A native of Hancock County, Herman Rieux, also known by friends and family as “Ribs” and “Rosemond”, has contributed to the growth, sustainability, and expansion of the seafood industry in Hancock County and South Mississippi for more than 80 years.
Born November 10, 1931, in Bay St. Louis, Mr. Rieux started fishing with his grandfather in 1939 at eight years of age. Initially fishing for the Red Star Fish Market in Bay St. Louis, Mr. Rieux’s catch was later bought for resale by Ladner’s Seafood of Bay St. Louis, Kimball’s Seafood of Pass Christian, the LA Fish Market of Kenner, LA, and Brother Barges in the Old French Market of New Orleans. Above and beyond his market sales, Herman often gave fish to local families and churches, St. Joseph’s Altars, St. Stanislaus High School and the Oblate Fathers.
Purchasing only local materials to make his fishing nets, Herman often found he had too many fish for the local markets and found it necessary to extend his sales to Louisiana markets. On one occasion, he was able to fill a semi-trailer with Gulf seafood in only three days’ time!
A regular at the Bayou Caddy docks, Mr. Rieux has a firsthand knowledge of the Gulf waters as well as South Mississippi’s numerous waterways. Emphatically recounting the abundance of seafood at the MS Coast’s first and second keys, Herman states “God says, ‘Cast your nets.’” “Over the years, I have fished them all” Rieux often remarks of the MS-LA keys. As a second-generation fisherman, Herman survived both Hurricanes Camille and Katrina and is a willing, but ‘no nonsense’, teacher to the next generation of fishermen.
At the age of 27, Herman purchased and rebuilt the FLYING CLOUD for use as a commercial fishing vessel. The 35-foot lugger, made of cypress, was a former mail delivery boat used in the Kiln, MS area.
With roots in the African American community and indigenous Choctaw and Cherokee nations, Mr. Herman Rieux’s character as a South Mississippi fisherman is as commanding and inviting as the waters he works and navigates. He is a lifelong member of St. Rose Holy de Lima Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis.
The Maritime & Seafood Industry is pleased to honor Herman Rieux, Jr. as boat owner, captain, and commercial fisherman.
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