Image courtesy of Gene Gallin / Unsplash

How One Invention Changed Florida Seafood Forever

In the warm waters off Fernandina Beach, a revolution in shrimping changed the seafood industry. At Timoti’s Seafood Shak, we’re proud to serve wild-caught shrimp harvested using the very method that helped Fernandina earn its place as the birthplace of the modern shrimp industry: the otter trawl.

What is the Otter Trawl?

Shrimping in the early 1900s was already gaining momentum thanks to pioneers like Mike Salvador. Still, it wasn’t until the 1920s and 30s that a new fishing net would revolutionize offshore shrimping, ushering in larger catches and safer hauls for local shrimpers.

Shrimping was labor-intensive work. Fishermen used small drop nets or beam trawls, which required more physical effort and limited the amount of shrimp that could be harvested.

Captain Billy Corkum introduced a new tool to the shrimping scene, known as the otter trawl. Fisherman dragged this bag-shaped net behind a boat and held open by two iron-weighted “doors,” or otters on either side. The otter trawl replaced the old method of nets and rowboats, offering a more efficient way to catch larger quantities of shrimp in deeper waters.

A Smarter Way to Shrimp

This single invention transformed a local, small-scale practice into a booming industry. Within the decade, Fernandina shrimpers had refined the trawl even further, improving its design and pairing it with motor-powered boats. As the nets grew bigger and more effective, and the boats ventured farther into the Atlantic Ocean, shrimping evolved into one of Florida’s most valuable export goods.

Shrimping was no longer a local delicacy. It became a national stable, with shipments leaving Fernandina’s docks to major cities like New York, thanks to trailblazers like Salvatore Versaggi, one of the area’s first shrimpers, and the Salvador family. A sunburned, small-fry fishing town boomed into a seafood capital, leading a fleet of hardworking boats and families dedicated to the ocean’s bounty.

Taste History with Every Meal

After a hundred years, pulling an otter trawl remains an adventure. Fishermen never know precisely what they’ll haul up. The mystery and dedication are part of the charm, and the care taken to preserve both the catch and the environment reflects the respect this practice has earned over time.

Our community and livelihoods have been shaped by shrimping and the use of otter trawls. Visit us, and you’ll see active shrimp trawlers in our harbors, our annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, and even the shrimp drop on New Year's Eve.

All of this is possible because of the otter trawl. Its invention was a turning point for Fernandina Beach. The trawl enables shrimpers to fish smarter, travel farther, and support their families while doing what they love, catching the best shrimp in the state.

And for us, it’s a reminder that every great meal has a legacy.