voc ep 88: Captain Bobby Sweitzer

Captain Bobby Sweitzer (Photos: Sweitzer family)

For over 60 years, Captain Robert “Bobby” Sweitzer has worked as an waterman. He commercially worked and crewed, crabbed (his current season), trapping eels, tonged oysters, and fished for the Chesapeake’s rockfish. At the age of nine Bobby culled crabs for his Dad, the legendary skipjack captain Pete Sweitzer. At 16, he took over commercial operations of the family crabbing business, working the boat while Dad was home selling the crabs. His Dad eventually insisted that his son be sent him off to the University of Maryland to get a college degree. He wanted his son to be an educated waterman. It didn’t work out for long because the Bay was calling him home. After four years and almost a college degree, Captain Bobby Sweitzer came back home to Tilghman’s Island.

*Special thanks to interview producer Roo Wood for running logistics and providing a proper recording space.