Checked by The Things To Do In Fernandina Beach editorial desk.
Fernandina Beach is the birthplace of the modern American shrimping industry — the shrimp boats in the harbour are not set dressing, and the town throws a festival about it every spring. That history is the reason to take seafood here seriously and the reason to ask one specific question before you order: is the shrimp local?
Peak season for local wild-caught shrimp runs roughly May to December. Outside it, plenty of kitchens still serve shrimp; it just is not coming off the boats you can see from Front Street.
How this list is put together: Ranked on how central seafood is to the kitchen, not on how much water you can see from the table. For views, see our waterfront guide.
Seafood in Fernandina Beach
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1
Timoti's Seafood Shak
Counter service, fish tacos and baskets, a block off Centre. The best value seafood on the island.
Timoti's guide → -
2
Shuckers Oyster Bar & Grill
Oysters raw and steamed, local shrimp, live music most nights. Off the parkway, ten minutes from town.
Shuckers guide → -
3
The Salty Pelican Bar & Grill
The big downtown seafood room, with the marina view and the crowd to match.
The Salty Pelican guide → -
4
The Hidden Crab
A local seafood house out on Old Nassauville Road that most visitors never find.
Hidden Crab guide → -
5
Down Under Restaurant
Riverside seafood under the Intracoastal bridge, west-facing for sunset.
Down Under guide → -
6
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7
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8
The Patio at 5th & Ash
A bistro that builds its menu on local seafood, at dinner-restaurant scale.
The Patio guide →
The Best Seafood in Fernandina Beach: FAQ
When is shrimp season in Fernandina Beach?
Local wild-caught shrimp runs roughly May through December, with the strongest stretch in late summer and autumn. Ask whether the shrimp is local — it is a fair question in this town and any good kitchen will answer it.
Where can you get fresh local shrimp in Fernandina Beach?
Timoti's, Shuckers and the Salty Pelican all build menus around local catch. The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival each spring is the town's own celebration of the industry.
What is the cheapest good seafood in Fernandina Beach?
Timoti's Seafood Shak at 21 N 3rd Street — counter service, no dress code, and grilled costs about the same as fried.
Is there an oyster bar in Fernandina Beach?
Shuckers Oyster Bar & Grill on Wade's Place, off Amelia Island Parkway. Oyster availability is seasonal, so ask what's on the shell.