SHELL ISLAND FISH CAMP HISTORY

Shell Island Fish Camp has been owned and operated by the Hobbs family since 1962.  Bo Lynn of St. Marks started the camp in the mid 1950’s.  At that time, the camp was very primitive with just 11 cabins (built in 1951), and nine small wooden skiffs that were used as rentals.  Lynn’s  widow sold the camp to Rufus Bullock after Lynn drowned in a goose hunting accident.

The Bullock family owned the camp for five years, and then sold it to Alex and Gazzie Hobbs, along with Gazzie’s sister Ruby Huff and her husband, Winton Huff.  According to Alex’s son (and current owner) Allen Hobbs, “We were living in North Georgia at the time, and dad came down fishing one too many times.”  In 1969 Alex and Gazzie bought Winton and Ruby out, and became the sole owners of the camp.   

After Alex and Gazzie bought the camp, it truly became a family affair.  The Hobbs clan began running the operation, including Alex’s son Allen.  Ken Hobbs, Alex’s  nephew, came down from Georgia and moved in with the family to help out as well.  Ken never left, and has been with the camp for 40 years.

Allen Hobbs met his wife, Ruthie, in 1971 and they were married in 1973.  They moved into a remodeled home at the fish camp, and have lived on or near the camp ever since.  Also in ’73, the Hobbs acquired a few more rental boats and built the boat storage, and from there the camp just continued to grow

In 1988, Allen and Ruthie took over the camp from Alex and Gazzie, so that the elder Hobbs could move back to their farm in North Georgia.  Alex and Gazzie now call Georgia their home base, but still have a home at the fish camp that they frequent on a regular basis.  According to Allen, “I’ve always lived in the fish camp, and have worked there my entire life.”

In 1992, Allen and Ruthie built the hotel that still exists at the camp.  They built another smaller group of hotel rooms in 1996, and according to Ruthie, they try to add something new to the camp every couple of years or so.  After Hurricane Dennis came through in 1995, Allen and Ruthie added five Park Models to the camp’s lodging, which now includes 24 motel rooms, four cabins and the five Park Models.

Allen’s nephew Jimmy Bevis joined the family as camp manager at Shell Island Fish Camp in 2003, and he, his wife Sherie and daughter Emily now live on site as well

Many fish tales have been shared over the years in the “old-fashioned fish camp store”, one of the oldest structures at the camp.  The store is fully stocked with everything you need to make your fishing trip a success, including live, frozen and artificial bait, fishing rods and tackle, beer, snacks, souvenirs, and fishing licenses.  According to Allen, the store was built in 1953 or 54, and they have tried to keep it as authentic as possible.  “Its’ been through several storms, but has weathered each one quite well,” says Hobbs.

As you can see, Shell Island Fish Camp is definitely a family business, and the Hobbs plan to keep it that way for as long as they possibly can.  “I’ve been offered a lot of money for the camp,” says Allen, “but I’m afraid new owners would come in and tear down the old structures.  We’re proud of the fact that we are one of the oldest fish camps in Florida, and we want to maintain the old-fashioned feel of the camp, as well as the old-fashioned values.  When you’re at Shell Island Fish Camp, you’re just another member of the family.”