Port A Crabs

We got seafood from this place last summer and it was yummy and super fresh. When we rented the same place across the street from Port A Crabs earlier this month, I arrived assuming that’s where we would get our seafood.
Until I saw a giant Confederate flag in front of the store.
No way. We went elsewhere and I will never return to Port A Crabs.

Went here three times during our August 2015 stay for fresh shrimp, fish, and live crab and was not disappointed. Encountered friendly staff on each visit, and just about the best quality local seafood you can ask for. Market prices drive the cost, but if you want fresh seafood fast in Port A, this is the place.

Can’t go fresher than here, they have live crabs and fresh dead shrimp. I know but that’s what the sign said, lol. Bought our crabs and shrimp here for out crab shrimp boil. Came back for bait to and you can get a deal on death crabs. FYI

I was at Port A Crabs for the first time a few days ago. I almost always buy my seafood to go at the two fish markets near the HEB in Aransas Pass. But, since I was staying on the island, I thought I’d try one of the locals, and was told to go here.
Bought some shrimp, and talked to the guy working about the place, and he told me that the shrimp is a month old, he just calls his supplier, and they restock, and the shrimp is frozen on the boat, so it’s fresh frozen off the boat.
Ok, I wasn’t excited about that answer, but thought I’d try the shrimp and see if I could tell the difference.
The shrimp was good, just a little more fragile to peel and cook up than usual. I can’t really complain because it was good enough, just kinda left a bad taste in my mouth since I assume by «fresh» it’s less than a month old, but now I know I can just as easily get the same thing at the IGA, and save the «fresh market» prices.
I read the rave reviews here, and all I can say is I had an interesting experience at Port A Crabs, and am taking the guy at his word when he says it’s warehoused by the supplier, and brought over to him as needed, frozen. Emphasis was his on the «nothing here was caught less than a month ago».

Port A crabs. It’s THE best place to get the freshest seafood on the island.
The best thing to do is call to see if he has what your looking for or ask what he just got in fresh that day. The inventory varies from day to day.
I have been to all the seafood shops & this place has the very best shop & the very best fresh seafood. Not to mention the coolest owner EVER!!!
The owner & his wife are so awesome!
Last time I was in I bought amberjack fish, shrimp for the shrimp creole sauce, jumbo lump crab for crab cakes & the cream of corn with crab soup. OMG! Everything was 2.die.for so fresh & tasty :)…
I told him I was a chef as I was fanning about his shop yammering on & on about cooking this & that & I needed to go get some fresh organic herbs & lemons somewhere…
He reaches in this basket behind the counter & says «here take these lemons, I grow them in my yard you can have them.»
I think he said they were ponderosa lemons… anyway they were freakin incredible!!!
They were incredibly juicy & had a amazing citrus flavor! They even made a mean margarita!!! Woohoooooo! :)…
Note: If you drive your golf-​cart over to this shop you can’t take the main hwy. However, you can do what hubby did & go the back way thru the subdivision, then cut thru the parking lot of the real estate office then you have to baja thru the ditch in front of his shop. I had to change me nickers after that ride so beware it’s pretty steep. Baja at your own risk or just drive your car over there ;)
«Thank you again for sharing your hand grown lemons with us mate. The lemons & seafood were very fine pirate booty indeed! The finest I ever laid me eyes on! We can’t wait to visit with you again over the Xmas holiday!» :))
If you want a fine Pirate style seafood feast, Port A Crabs catches the freshest succulent treasures of the sea & its worth the coin!
Arrrr! ;)’

Took the family to Port Aransas for a quick getaway and Port A Crabs was right around the corner. Bought two pounds of shrimp to fry for dinner for $ 13.00 a pound — the same kind I get at HEB in College Station for $ 8.99 a pound. They weren’t bad, but they weren’t fresh either. But that’s not why I am rating them a single star. I also bought two dozen oysters in the shell ($ 4.00 a dozen) and an oyster knife for $ 10. On the first oyster, the knife blade bent. On the second oyster, the knife blade broke off completely. I am from south Louisiana and have been shucking oysters for over 35 years, and I have never had an oyster knife bend or break on me. I brought the knife back the next day and asked if he had any better quality oyster knives. The guy said no, that was the only kind he sold. I asked for a refund. Guy said no refunds, suggested I try a screwdriver instead and went about his business. Didn’t even say sorry. I walked out before what was on my mind came out of my mouth. I will never go back to Port A Crabs again. Bring your own seafood from home or buy from a roadside vender before you resort to this dump.

First time visiting Port A Crabs but wanted some seafood to take home with us, so stopped at this place on our way out of Port Aransas. The guy seemed somewhat bothered by the fact we walked into our business and was frustrated by our simple questions. We ended up leaving with 1 lb of fish and 1 lb of crab and it cost us $ 37.
Never again.

After a failed crabbing expedition, I stopped in here to pick up lunch. Got 20 live blue crabs for $ 40. They were delicious and the dude working the store was friendly.
Some friends went back the next day and bought fresh shrimp that we then grilled with nothing but salt, pepper, and olive oil. Also very good.

They have two stores in Port A. One in the middle of town by the docks and one a couple of miles down 361 towards Corpus. I stop at the one on 361 every time we go to Port A. I could spend a $ 1000 in there! Loads of beautiful, fresh seafood. I bought some freshly filleted redfish and a pound of 10-​count monster shrimp. Seafood isn’t cheap anymore. You’re not going to steal anything, but you will get a great selection of Gulf Coast fare that’s right off the boat. The food is always fresh and the staff is friendly. It’s a small shop and they keep the food in Igloo ice chests so don’t expect a swanky store. Do expect the latest catch that’s a fresh as it gets.

The other reviews sound fake so let me tell you about this place.
I went in around November looking for some good sea food and some bait shrimp.
The guy who was in there shows me to a freezer where he point to some «fresh frozen» shrimp… whatever that means, and he wanted $ 7 a pound for. I walk in a little more into the store and see the ice chest with different shrimp at various prices. I point to one and ask why this one is fresh (on ice but not frozen) and only $ 6 a pound when the frozen shrimp is more expensive. Thats when he told me that those shrimp «had some age on them» and he was trying to get rid of them. The guy tried to pass off multiple old and outdated fish or shrimp off as fresh. Also his prices are about $ 2 higher than other stores in the area.
Please avoid this store at all cost. The other glowing reviews sound fake, as this place will rip you off, sell you old and not fresh sea food, and the owner is beyond shady.
You’ve been warned. Go down the street to any other place. I went into town by this stripes by some kind of «Y’ where the guy was super nice, gave be advice as to where to fish, and sold me frozen shrimp for $ 4.50. Oh and I ended up catching 4 black drum and 5 red drum with his advice and cheaper shrimp.

After 3 tries at other seafood markets, this is the best one! Some of the friendliest locals encountered. And they don’t mind chatting with you about their selection.
We picked up some delicious and sweet stone crab claws here for $ 12 a pound. We even got the lowdown on how they are locally obtained. It’s only legal to cut the right claw off (it grows back) and then the fishermen must throw the rest of the the crab back. The larger claw is left on to open oysters for food.
We also purchased some amazing local shrimp so fresh the heads were still on. That’s how I like them. I BBQ’d them up on the grill with a coating of butter, soy sauce, garlic and spicy powder. The best shrimp I have ever eaten. Ate the heads too. The cooked up nice and crunchy. My wife raved and raved about them as well as the squid we bought and cooked alongside the shrimp. Not sure the squid was local since it was frozen, but it was delicious!
They also have a crab farming operation under their roof. Looked interesting. If we’d had more time, I would have liked a tour.
Do not miss this place if you plan to cook in your rental or on the beach.

While out at the beach recently, we got a hankering to create our own seafood gorge-​fest, rather than go to a restaurant. Port A Crabs was the first place that caught our eye, and it’s word-​of-​mouth reputation was definitely right on.
Welcome to the freshest seafood on the island, this side of standing in waders. Mark and his wife have quite an operation going, with everything from bait to live crab and fish to fresh fish, soft shell crab, shrimp, lump crab meat, crab claw meat… are you catching my drift?
Mark and his wife sell by the pound, will give you quick tips about cooking and how much you need per person, and even have a few seasonings and cook-​in bags by the register.
Swing by, get some seafood, and enjoy!