Greg Baker

Captain Greg Baker was born in 1966, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. At the age of three, Greg and his family set down roots on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. His first introduction to the seafood industry came at the young age of 12, when friends would invite him on shrimping trips. Greg instantly fell in love with the adventurous work and set a course to become a shrimper. He convinced his parents that he could use the family ski boat to harvest shrimp, so he loaded the vessel up and quickly filled coolers with his catch. When the family freezer was full, he began selling to friends in the community.

After graduating Pascagoula High School in 1985, Greg worked hard for other shrimpers until he saved enough money to buy his first shrimp boat, the SEA ROBIN, a 30-foot wooden bowrider. Knowing that shrimping is hard work, Greg made it his mission to succeed in the industry. By 1989, his business was doing very well, making him realize he needed a bigger boat, thus leading to the purchase of the TERRI SUZANNE. Greg “Fisherman” Baker built up a strong customer base from Gautier to Pascagoula, selling directly from his boat. Expanding again in 1998, he purchased his third shrimp trawler, the FRANCIS H., a 50-foot cypress planked bowrider which he worked for 10 years.

Greg’s current shrimp boat, which was purchased in 2007, is a 58-foot steel-hull lugger that was built in Louisiana and named Mon Amie. When restored, Captain Greg rechristened the boat KENNY B in honor of his late father, Kenny Baker. The colors of this boat - red, white and blue - reflect the school colors for which the elder Baker was principal for many years. The KENNY B proudly participated in Biloxi’s Blessing of the Fleet where its colors make it a standout and crowd favorite.

Greg’s leadership as a captain and his strong support of our military troops led him to help support and sponsor a fishing tournament in benefit of the “Gulf Coast Wounded Warrior Project,” organized by his best friend Alan Hults and retired US Army SGM Eric Bowers. This tournament has been held every year since 2020. Each year, Greg takes the “Warriors” on a shrimping trip, serves as fishing guide for the tournament and donates shrimp for the tournament meal.

As with all storms, fishermen are known to help their own. Captain Greg typically rides out the storm on his boat but, knowing that Hurricane Katrina was not to be reckoned with, he brought the boat up the river to safe harbor. He helped other boaters secure their vessels and then took shelter with family. The roof to the home was torn away, but luckily everyone survived. Greg, armed with a chainsaw, began making his way out into the community finding families in need of rescuing. Though his own home was completely flooded, Greg selflessly rebuilt his mother’s home as well as those of in-laws, before beginning repairs of his own home. When asked by volunteers from out-of-state why he would stay after such destruction, he responded by taking them on a sunset cruise stating “This is why we live here. This is my view from the office. I’ll never live anywhere else.”

When the 2010 BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred, Captain Greg knew the survival of the environment depended on dedicated effort. For three months, Greg captained the KENNY B in the cleanup efforts in the Gulf, dragging boom to collect oil and sheen from the waters from Florida to Louisiana. He even enlisted his two recreational boats in the effort with the aid of his son and a deckhand. By putting every vessel he owned into service, Captain Greg showed his deep sense of responsibility, not only to his family and fellow shrimpers, but to the Gulf itself. His commitment to protecting the water – his lifelong workplace and passion – was a clear reflection of the values that have defined his career.

Captain Greg “Fisherman” Baker and his wife Angie still reside in Ocean Springs and enjoy their time on the water with their children and grandchildren.