Although Destin and South Walton appear to be a peninsula this area feels more like an offshore island, being it is three to five miles away from the "mainland." After all, you have to cross a bridge to get here, no matter which direction you travel from. The main routes over Choctawhatchee Bay that lie to the north include the Mid Bay Toll Bridge and Route 331 which are miles across. Towards the south is the luminous emerald-green expanse of the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico, so this area is literally surrounded by water. That is what makes fresh seafood in South Walton such a delight and the abundance of this bounty is relished by many of our Ocean Reef Resorts guests. The near proximity of the 100-fathom curve offshore allows commercial fishermen in Destin to have the fastest access to deep-sea fishing on the entire Gulf of Mexico. Catches include Amber Jack, Cobia, Grouper, King Mackerel, Mahi Mahi, Pompano, Red Fish, Sea Trout, Snapper, Spanish Mackerel, Scamp, Shark, Tarpon, and Trigger Fish. Gulf-caught shrimp and oysters are also bountiful. In addition to the gulf, the Choctawhatchee Bay has a huge natural abundance of freshwater fish including Bass, Bluefish, Croaker, Flounder, Sheepshead, Speckled Trout, White Trout, and more. The bay also offers its own great harvest of delicious Blue Point Crab and tasty Bay Shrimp. The cornucopia of fresh fish made this part of The Emerald Coast famous. In fact, this area's initial claim to fame came from the thriving commercial fishing industry which was started way back in the late 1800s. Tourists and other outdoor adventurers started to arrive along our shores for deep sea and bay fishing back in the 1920s before electricity was even established here!

Besides the fresh abundance of seafood, many of our visitors savor an appetite by enjoying the beauty of the beach and the jewel-toned waters that grace the shoreline. There is something about the breezy salt air, the sound of the surf, and the sparkling water that truly invigorates a true hunger for fresh fish, shrimp, crab, or oysters!  Since nearly all of our fine Ocean Reef Resorts rental properties include full kitchens, a lot of our guests enjoy cooking and creating their own seafood feasts in their beach "home away from home." This option is usually less expensive than dining out and can be a lot of fun for everyone. Your family and friends can make a party out of it while the shrimp are steaming or the fish are ready to be grilled or fried. 

For those of our guests who are staying at one of our distinctive private rental homes or luxurious beachfront condos in Miramar Beach or along Scenic 30A in South Walton, here are a few choices for getting some fresh seafood for your own family feast.

In Miramar Beach, at 130 Scenic Gulf Drive, you have Skipper's Seafood which gets some Five Star Reviews from many of its patrons. This seafood market is only open seasonally from March thru September but they are known for their freshly caught shrimp. They also received rave reviews for their Smoked Tuna Dip, which is a gulf delicacy, and Key Lime Pie which is Florida's unofficial dessert of choice! Shrimp may be bought raw or they will steam it for you at no extra charge. Their great service is both hospitable and helpful but be sure to bring cash or your personal check since Skipper's does not take credit cards.

In Santa Rosa Beach along South Walton's Scenic 30A, just before you reach Blue Mountain Beach as you are heading east is a wonderful whimsically named seafood market called Goatfeather's. This South Walton Seafood Market was started back in 1988 by Pat and Eleanor Miller. He loved to fish as much as she loved to cook so the seafood market and restaurant were born. The name came to them while visiting a quaint bistro years ago that featured famous and infamous definitions posted on the walls. They loved "goat feathers" which as it turned out was defined by a famous American satirist and author named Ellis Parker Butler in 1913. He said goat feathers stood for "distractions, sidelines, and deflections that took a man's attention from his own business."  Happy visitors who want to satisfy their appetite and distract their attention from their own hunger for seafood can appreciate the name.  In fact patrons of this seafood market that also does business as a popular restaurant give it a Four and Half Star Review on Facebook. Out of 156 ratings, ninety gave it an excellent review and forty-two rated it as very good! TripAdvisor also gives Goatfeathers a very good rating with reviews like "simply the best", "surprisingly very good", "overall great experience", "Good food & great price" and  "best fried Shrimp Poboy."

If you are in the mood for seafood Grouper and lots of other goodies you might want to visit the Modica Market in Seaside, the unofficial capital of South Walton. This old-fashioned grocery store has some of the best Smoked Tuna Dip to be found anywhere and Grouper is one of their specialties. This wonderful store was opened in 1988 by Charles and Sarah Modica along with their son Charles, Jr. The Modica seniors were involved with grocery stores for over fifty years and started out in Bessemer, Alabama before establishing this charming coastal market. In fact, Modica Market has become the country's leading gourmet market and has had a lot of media attention over the years. It was used a few years back as a backdrop for a movie with Jim Carrey in a satiric comedy known as "The Truman Show" which was filmed in Seaside. CNN has featured the Modica Market several times on their program called "On the Menu". This "country store" has also had many articles written about it in magazines such as Vogue, Travel & Leisure, TravelSouth, and the Conde Nest Traveler.

Now that you know where to get some fresh seafood for your next vacation to South Walton, enjoy selecting your own gourmet state-of-the-art kitchen for its preparation at one of Ocean Reef Resorts South Walton Vacation Rentals! We have a lot to choose from along Scenic 30A and Scenic Gulf Drive in Miramar Beach. You may choose to be in a large beachfront mansion, a cozy beach-view cottage, or a luxurious gulf-front condominium. We have them in all shapes and sizes so that you can choose the one that will appeal to your family the most. Our user-friendly website will show you multiple photos of each, a description of complimentary amenities, seasonal rates, and dates of availability. Now you may start to savor some seafood specialties, know where to get them, and where to prepare your own family feast on your next visit down. Bon apatite!