21 essential Tampa Bay fish shacks everyone should check out at least once

Carvor’s Fish House

907 Douglas Ave, Dunedin, 727-754-4240
Carvor’s Fish House has a friendly and casual vibe, serving up fresh and frozen seafood and sandwiches, including grouper and crab cake sandwiches, accompanied by potato salad or conch fritters. Definitely stop by during stone crab season.
Photo via Jensen Brothers Seafood/Facebook

Crabby's Beachwalk Bar and Grill

333 S Gulfview Blvd, Clearwater Beach, 727-608-2065
A great place to try and order a pina colada for breakfast when the place opens at 8 a.m. Nightly live music is accompanied by sunsets and Crabby’s specialty crab and spinach dip at this Clearwater beachside restaurant. With indoor and outdoor seating, this spot provides a direct sightline to Clearwater Beach.
Photo via Crabby’s Bar & Grill Clearwater Beach/Facebook

The Fish House

1902 W Shell Point Rd, Ruskin, 813-641-9451
The Fish House serves deep fried seafood and sides in its outdoor, picnic-style eatery, that’s almost always dominated by old-timers. The shack, which has had different owners over the years, offers soft shell crabs, fried mullet, and deep-fried fish sandwiches.
Photo via The Fish House/Facebook

Florida Cracker Fish Company

7604 Ehrlich Rd, Tampa, 813-336-6460
Inspired by old fish shacks (like the Ballyhoo Grill that once lived at this address), Florida Cracker Fish Company serves up fresh, made-to-order fish with southern soul food sides from breakfast to dinner. Menu staples include South Florida’s Po Boy sandwiches, mac and cheese boats, and its sunshine teas.
Photo via Florida Cracker Fish Company/Facebook

Frenchy’s

Multiple Locations
Known for its grouper sandwich and other fresh fish cuisines, Frenchy’s is named for owner Michael Preston, who was nicknamed ‘Frenchie’ because of his Quebec roots. Frenchy’s has multiple locations in the Bay area, each with their own menu. Some favorites include garlic crab fries, grouper nuggets and the peanut butter pie.
Photo via Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill/Facebook

Happy’s Bayou Bites

431 Skinner Blvd, Dunedin, 727-240-1102
After 30 years in the military and their kids out of the house, owners Mark and Happy needed something to do, so they opened a fish shack. Though you might be met with long lines, Happy’s Bayou Bites serves up live local music, po’boys, and gumbo at its outside picnic tables.
Photo via Happy’s Bayou Bites/Facebook

Hog Island Fish Camp

900 Broadway, Dunedin, 727-736-1179
Located right by Hog Island in downtown Dunedin, Hog Island Fish Camp serves up Gulf-sourced seafood with a “Southern vibe.” The Dunedin fish shack has classics like fried grit cake, hushpuppies, and of course fresh hogfish. Don’t forget to take a fish dip to go.
Photo via Hog Island Fish Camp/Facebook

Hookin’ Aint Easy

3660 22nd Ave S, St. Petersburg, 727-592-1388
Residing in a sweet spot between St. Pete and Gulfport, Hookin’ Aint Easy serves up freshly cooked specials each week, listed on its handwritten, chalkboard menu. Last we checked, blue crab, scramps, and African pompano were the season specials, but owner Matthew Neumann said this could change at a quick notice.
Photo via Hookin’ Aint Easy/Facebook

Morgan Mae’s Oyster House

606 N Pinellas Ave, Tarpon Springs, 727-935-7380
If you’re in the mood for oysters that are raw, fried, grilled, served with blue cheese, or even Rockerfeller, Morgan Mae’s Oyster House is for you. Served alongside a full bar, they also have chicken and steak for land lovers.
Photo via Morgan Mae’s Oyster House/Facebook

Rick’s on the River

2305 N Willow Ave, Tampa, 813-251-0369
Three bars, live music, a marina, and a whole bar dedicated to fresh oysters is what makes up Rick’s on the River. The riverfront bar and grill offers over a dozen specialty sandwiches in addition to its seafood forward menu, including freshly made deviled crab, and Rick’s famous fish sandwich. Hopefully it sticks around as the neighborhood around it changes.
Photo via Rick’s on the River/Facebook

Rusty Bellies Waterfront Grill

937 Dodecanese Blvd, Tarpon Springs, 727-934-4047
Because it’s not all Greek food in Tarpon Springs. Rusty Bellies, named for the nickname of a large male grouper, is owned by the Russell family—who’s harbored a deep love for fishing for over three generations. According to mom, Julie, a ‘rusty bellie’ can only be caught by a true at heart fisherman. It’s known for its greek salads, and sushi and steamed clams.
Photo via Rusty Bellies Waterfront Grill Inc./Facebook

Salt Cracker Fish Camp

25 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater, 727-442-6910
Offering fresh fish for breakfast, lunch and dinner, at Salt Cracker Fish Camp—whose owners operate other concepts like Salt Rock Grill—you can catch your fish and eat it, too. While the marina-side restaurant serves its own menu of fresh seafood and sides, Salt Cracker Charter Boats are located just outside to take guests out to catch and clean their own fish. When you return, a Salt Cracker Fish Camp chef will cook and serve your fish with fries and coleslaw for only $12.99.
Photo via Salt Cracker Fish Camp/Facebook

Salt Shack on the Bay

5415 W Tyson Ave, Tampa, 813-444-4569
Accessible by boat or car, Salt Shack on the Bay is truly on the bay, just off the Gandy Bridge in the rapidly-changing Rattlesnake Point neighborhood. Considered a hidden gem, the Salt Shack serves Caribbean-inspired, freshly-caught seafood and tropical cocktails. Highlights include Caribbean fritters, coastal crab cakes, and mojo-marinated steak.
Photo via Salt Shack on the Bay/Facebook

Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish

1350 Pasadena Ave S, St. Petersburg, 727-381-7931
Since 1951, Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish has been featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” and serves its classic fish spread and German potato salad. According to Ted, people are most interested in the smoking process where the famous fish bakes over a smoldering fire of red oak for four to six hours.
Photo via Google Maps

The Dog House and More

106 N US-Hwy 41, Ruskin, 813-419-4325
The Dog House serves its fresh fish and made-to-order BBQ to guests in its picnic style outdoor seating area, complete with an outdoor pit. It has its own smoker in the back for baby back ribs, chicken, and brisket, paired with its homemade chili, chowder, baked beans and other sides. The pulled pork and bacon grilled cheese is a stoner’s delight.
Photo via The Dog House and More/Facebook

Woody’s River Roo Pub and Grill

5717 18th St E, Ellenton, 941-772-2391
American eats and live music are served under a tiki bar located right on Manatee River at Woody’s River Roo. Known for its grouper sandwich and fish spread, the riverside grill is named for its location, and of course Woody himself.
Photo via Woody’s River Roo/Facebook

Bait House

45 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater, 727-446-8134
The Bait House has sold hand-caught live and frozen bait since 1940 and serves fresh fish and cold beers in its open-air bar. Favorites like the famous drunken shrimp are accompanied by the hustle of boats returning to the marina with their fresh catch. Something of a gem at the tourist hellscape that can be Clearwater Beach, Bait House favorites include the drunken shrimp.
Photo via The Bait House/Facebook

Crab Shack

11400 Gandy Blvd N, St. Petersburg, 727-576-7813
Innocuous located on Gandy, near The Getaway, The Crab Shack serves made-to-order fish, and while this might make the wait time a little longer, you are rewarded with freshly cooked seafood. Specialities include steamed blue crabs (my personal favorite), smoked mullet, and whole fish corvina.
Photo via Crab Shack/Facebook

Fatty’s Fish Shack

1026 Nebraska Ave, Palm Harbor, 727-351-5151
Fatty’s Fish Shack offers a menu of seafood cuisine built for every taste, whether you’re looking for a casual café vibe, or fine dining, Chef Harry McLaughlin has something for you. McLaughlin has countless experience, both stateside and internationally, and returned from his retirement to create the fish shack’s baja features and favorites on the menu.
Photo via Fatty’s Fish Shack/Facebook

Lorene’s Fish House

927 22nd St., St. Petersburg. 727-321-7297
Immortalized in music videos by bands like They Hate Change, the South St. Pete shack is a straight up staple that’s evolved from a barbecue truck to the building Lorene Office opened in 1994. The are seafood boil bags, but also killer burgers, prok chops, old school chicken and rice, crabby wings and hearty sides like smothered cabbage, collards and mac and cheese.
Photo via Google Maps