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That bag of frozen shrimp at the supermarket probably traveled a long way to reach your cart. Along Florida’s Panhandle, you can skip the middleman and buy Gulf shrimp from local seafood markets that often charge less for fresher catch.
From Pensacola to Carrabelle, these eight spots are where coastal families and smart road-trippers stock their coolers. Grab some ice and a good cooler, because this list might change how you shop for dinner.
1. Joe Patti’s Seafood, Pensacola, FL
Ask a Pensacola family where to buy shrimp, and the answer usually comes fast. Joe Patti’s Seafood sits at 524 S B St near Pensacola Bay, and it has been a regular stop for local shoppers for decades.
The draw is simple. You get a wide selection of fresh catch at prices that keep people coming back, which is exactly why it opens this list.
Beyond the seafood cases, the market also carries gourmet deli items. That makes it easy to grab shrimp for dinner and something extra for lunch in one trip.
Timing matters here. Friday afternoons and Saturdays get crowded, while weekday evenings are usually calmer.
The market is open daily from 8 AM to 6 PM. Free parking and a restroom on site make the visit easier, especially if you are coming from out of town with a cooler in the trunk.
2. Gulf Coast Seafood, Fort Walton Beach, FL
Quick in, quick out, cooler full. Gulf Coast Seafood on Miracle Strip Parkway is an established market that keeps the shopping trip short and the seafood selection solid.
Fresh-caught fish arrive daily, and the cases also hold shrimp, crab, and oysters. Snapper and grouper are common picks alongside the shrimp.
I like that the store thinks past the seafood itself. Sauces and seasonings are on the shelves, so you can leave with everything needed for a boil or a fish fry.
Pricing is competitive, and the service is friendly. It is open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM, with weekends being the busiest stretch.
3. Destin Ice Seafood Market & Deli, Destin, FL
Palms and shrubs partly hide the entrance, so keep your eyes open on Harbor Blvd. Destin Ice Seafood Market & Deli sits right in Destin’s fishing harbor district, and it is easy to drive past if you are not looking.
Once inside, the selection of fresh fish and shrimp ranks among the best around the beach. Quality stays high, and prices stay friendly, especially compared with supermarkets and tourist restaurants nearby.
The deli side adds prepared items like shrimp and dips. That is handy for vacationers who want a snack for the condo without cooking.
Hours run 8 AM to 7 PM daily, which is a little later than many markets on this list. Weekend afternoons draw the biggest crowds, and parking is in a paid lot.
4. Shrimpers Seafood Market, Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Smoked tuna dip is the specialty that gets people talking at Shrimpers Seafood Market. Still, the shrimp is the real reason it lands here.
Located at 4444 US-98 between Destin and Panama City Beach, this extensive market focuses on fresh, local seafood at reasonable prices. Shoppers regularly leave with wild shrimp by the pound, plus red snapper, crab meat, and snow crab.
Plan around the schedule. The market is closed Mondays, open 8 AM to 5 PM Tuesday through Saturday, and closes early at 3 PM on Sundays.
If you are staying along 30A, the location on 98 makes it an easy stop on the way back to the rental.
5. Buddy’s Seafood Market, Panama City Beach, FL
Not in the mood to cook on vacation? Buddy’s Seafood Market in Panama City Beach has an answer with its on-site steam bar.
You can buy fresh fish and shrimp to take home, or have the staff prepare it for you. That flexibility sets it apart from markets that only sell raw seafood.
The service is sharp, and the market holds a strong reputation as one of the best in the area. It sits at 111 S FL-79, an easy turn off the main beach routes.
Buddy’s is open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. Weekday mornings are the quietest, while weekend afternoons fill up quickly, so arrive early if you want shorter lines.
6. St. Joe Shrimp Co. at the Cape, Port St Joe, FL
Cape San Blas is the kind of place where people slow down for a week, and this market fits right into that rhythm. St. Joe Shrimp Co. at the Cape is a casual stop known for some of the best value in Gulf County.
Fresh fish fill the cases, along with shrimp sold raw, fried, or steamed. Snapper and bay scallops round out the selection.
Orders come together fast, and the staff is friendly. Families renting on the Cape often return several times in one trip.
Here is a quirky detail. Weekday mornings and early afternoons are the busiest times, so evenings are the calmer window.
It is open daily 10 AM to 6 PM with free parking.
7. 13 Mile Seafood Market, Apalachicola, FL
Apalachicola has deep maritime roots, and Water Street is where that heritage still shows. 13 Mile Seafood Market sits at 227 Water St in this Franklin County town.
The daily catch includes shrimp, grouper, and oysters, with flounder and tuna also showing up in the cases. Prices are fair, and the freshness is consistent.
Hours are limited, so check before you go. It is closed Sunday and Monday, open 11 AM to 5:30 PM Tuesday through Friday, and 10 AM to 5:30 PM on Saturday.
Pair the stop with a stroll through downtown Apalachicola for an easy, low-cost day trip.
8. Millender & Sons Seafood, Carrabelle, FL
Carrabelle is a small working-waterfront town on the Forgotten Coast, and Millender & Sons Seafood matches that low-key style. The family name on the sign tells you a lot.
Shrimp is the standout here, sold fresh at reasonable prices. Fresh fish, oysters, and homemade dips fill out the counter.
The people behind the counter are known for being genuinely kind. It makes the stop feel more like a neighborhood shop than a store.
Hours run 10 AM to 5:30 PM Monday through Thursday and 10 AM to 6 PM Friday and Saturday. It is closed Sunday, and afternoons later in the week get busiest.
From Pensacola to Carrabelle, these markets prove the best shrimp deal is often found right by the water. Pack a cooler, pick a stretch of coast, and shop like a local.
