Florida Eats · checked by hand, fall 2026
Florida fish camps & smoked fish
41 fish camps, river and lake restaurants and smoked fish spots across Florida, many of them Old Florida places on the water, each checked in fall 2026 against a 2025–26 source.
Old Florida on the water
Fish camps started as bait shops and boat ramps on rivers, lakes and the Intracoastal, and many grew kitchens: fried catfish and mullet, shrimp, hush puppies and a view of the water. Smoked fish dip, made from smoked mullet, mackerel or other local fish, is the snack of both coasts.
The list at a glance
Towns with the most: Key West (2), Islamorada (2), St. Augustine (2), New Smyrna Beach (2), Jacksonville (2), Crawfordville (2), Lighthouse Point (1), Big Pine Key (1). The dishes we found most often: smoked fish dip (9), raw oysters (5), key lime pie (4), conch chowder (4), conch fritters (4), smoked fish spread (3).
Our method: a place made the list only if a 2025 or 2026 source backed it up (its own site or menu, a dated local news story or an official tourism listing) and its street address matched. No current source, or a website gone dark, and it stayed off. Review sites played no part, and places run by region and town rather than by anybody's score. Menus change, so call ahead.
On your phone, Florida Eats orders this list by how far each place is from you, and a tap opens Apple Maps' live card with hours, photos and directions.
Other guides: Cuban sandwiches & cafecito, Stone crabs, Grouper & seafood shacks, Keys classics, Oyster bars, Latin & Caribbean, Oldest restaurants, MICHELIN & James Beard, Restaurant inspections. City pages: Miami, Miami Beach, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, St. Petersburg, Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Sarasota, Naples, Pensacola, St. Augustine, West Palm Beach, Apalachicola, Kissimmee, Coral Gables, Key Largo, Winter Park, Destin.
Jump to a region
- The Florida Keys (7)
- South Florida (2)
- Southwest Florida (1)
- Tampa Bay (6)
- Central Florida (6)
- Space & Treasure Coast (6)
- Northeast Florida (7)
- The Panhandle (6)
The Florida Keys
7 places, by town.
No Name Pub
30813 Watson Blvd, Big Pine Key
Keys classicFish camp On the menu: pizza, fish dip · Since 1936
Big Pine Key pub known for its pizza and fish dip, in a building that started as a 1931 general store.
Square Grouper Bar and Grill
22658 Overseas Hwy, Cudjoe Key
Keys classicFish camp On the menu: conch chowder, fried conch, house smoked fish dip, fresh local fish, Key lime pie · Season: Closed Sept 6 – Oct 8, 2026 (annual break).
Lower Keys seafood restaurant at mile marker 22.5 oceanside on Cudjoe Key, with conch chowder, house smoked fish dip and Key lime pie.
Green Turtle Inn
81219 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada
Keys classicFish camp On the menu: conch chowder, conch fritters, turtle chowder (traditional red chowder), house smoked fish dip, barbecue · Since 1947
Mile marker 81.2 roadhouse dating to 1947, serving conch chowder, conch fritters and house smoked fish dip, with a roadside barbecue stand.
Islamorada Fish Company
81532 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada
Grouper & seafoodKeys classicFish camp On the menu: crab-crusted grouper, grouper Reuben, smoked fish dip, fish with Key lime butter
Islamorada seafood restaurant serving grouper dishes, smoked fish dip and fish finished in Key lime butter.
Conch Republic Seafood Company
631 Greene St, Key West
Keys classicOyster barFish camp On the menu: conch fritters, cracked conch, conch chowder, raw or steamed oysters, smoked fish dip, Key lime pie
Seafood restaurant in the old Singleton Fish House and ice plant on Greene Street, where shrimpers once unloaded Key West pink shrimp.
Sloppy Joe's Bar
201 Duval St, Key West
Keys classicFish camp On the menu: conch fritters with Key lime mustard, island smoked fish dip, the original Sloppy Joe sandwich, Key lime pie · Since 1937
Duval Street landmark bar with live music daily and a kitchen serving conch fritters, smoked fish dip and Key lime pie.
Fish Tales Market & Eatery
11711 Overseas Hwy, Marathon
Keys classicFish camp On the menu: fish sandwich, smoked fish spread, homemade fish dip, conch chowder, conch fritters, Key lime pie, stone crab (market)
Family- and veteran-owned Marathon fish market and eatery selling local fish, stone crab and lobster, with smoked fish spread and conch chowder.
South Florida
2 places, by town.
Southport Raw Bar
1536 Cordova Rd, Fort Lauderdale
Keys classicOyster barFish camp On the menu: raw oysters, clams, peel-and-eat shrimp, fried shrimp basket, smoked fish dip, conch fritters, Bimini bread
Casual dock-and-dine raw bar near Port Everglades with free boat dockage, specializing in oysters and clams.
Cap's Place Island Restaurant
2765 NE 28th Ct, Lighthouse Point
Fish camp On the menu: house-smoked fish dip, fresh local fish, Okeechobee hearts of palm salad, raw oysters, steaks · Since 1928
Former Prohibition-era speakeasy and casino on an island off Lighthouse Point, reached by boat from Cap's dock, serving local fish and house-smoked fish dip.
Southwest Florida
1 place, by town.
Walt's Fish Market Restaurant
4144 Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
Grouper & seafoodFish camp On the menu: grouper Reuben, smoked mullet dip with saltines, fresh fish market
Family seafood market with a restaurant attached on the South Trail, posting October 2026 menus and daily market hours.
Tampa Bay
6 places, by town.
Salt Cracker Fish Camp
25 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater
Grouper & seafoodOyster barFish camp On the menu: grouper sandwich, oysters, Smokin' Fish Dip
Clearwater Beach marina restaurant from the Baystar group, whose own fishing fleet supplies grouper; charter boats leave from next door.
Hog Island Fish Camp
900 Broadway, Dunedin
Grouper & seafoodFish camp On the menu: grouper sandwich, fish and chips · Season: Stone crab served in the Florida season, Oct. 15 – May 1.
Dunedin fish shack that readers named Best Grouper Sandwich and Best Fish Shack in Creative Loafing's Best of the Bay 2025.
Dockside Dave's
14701 Gulf Blvd, Madeira Beach
Grouper & seafoodFish camp On the menu: half-pound grouper sandwich, smoked fish spread
Madeira Beach bar and grill built around a half-pound grouper sandwich, with a smoked fish spread starter; open daily until late.
Ted Peters' Famous Smoked Fish
1350 Pasadena Ave S, South Pasadena
Fish camp On the menu: smoked mullet, smoked Spanish mackerel, smoked fish spread, German potato salad · Since 1951
Open-air smokehouse restaurant on Pasadena Avenue in South Pasadena (St. Petersburg mailing address) that smokes mullet, mackerel and other fish over red oak, still in the founding families' hands; closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Trophy Fish
2060 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
Fish camp On the menu: house-smoked fish spread with pickled vegetables, local Gulf fish
Grand Central District fish house that smokes its own fish for its spread and sells out of the day's catch; a second location is in Tampa.
Rusty Bellies Waterfront Grill
937 Dodecanese Blvd, Tarpon Springs
Stone crabFish camp On the menu: stone crab claws hot or cold, Teeha Marie smoked fish spread, steamed clams · Since 2005 · Season: Stone crab specials from Oct. 15 into spring (season closes May 1).
Russell family's grill on the Anclote River beside its own seafood market, with in-house smoked fish spread and stone crab specials from opening day.
Central Florida
6 places, by town.
Highland Park Fish Camp
2640 Highland Park Rd, DeLand
Fish camp On the menu: fried St. Johns River catfish sandwich, shrimp po'boy · Since 1962 · Season: Marker 38 food truck serves Friday–Sunday, 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m., during its winter stay at the camp.
Family-owned St. Johns River fish camp off the Norris Dead River near DeLand with boat rentals, camping and cabins; food comes from the Marker 38 food truck.
JB's Fish Camp
859 Pompano Ave, New Smyrna Beach
Fish camp On the menu: Southern-style seafood
Riverside seafood shack on the Indian River Lagoon south of New Smyrna Beach, with kayak and paddleboard rentals and weekend live music.
Norwood's Eatery & Bars
400 2nd Ave E, New Smyrna Beach
Grouper & seafoodFish camp On the menu: grouper stack, smoked fish dip, bacon-wrapped scallops
New Smyrna Beach institution with a fine-dining room, a bar built into a live oak treehouse, and October 2026 events posted.
The Black Hammock
2316 Black Hammock Fish Camp Rd, Oviedo
Fish camp On the menu: gator bites
Lake Jesup fish camp with a marina, airboat rides, the Lazy Gator bar and a waterfront restaurant; restaurant closed Mondays.
Aunt Catfish's on the River
4009 Halifax Dr, Port Orange
Fish camp On the menu: fried catfish, cinnamon rolls, Southern-style seafood, fixins bar
Family-run Southern seafood house on the Halifax River where, it says, the servers are all cousins.
Fish Camp on Lake Eustis
901 Lake Shore Blvd, Tavares
Grouper & seafoodFish camp On the menu: smoked fish dip, blackened grouper Reuben, fish and chips, clam chowder
Waterfront Lake Eustis seafood restaurant in Tavares that recently added weekend breakfast.
Space & Treasure Coast
6 places, by town.
Cocoa Beach Fish Camp Grill
5602 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach
Fish camp On the menu: fried seafood, swamp-style dishes
Fish-camp-themed grill a block north of the Cocoa Beach Pier serving "swamp food" and fried seafood.
Little Jim Bait & Tackle
601 N Causeway, Fort Pierce
Fish camp On the menu: bar food, drinks
Waterfront bait shop, bar and grill on the North Causeway with live music and kayak rentals, in a building tied to WWII naval training; its city land lease has been under review.
Old Fish House Bar & Grill
5185 S US Hwy 1, Grant
Fish camp On the menu: smoked fish dip, fried gator, fresh daily catch, fire-roasted mussels
Old Florida dive on the Indian River Lagoon at Channel Marker 35 with boat docking and a "hook 'em, we'll cook 'em" policy for your own catch.
Conchy Joe's Seafood
3945 NE Indian River Dr, Jensen Beach
Grouper & seafoodOyster barFish camp On the menu: smoked fish dip, grouper, conch, raw oysters
Dock-and-dine seafood house on the Indian River Lagoon in Jensen Beach with a raw bar, smoked fish dip, grouper and conch, plus reggae nights.
Camp Holly
6901 US-192, Melbourne
Fish camp On the menu: Southern fish camp fare
St. Johns River fish camp and airboat base on US 192 west of Melbourne whose Gators Grill serves Southern meals with river views.
Dixie Crossroads
1475 Garden St, Titusville
Grouper & seafoodFish camp On the menu: rock shrimp, wild ocean shrimp, corn fritters, smoked fish dip, gator bites · Since 1983
Titusville landmark for wild-caught Port Canaveral shrimp, broiled, steamed or fried, with its signature corn fritters.
Northeast Florida
7 places, by town.
Whitey's Fish Camp
2032 County Road 220, Fleming Island
Grouper & seafoodFish camp On the menu: all-you-can-eat whole river catfish, gator tail, house-made smoked fish dip, fried grouper sandwich, fried shrimp · Since 1963
Family-owned fish camp on Swimming Pen Creek known for all-you-can-eat whole river catfish, gator tail and house-made smoked fish dip, with boat docks, an RV park and a yearly Christmas boat parade.
Julington Creek Fish Camp
12760 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville
Fish camp On the menu: fresh North Florida seafood, broiled scallops, blackened mahi
Modern fish-camp-style restaurant on Julington Creek near the St. Johns River with a patio over the water; part of a small local Fish Camp group.
The Palms Fish Camp
6359 Heckscher Dr, Jacksonville
Fish camp On the menu: local wild-caught fish, local shrimp
City-owned riverside fish camp on Heckscher Drive serving wild-caught fish and shrimp bought straight off local boats.
North Beach Fish Camp
100 First St, Neptune Beach
Fish camp On the menu: fresh North Florida seafood, Southern comfort food
Fish-camp-style restaurant a block from the ocean in Neptune Beach, sister to Julington Creek and Palm Valley Fish Camps.
Palm Valley Fish Camp
299 Roscoe Blvd N, Ponte Vedra Beach
Fish camp On the menu: fresh North Florida seafood
Fish-camp-style seafood restaurant on the Intracoastal Waterway in Palm Valley, sister to Julington Creek Fish Camp.
Aunt Kate's on the River
612 Euclid Ave, St. Augustine
Oyster barFish camp On the menu: steamed oysters, peel-and-eat shrimp, fried flounder, broiled seafood platter
Old riverbank seafood spot under live oaks on the Tolomato River with a floating dock for boaters and outdoor decks.
St. Augustine Fish Camp
142 Riberia St, St. Augustine
Oyster barFish camp On the menu: oysters on the half shell, daily catch
Modern fish-camp-style restaurant on the San Sebastian River docks, sister to Palm Valley and Julington Creek Fish Camps.
The Panhandle
6 places, by town.
13 Mile Seafood Market
227 Water Street, Apalachicola
Fish camp On the menu: smoked mullet, smoked fish dip, shrimp, oysters
Long-running Water Street seafood market selling smoked mullet and smoked fish dips alongside fresh shrimp, fish and crab.
Mineral Springs Seafood By The Bay
1612 Coastal Highway, Crawfordville
Fish camp On the menu: smoked mullet dip, candied crab dip, shrimp, fish fillets
Seafood market on Coastal Highway between Panacea and Crawfordville billed as "that place with the dips," making hundreds of pounds of smoked mullet dip a week during the fall mullet run.
Ouzts' Too Oyster Bar and Grill
7968 Coastal Hwy, Crawfordville
Oyster barFish camp On the menu: raw oysters, fried mullet, smoked mullet, mullet dip, gumbo
Roadside oyster bar in Newport by the St. Marks River serving oysters by the bucket plus fried and smoked mullet and mullet dip.
AJ's Seafood & Oyster Bar
116 Harbor Blvd, Destin
Oyster barFish camp On the menu: Gulf oysters, smoked yellowfin tuna dip, peel-and-eat Gulf shrimp · Since 1984
Destin Harbor oyster bar that grew from a trailer-side shucking deck and hosts the daily weigh-ins of the Destin Fishing Rodeo.
Shuckums Oyster Pub & Seafood Grill
15614 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach
Oyster barFish camp On the menu: raw oysters, baked oysters, oyster po' boy, smoked tuna dip
Front Beach Road oyster pub serving raw and baked oysters in several styles plus an oyster po' boy.
Fish Camp Tally
12062 Waterfront Dr, Tallahassee
Fish camp On the menu: peel-and-eat shrimp, fried catfish, oysters
Lakeside bar and sunset grill on Lake Iamonia north of Tallahassee that grew out of an old bait and tackle shop, with live music.