now until October, you’re going to find me on a boat, pretty much seven days a week.”

Capt. Gary is a renaissance man. He does a little bit of everything. With a twinkle in his eye, he says, “I’ll probably be doing this until I die, honestly. I really don’t see myself retiring. As long as the Coast Guard will continue to renew my ticket, I will be running boats until I’m no longer safe to run a boat.”

So here he is, doing what he loves. He smiles, saying, “I enjoy it; I like dealing with people, ya know, I’ve been doing this now, in some form or fashion, for nearly ten years. They pay you to run a boat; it doesn’t get much better than that…only job better than that is probably tasting pies.”

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BLUFFTON 843-815-6284 www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | May/June 2016

25

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26 May/June 2016 | www.ChathamIslesLiving.com

Remedies Ahoy!

T story and photos by captain judy

his is little Miss “soon to be Captain Judy” in her fishing attire! I got to tell you this picture is worth a thousand words for sure. Let’s talk about my hair. You must know my hair was actually straight, but daddy thought a “Toni home permanent” would help.

However, as you can see this “hair do has to be my straight out of the bed uncombed look!” Daddy used to send me to the neighbor’s house to see if they could do something with my hair. According to them, not even hair spray would help! I remember that once home from school, I would run and jump into the river hoping that the curls would get gone!

Since this is a black and white photo, I can’t tell the color of the flannel shirt that I am wearing. However, I can tell you that I had 11 more just like it, because my father purchased everything by the dozens. Now in some cases, boxes of flannel shirts came in the same pattern, but different colors. Since I am on the subject of clothes, everything that I had on was purchased at the Kahn’s Wholesale house located on West Broad Street. We would walk in and he would order everything by the box, which means everything from top clothing to those that were, wore down under. I was the only girl I knew that had one dozen training bras!

Many years ago, after my father had passed, my neighbor called and said that he had stored an old file cabinet in his garage and wanted to know if I still wanted it. The first thing that I thought was oh my goodness what will I find? The story would be way too long to try to include everything that I found in this old filing cabinet. However, there was this one letter…

I found this letter that my father wrote to “Proctor and Gamble.” I wish I had kept it, but I didn’t. Here’s the gist of the letter that my father wrote. The letter was address to “Proctor and Gamble.” He had written to them about their wonderful toothpaste. As well as I can remember I think it was about their “Colgate tooth paste.”

His letter stated that their product was the best he had ever used, but he wasn’t talking about brushing his teeth. The subject matter was about his feet or should I say, “His toes.” The letter stated that the toothpaste not only worked on his teeth,

but also helped in the cooling department.

Get ready for this last statement, because it’s a good one. He put a generous amount of “Colgate tooth paste” in the toe of each of his shoes, which supposedly according to him did a great job of cooling his feet! At the time I read this letter, I didn’t think too much about it because my father used all sorts of unconventional remedies to cure his aliments and other problems.

One of my most favorites was the spraying of “WD 40” on his joints. According to daddy this liquid had a penetrating lubricant. I have to admit I did read the can and it stated that for a fact. However, the instructions on the can stated that it was best used on froze-up metal parts. At this time, I’m not sure how or why my father came to use it on his aching joints. The fact of the matter is that it had to have worked, because he ran a charter boat till he was around 80 years old! And when he danced, well, it was like he was doing so on air!

Through a grand mishap, I am sure, my father started spraying his bait as well as his lures with, and you got it, WD 40!

According to my father, the sheer that the WD caused brought on the interest of fish.

Over the years while talking to many old time fishermen, it seems they also used this spray as a fish attractant. One old salty captain from up north told me that he actually stored all of his lures in the stuff.

Please remember back in the old fishing day lures were actually made from wood.

So the soaking lures in this case were a great idea! So therefore, back in the old days, most old time fishermen smelled of WD 40 and Old Spice!

Another one of my father’s favorite off-the-wall remedies was the drinking of “apple cider vinegar.” According to my father generous amounts of vinegar added to your food or drink gives off some sort of “AURA,” which keeps red bugs away. I have to admit with this so-called remedy I never knew him to actually have red bugs and he was in the woods hunting a lot.

He also stated that “apple cider vinegar” would help preserve his insides, which I can’t deny this statement, because he lived to be 93 years old. Now that I think about it he poured vinegar on almost anything that he ate.

My father always had a favorite pet, which was most of the time a dog. His dogs were outside most of the time running in the marsh and swimming in the river.

They were always healthy, because he fed them lots of regular people food! And then canned Alpo dog food started showing up on the grocery shelves. According to him this was at the time the best quality of dog food on the market. As he got older he decided that if it was good enough for the dog it was good enough for him! I won’t to go into great detail about this last statement.

I will say, “once again we can’t rule out the fact that this might be true, because he always was just as healthy as his dog!” By the way, most all of our boats were named Miss Judy and so were his dogs!

My father wasn’t much of a salad eater.

However, we did purchase a lot of this green stuff. According to my father one large leaf of lettuce put inside your cap would keep your head cool. When he got older his cap must have been too heavy, because he changed up. He started using handkerchiefs with all four corners tied in a knot. The knots tied on the ends helped balance it on his head. Not only that, but it provide a better pocket for him to place his so-called cooling leaf of lettuce.

I could go on, but I’m sure that this subject matter has gotten me by for the moment especially in the “attention getting category!” For all of those readers out there that don’t believe this stuff that I am writing about my father I have one thing to say, “I’m certainly not making this stuff up, because I’m truly not that creative!” The fact of the matter is to write about this sort of stuff you almost have had to live it! In my case I did live it, enjoyed it, and I hope all of these memories live on forever!

www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | March/April 2016

27

MAY/JUNE FISHING FORECAST FISHING REPORTS FROM CAPTAIN JUDY

For fishermen out there that just want to go fishing during this time of the year, there are a lot of catching opportunities.

And of course, you have options: You can use your boat or mine!

INSHORE

Although the spotted sea trout has been a little unpredictable over the last few months, May and June are the months that change everything! By the time they roll around, the spotted sea trout bite is joined up with the flounder bite meaning two types of fish for one type of bait. As always, live shrimp under an adjustable float or popping cork works like a charm.

However if you are wanting to get your bait closer to the bottom, but not right on it, an adjustable cork will do just that. The reason being is that you can adjust the depth fished (close to the bottom) so as to keep your cork floating properly up right.

The bottom line when presenting bait this way is “spotted sea trout will find your bait and the flounder can see it.” If it’s artificial lures that you are looking to work instead, I suggest purchasing yourself some Berkley Gulp Alive baits, which come in all sizes and shapes. The old saying, “The secret is in the sauce” comes into play when using this line of artificial baits. These styles of artificial baits have been proven by many fish and whatever you do don’t forget your dip net!”

ARTIFICIAL REEFS

The bottom fishing can be very good at this time of the year at the artificial reefs.

Best bottom baits are cut squid and fillet of fresh fish. These baits once put on or near the bottom get the fish’s attention. The black sea bass, trigger fish, summer trout, flounder and other bottom biters love the option of a free meal. As far as top water bite, the Spanish mackerel should have arrived. You might not see them, but they are here. Best places to troll are going to be over and around structure. If you happen to see a few Spanish catching air (jumping) I suggest working the area while pulling small to medium clark spoons at different depths. You also could find yourself catching king mackerel, barracuda, or little tunny.

MAY/JUNE IS COBIA MONTH

This time of the year means a lot for the top water fisherman, because it is the cobia season at the artificial reefs. During this time the allusive cobia arrives along

28 May/June 2016 | www.ChathamIslesLiving.com

with its various ways for driving fishermen crazy. The reason being is this is a fish that sometimes bite and sometimes they don’t. Here’s the thing, you can see them, and they can see you, but sometimes bites don’t happen. Best baits are going to be anything from a live fish such as a juvenile black fish to a pinfish to a cigar minnow or spanish sardines or peanut menhaden or live shrimp or eels. The bottom line is these prefect live baits might not work in regards to getting the eating attentions of this fish.

Here’s the Captain Judy Cobia Candy Special!

For those fishermen that don’t like to use the live stuff and like to do a little jigging this would be the best time. Cobias are known for schooling around the wrecks located at the artificial reefs as well as live bottom areas. Jig heads (here’s what I use: http://www.nutsandboltsfishing.com/collections/whoopass-tackle-company) If a cobia comes knocking throw this jig out in front better known Cobia Candy prefected by Whoop Ass Tackle Company.

The set up: I am using 50 pound main

line, orange ball better known as Captain Judy Stupid Stopper, and then I tie on a 90 pound snap swivel. The jig is a 3 ounce Whoopass jig rigged with a pearl eel trailer. This rig works great while pitching directly in front of a passing fish or for just working the water column over wrecks or any sort of live bottom.

SAVANNAH SNAPPER BANKS

During this time of the year offshore fishermen get excited. The reason being is “Grouper Season” is in the wide open mode. The season for our area is May 1 until December 31.

This is the month where gags and scamps (grouper) exercise their right to make a move to feed. As far as what’s best to use for bait…I suggest the nervous bait such as live cigar minnows or spanish sardines, which are easily caught on just about any type of gold hook sabiki rigs.

The secret is to use sabiki bait rigs made with #6 to #8 size hooks laced with fish skin. Once these styles hooks are dipped into the water baits can resist the gold flash or the secret smell delivered. Another method for getting a solid grouper bite is by “jigging,” which has been working quite well for me. As far as best colors cigar minnows or spanish sardines “look a likes” has been the catching deal.

The secret to jigging when it comes to catching big grouper is to drop to the depth where the fish are holding and then work your jig by raising and dropping your rod. This basically works your jig about 4

to 5 feet up and down at the same depth. I call this working the “strike zone!” Once hooked up this area is better known as the “feeding zone!”

As far as top water fishing at the banks anything goes from king mackerel to dolphin aka “mahi mahi. The means you really never know what might bite you hook.

When moving from spot to spot I try to always put some sort of a swimming lure.

Or give my newly found lure called a sand eel a try! (http://www.candhlures.com/ Sand-Eel.html) When pulling this lure no bait is needed, because it works by itself!

And what wants to eat it? Everything!

GULF STREAM FISHING

The blue waters of the Gulf Stream can certainly offer lots of action during the month of May. Water temperatures to the west of the stream are still cooler meaning the edge is still strong. The best ways

to find fish is to locate any temperatures breaks. (Go here http://sstcharts.com/ for free online sea surface temperature charts) The dolphin bite is normally the best during this month. You can catch them pulling small to medium rigged baits right on the surface. For those that don’t want to rig ballyhoo there is another option. I suggest pulling “old school” birds with artificial squid in tow. (http://www. candhlures.com/dolphin-delight-1-4-oz. html) And last but not least: Once you find a school of dolphin, I suggest stopping and pitching to them. You can use small jigs with screw tails, squid on a hook, cut ballyhoo on a hook, or you use small live baits. Believe me all will work. Here are a few things to remember when it comes to catching and keeping school dolphin’s attention. If they come to the boat with their lights on (colorful attire) they are most likely going to eat just about anything

you throw at them. To keep the school’s attention always leave the last fish hooked up swimming in the water right by your boat until you have landed the one before.

Dolphins are very jealous fish and always want whatever their counter parts are eating.

Before going fishing always check for current regulations!

I always urge all recreational fishermen to check for current regulations. When heading offshore to fish I suggest always checking http://safmc.net/ (South Atlantic Fishery Management Council) for up to date regulations. Please know that there is a difference between Georgia DNR regulations for state waters and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council regulations for federal waters. There are some possible fish closures to take place during mid June 2016 for federal waters.

Let ’s Go Fishing!

INSHORE • OFFSHORE • SIGHT SEEING

We Will Customize Your Fishing Trip To Suit Your Needs!

Miss udy Charters Left to Right: Kevin Wingard, Kamryn Windgard, Kourtnee Wingard, Miana Fishman, and Flen R. Wingard.

Captain Judy in the middle

• Trolling & Bottom Fishing • Heavy & Light Tackle • Multiple Boats • Fishing License, All Bait & Tackle Supplied

• We accept all major credit cards,

• Your group will need to bring food

• We have a fish cleaning service,

and cash! If you need to use a company check, arrangements can be made.

and drink. Also any personal items that they might want such as sunglasses, any medications, hats, and etc.

As far seasickness, please have those that might have problems to take precautions to prevent any sort of motion sickness.

which is very reasonable. The cost to clean, separate, package, and label runs about $.40 (cents) per pound.

Please bring coolers to take your cleaned fish home in for each fish day.

• All boats furnish all bait, tackle, fishing license, and ice needed for the fish

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www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | May/June 2016

29

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21 Tarrow Ridge Road

3BR, 2BA 1,641 sqft $221,900

4BR, 4BA 3,196 sqft Steve $569,900 2BA 1,123 sqft $169,900 4BA 3,146 sqft $599,900 Kristin Brown, Miller,2BR, Danielle Rowley and Jordyn4BR, Whitcher

912.844.2579 Kristin.Brown@Century21.com www.Savannah-Realtor.com Facebook: It’s Island Time 30 May/June 2016 | www.PoolerMagazine.com

3109 East Victory Drive Savannah, GA 31404 Toll free: 888.352.2747 Office: 912.352.2747

Hire A Realtor Who Treats You Like Family!

Kristin Brown is an awesome mother and a hard working Realtor. She is the best at balancing her time... giving her clients the highest quality of service available.

Kristin Brown has been working as a local real estate agent here in Savannah for over 15 years, and is also licensed in FL and SC. She has recently been awarded Century 21’s 2015 President’s Award, which is one of the most prestigious awards given by Century 21, and is awarded to agents who have high volume sales AND exceptional customer service. She is certified in Fine Homes & Estates, New Construction, Short Sales, and as a Buyer’s Specialist (among many other certifications). Kristin thoroughly enjoys what she does, and she lives to serve her clients; your satisfaction is how she know that she has done her job. Kristin hopes this gives you a better idea of how she maintains her business, and she is confident that she can build a successful and professional working relationship with you.

Meet My Team! Kristin Brown, Steve Miller, Danielle Rowley and Jordyn Whitcher 912.844.2579 Listing Houses All Over The Area.

Kristin.Brown@Century21.com Realtor.com Call On A Professional...Call Kristin Brown www.SavannahFacebook: It’s Island Time

www.ChathamIslesLiving.com | May/June 2016

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