Buy Shrimp Off Fishing Boat

Question

We will be in the area in October and upon leaving we were driving the 2 hours to Mississippi before driving the 9 hours home to buy shrimp off the boat. We found them for less than 5.00 a pound for the extra large. We buy enough for 6 months to eat at home. We found a really good method a local told us about and they taste just like they are still fresh never frozen. We buy about 50 pounds. The question I have is there anywhere within an hour of Pensacola area to buy shrimp around the same price? That way we will not have to go out of the way to Mississippi and can get them before we head out of the Pensacola area. It will be a 2 hour drive from where we are staying to the shrimp boat in Miss., so if anyone has a good place any closer would be great.

Answer

Buying fresh shrimp directly off the boat in the Florida Panhandle is possible, though options closer to Pensacola may vary in availability and price compared to Mississippi. October is still within shrimp season for the Gulf, so local fishermen often sell directly to the public or at nearby fish markets.

Here are some ways and places to source fresh, large Gulf shrimp within about an hour of Pensacola:

Pensacola Beach and Gulf Breeze docks – Some local shrimpers sell directly at docks or marinas early in the morning. You can check around the Pensacola Beach Marina or Fort Pickens area. Arrive early, around 6–8 AM, for the best selection.
Local seafood markets – A few markets in Pensacola carry freshly caught shrimp at competitive Gulf Coast prices:
- Joe Patti’s Seafood (Pensacola) – While slightly higher priced than buying off the boat, they have excellent quality shrimp, including extra-large Gulf shrimp, and sometimes have special offers for bulk purchases.
- Pop’s Seafood – Small local seafood stands near the docks may sell shrimp directly from fishermen.
- Navarre Beach Seafood Market – About 30–40 minutes east, they occasionally have direct-to-consumer shrimp at good prices in season.
Community shrimping docks or co-ops – Some areas like Gulf Breeze or Perdido Key have cooperative docks where local shrimpers sell their catch directly to the public. These are less advertised but often cheaper than retail markets.

Tips to get the best deals and quality:

Go early in the morning when shrimp are offloaded; prices are lower and selection is better.
Call ahead if possible; some docks or markets will reserve larger quantities.
Ask locals for recommendations; fishermen and dockside workers often know which boats are selling shrimp that day.
Bring coolers with ice if buying in bulk for long-distance transport.

In summary, while the Mississippi shrimp boat may offer extremely low prices, you can often find extra-large Gulf shrimp within an hour of Pensacola by checking local docks, smaller seafood markets, and cooperatives. Prices may be slightly higher than $5 per pound, but with some local scouting, you can still purchase fresh shrimp in bulk without the extra drive.

Buy Shrimp Off Fishing Boat

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