Tybee Island Fish Camp

Tybee Island Fish Camp. Tybee Island Black History Trail. A Black fish camp once thrived at the location of what is today, A.J. 's Dockside restaurant. In the 1930s, several Black families lived along the Back River in a village of shanty homes known as a "fish camp." Navigating the coastal waterways was second nature to many Black Tybee residents, whose livelihood often depended on fishing, shrimping, gathering oysters and then selling their daily catch. One fish camp resident was John Curry, a skilled fishing guide, who knew the rivers and creeks so well that he escorted General Eisenhower around the inlet during a pre-presidential campaign trip. Over the years, older White Tybee residents have recalled spending time at the fish camps when they were children. There they learned, from Black Tybee residents, how to catch fish, shrimp, harvest oysters and handle a bateau. By 1947, the fish camp had been disbanded and the property was sold to the Notrica family. It was renamed Tybee Fishing Camp. Bones Tatnall worked the docks and boat hoist and his wife Bertha sold shrimp., (caption) Fish camp resident, John Curry, pictured above was a well-known fishing guide who once escorted General Eisenhower. Photo Courtesy of Tom Smith