How Long Do Shrimp Boats Stay Out? Understanding the Shrimping Cycle

Shrimping is hard work. Shrimp boat crews head out to sea for days or even weeks at a time to haul in their catch. But just how long do shrimp boats actually stay out on the water? The answer depends on many factors.

In this guide, we’ll look at:

• The typical shrimping cycle and time at sea
• Why some boats take short trips while others stay out for weeks
• How far shrimpers travel from the coast
• What life is like for crews during long hauls
• And more on the shrimping industry

Understanding the rhythms of the shrimping trade gives you greater appreciation for this pillar of coastal culture and cuisine

The Basics: 1-4 Day Trips are Common

Many shrimp boats along the Southern U.S. coast take short 1 to 4 day trips out to sea. The crew leaves port in the evening fishes overnight and returns the next morning or afternoon to sell the fresh catch.

For example, the typical one-day cycle for a boat leaving from Calabash, NC involves:

• Departing at sunset (around 7:30 pm)
• Shrimping offshore overnight
• Returning mid-morning the next day (around 10 am)

The boat may stay out for two to four days when shrimp are further offshore. But often, the most productive grounds are within reach of a daily run.

Short trips allow boats without freezing or bunk facilities to deliver premium quality shrimp. The catch is iced immediately and never more than a day old.

Why Some Shrimpers Stay Out Weeks at a Time

Not all shrimp boats stick to quick turnarounds close to port. Larger vessels can stay out shrimping for weeks on end. Here’s why:

• Reach distant grounds – Some boats travel 100 miles offshore or more to find concentrations of shrimp. This isn’t feasible as a daily trip.

• Maximize fishing time – Less time transiting means more hours dragging nets. A boat can fish nearly 24/7 if it remains offshore.

• Freezer storage – Equipped with flash freezing and large holding capacity, these boats preserve shrimp until the trip ends.

• Crew quarters – Bunks, galleys, and showers allow the crew to live aboard for extended durations.

Weeks-long trips characterized the shrimping industry for decades. But rising fuel costs now make this model less common.

Shrimp Boats Range From 1-200+ Miles Offshore

How far out shrimp boats travel depends on the target species and ocean conditions.

• Smaller inshore boats stay within a few miles of the coast.

• For brown and white shrimp, boats go out about 50 miles on average.

• Some offshore boats drag for rock shrimp 100+ miles from land.

• Historically, trips up to 200 miles offshore occurred. But this is rare today with high fuel prices.

Boats towing twin rigs travel faster and can cover more distant grounds compared to single rig trawlers.

Advanced sonar makes it easier to locate shrimp concentrations without aimlessly searching huge areas.

Life Onboard During Extended Trips

Shrimp boat crews work around the clock when staying offshore for days or weeks. The job demands endurance. Here’s what the experience is like:

• The crew takes turns sleeping in bunks, usually 4-6 hours at a time.

• During the day, they pick shrimp, make repairs, cook meals in a small galley.

• Non-stop trawling keeps everyone busy separating catch from bycatch.

• Without entertainment, boredom can set in. Some boats have TVs or radios to pass the time.

• Tight quarters for weeks on end with little privacy can be mentally taxing.

• Dangerous weather and rogue waves are constant threats far from shore.

• Coping with the monotony and isolation offshore requires stamina.

But experienced fishermen take pride in their hard-won catches and rugged lifestyle.

Economics Impact How Long Shrimpers Stay Out

In the past, boats fished offshore waters for months, only returning when their holds were full. Rising expenses have curtailed long-distance, long-duration fishing:

• Fuel prices – With diesel costs high, running far offshore and dragging heavy nets burns through profits.

• Regulations – Laws like turtle excluder devices increased costs. Fishing restrictions also apply.

• Imported shrimp – Cheap farm-raised imports have driven down shrimp prices, squeezing margins.

• Hurricanes – Intense storms have devastated boats and infrastructure along Gulf Coast shrimping ports.

• Labor shortage – Few young recruits are entering the shrinking domestic shrimping industry.

Economic factors have pushed the average shrimping trip closer to shore and shorter in duration compared to historical trends.

The Takeaway: Shrimping Trips Range From 1 Day to Weeks

• 1 to 4 days for smaller inshore vessels.

• 1 to 2 weeks for larger offshore freezer boats.

• shrimpers try to balance trip length, diesel costs, and catch productivity.

• environmental and economic changes have shifted trips closer to port.

Next time you bite into locally caught shrimp, take a moment to appreciate the hardworking fishermen who brave the high seas to deliver this popular seafood.