Our Crew
-
Skip Toomer
As a fourth-generation fisherman, Captain Skip Toomer has established himself as a prominent figure in the industry, owning Skip Toomer Inc., Coastline Shrimp, and owner and Captain of the F/V Jesus Lives. He has never envisioned a different career path and revels in the fact that his office is the ocean.
-
Lucious Riley
For two decades, Lucious has been a loyal and dedicated member of Captain Skip’s crew, offering unwavering support in both prosperous and challenging times. As Captain Skip’s right-hand man, Lucious is essential to our success and we greatly appreciate his commitment.
Left to Right Deck Boss, Lucious Riley & Captain Skip Toomer
-
Captain Skips shrimp are wild-caught, sometimes making sizes vary. Captain Skip targets a LARGER shrimp. The majority of his catch is a 21-25 count shrimp. That means there are 21-25 headed shrimp per pound.
-
The F/V Jesus Lives is 86’ long and 26’wide. She is one of the largest shrimp trawlers on the East Coast and is one of the few with the wheel house on top of the cabin.
-
Founded by Skip Toomer in 2003.
-
The Jesus Lives can fish year round if necessary. On an average Captain Skip will work April through July with time off in August and then again September through January. Captain Skip does shrimp January through March in the Gulf on occasion.
-
Captain Skip fishes The Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Ga, SC, and NC. While he prefers to stay close to home he must go where the shrimp are.
-
Our Shrimp are fresh frozen as soon as we catch them. Captain Skip Flash freezes his shrimp with state-of-the-art freezer technology. This process preserves our shrimp's flavor and freshness while maintaining texture and nutritional value. Essentially, this process locks in the quality of our shrimp from the moment we catch it until you cook it.
Some of Captain Skip’s earliest and fondest childhood memories are of shrimping with his dad. His first friends were the old fishermen at the docks on Hilton Head Island, SC, Tybee Island, GA, and Fernandina, FL. His first solo trip was at the age of thirteen, taking his dad’s boat, The Yellow Jacket, out on weekends, holiday breaks, and summer vacations. Captain Skip bought his first boat, The Gladiator, a 52ft wooden ice boat in 2000. He worked hard and was dedicated to having a boat capable of producing much more. In 2003, he sold the Gladiator and purchased the Catina Renea, a 68 ft steel freezer boat, a beautiful upgrade for sure. Captain Skip’s ambition continued to grow, and after 18 years with the Catina Renea, it was time to pursue more. In 2021, Captain Skip purchased the Jesus Lives, an 86ft steel freezer boat capable of catching twice as much shrimp as the Catina Renea. And catch shrimp, did he! His hard work and dedication to his livelihood have been astounding. However, despite his success, his ambition to do more has never waned. Captain Skip is now ready to get his product to you.
Deck boss Lucious Riley has been working on shrimp boats for 38 years. He has been an integral part of our team for two decades, contributing his expertise to ensure the safety of the crew members and the smooth operation of the back deck. He picks up shrimp so fast it will make your head spin! Lucious is very superstitious and cooks all the meals on The Jesus Lives. The Captain always eats first, according to Lucious, and he makes sure to take Captain Skip a plate of food before anyone else.
The addition of the next generation of commercial fishermen took place in 2022 and 2023, with Captain Skip’s son Camden and Lucious’ son Rakeem joining the crew upon graduating from high school and then Captain Skip’s son Luke following suit the next season. Captain Skip and Lucious are deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of fishermen, recognizing the importance of preserving this industry we love so much.
The F/V Jesus Lives also boasts additional crew members, Johnathan McDonaldson, Alandus Brown, William Frazier, and Casey Buck. These gentlemen have worked with Captain Skip on and off over the years. We value them greatly and could not do this job without them. The F/V Jesus Lives has over 100 years of experience combined with this exceptional group of men.
Captain Skip and Lucious are proud to have their sons work along side them and also to train up the next generation of fishermen.
While these young men have pursued different paths Captain Skip and Lucious know they don’t have to worry about them. “These boys have grit now, and this job will always be there for them.”
Captain Skip.
