The decline of Thunderbolt’s shrimping industry began in the 1970s when the shrimp supply began to greatly decrease. By the 1980s, it was almost impossible for a local shrimper to pull in a profitable catch. Hauls dropped drastically and it would take shrimpers one week to bring in what had previously been a normal catch for one day. In the 1990s, only a few fishermen still operated out of Thunderbolt.

Reasoning for the decline of the shrimp is mixed. Some blame it on pollution of the rivers, others on over-shrimping. The fast growth and success of the shrimping industry attracted a lot of outsiders who came to cash in on Thunderbolt’s success. In addition to more trawlers in the area, the boats themselves got larger with more nets as technology improved. With so many boats all vying for the shrimp, fishermen did not wait for the shrimp to mature and spawn causing a decline in the local shrimp population. As the shrimping industry declined many local fishermen left to follow the catch, migrating to places like Brownsville, Texas, Patterson, Louisiana, and Florida.

š The Fishermen's Memorial ›

On 22 June 1996 the Fishermen’s Memorial was dedicated by the Angler’s Reef Fishing Club of Thunderbolt. Pat. M. Smith, a Thunderbolt native, came up with the concept of the memorial to honor those who “toil in the seafood industry.” The memorial, dedicated to those in the seafood industry, is even more importantly a symbol of the town’s “fading heritage,” and the decline of local fishing.

The memorial was erected on River Drive on land once owned by the Ambos family, who were instrumental in Thunderbolt’s seafood industry. The project was funded by private donations and the sale of commemorative bricks. The two-year project resulted in a thirteen-foot mahogany cross mounted on top of a seventy inch by thirty inch brick foundation comprised of four-hundred bricks with the names of local families and fishermen. The monument is located between two of the large oak trees that grace the Thunderbolt bluff, the heart of the town since the 1730s.

š A New Architectural Landscape ›

The architectural landscape of Thunderbolt is undergoing a dramatic transition along the historic bluff. As the shrimp trawlers disappeared, the need for docks and marinas did as well, leaving a wide swath of valuable land open for redevelopment. A new industry has emerged in Thunderbolt, though the benefits go primarily to outside developers and investors. Condominiums along the bluff are filling the high demand for summer living year round and attract residents from Savannah and outside the immediate area. The condominiums not only change the character and scale of the bluff, and the streetscape and views of the river, but introduce new residents to the community. In addition, to bringing in new owners, the concept of the condominium promotes their use as rental properties. A shift from resident owners to rental tenants can change the character and pride of a neighborhood.

š Final Thoughts ›

When asked what they remember most about growing up in Thunderbolt, natives fondly speak of the river and the excitement along the docks, stating emphatically that Thunderbolt was a great place to be a child. The river continues to be the defining characteristic of the small community. It has guided the town through over two-hundred and fifty years of growth and development, providing Thunderbolt with the means to adapt to changing social, environmental and economical factors. The river will continue to chart Thunderbolt's future and tie the unique community to its rich past.