Thanksgiving Week Is Booking Now. Zero Dishes at Your House, All the Fun With Your Family.
Check Availability

Port St. Joe, Florida · On the Water

Boats, Scallops and Kayaks on St. Joseph Bay

St. Joseph Bay is one of Florida's most pristine and uncrowded stretches of water, crystal clear, teeming with scallops, dolphins, and sea life. Whether you want to captain your own boat, snorkel a catamaran, or cast a line into the Gulf, Port St. Joe delivers a water adventure unlike anywhere else on the Forgotten Coast.

Stay at Ellie's Crab ShackCheck Dates
Scalloping in St. Joseph Bay with Bayou Boat Rentals1

Bayou Boat Rentals

Port St. Joe, FL (850) 441-9343

Bayou Boat Rentals puts you in the captain's chair for a self-guided adventure on the crystal-clear waters of St. Joseph Bay. Choose from center console bay boats and pontoons, all geared up and ready to go, and head out scalloping, fishing, or just exploring on your own schedule. No charter fees, no fixed departures: just you, your crew, and the bay. During scalloping season (June-September), this is the ultimate way to bag a bucket of fresh bay scallops you can cook that same night. Gear, licenses, and insider tips on the best spots are all part of the deal.

Visit Bayou Boat Rentals
AquaBear Adventures catamaran on St. Joseph Bay2

AquaBear Adventures

Jetty Park Dr., Port Saint Joe, FL (850) 227-8200

Step aboard AquaBear's 50-foot Corinthian catamaran for a snorkeling and dolphin cruise unlike anything else on Florida's Gulf Coast. Their guided trips cruise out to the sparkling shallows near Cape San Blas, where the water runs warm and clear over grass flats full of sea life. Snorkel alongside sea turtles, spot dolphins playing in the wake, and soak up views of the unspoiled coastline that make the Forgotten Coast so special. With a friendly crew that handles all the gear and briefing, it's as easy as showing up and jumping in, ideal for families, couples, and first-time snorkelers.

Visit AquaBear Adventures

Where You'll Sleep

Make Ellie's Crab Shack Home Base

White sand three minutes from the front door, sunsets off the deck, and the dog gets a vacation too.

Halloween Week and Thanksgiving, Sorted

Happening Near Port St. Joe Right Now

From Oct 15October 15 to 18

Blast on the Bay Songwriters Festival

Port St. Joe and Indian Pass · About 20 minutes from Ellie's Crab Shack · Adults, kids welcome by day

Forty-plus Nashville songwriters playing their own hits, unplugged, in bars and on porches around town. The Sunday finale at the Indian Pass Raw Bar is a Forgotten Coast rite of passage.

Details

From Nov 6November 6 and 7

Florida Seafood Festival

Battery Park, Apalachicola · About 40 minutes from Ellie's Crab Shack, worth the drive · All ages

Florida's oldest maritime festival, now in its 63rd year, with oyster shucking contests, blue crab races, a parade and the Blessing of the Fleet. Apalachicola oysters are back this year.

Details

From Nov 20Late November to mid December, free (the center posts exact dates each year)

Forgotten Coast Festival of Trees

The Joe Center for the Arts, Port St. Joe · About 20 minutes from Ellie's Crab Shack · All ages

Local businesses decorate dozens of trees and the town votes for a favorite, with story time, crafts and Mr. and Mrs. Claus on the schedule. A sweet hour in town between beach days.

Details

See everything on around Port St. Joe this season

Lady J Charters 25' Carolina Skiff on St. Joseph Bay3

Lady J Charters

St. Joseph Bay, Port St. Joe, FL (850) 227-1200

Whether you're after a laid-back day of bay scalloping or a serious offshore fishing expedition, Lady J Charters has the right boat for the mission. Their 25' Carolina Skiff handles inshore trips perfectly, think red fish, trout, flounder, and the bay's famed summer scallop runs. When you're ready to push offshore, the 36' Lady J III takes you out after swordfish, tuna, and deep-water trolling targets. Captain and crew know these waters inside and out, and they supply all the tackle, bait, and local know-how you need to fill your cooler. Book your trip by phone, deposits required and they fill up fast in season.

Visit Lady J Charters
Kayaking and paddleboarding near Cape San Blas with San Flea Rentals4

San Flea Rentals

4372 Cape San Blas Rd, Cape San Blas, FL (850) 381-3953

Stationed at Cape San Blas, San Flea Rentals is your one-stop shop for human-powered water fun. Rent a kayak or paddleboard and glide through the glassy Gulf shallows, or grab a snorkel kit and explore the grassy bay floor teeming with sea turtles and colorful fish. Crabbing fans can rent their famous crab traps and head out to pull up fresh blue crabs right from St. Joseph Bay, a truly local experience. The staff knows the best launch spots, the safest conditions, and all the little secrets of the area that don't show up on any map. Open seven days a week, 9 to 5.

Visit San Flea Rentals
Presnell's Bayside Marina on St. Joseph Bay, Port St. Joe5

Presnell's Bayside Marina

St. Joseph Bay, Port St. Joe, FL (850) 848-4914

Presnell's Bayside Marina has been the hub of St. Joseph Bay water recreation for generations, and it earns its reputation every summer. Rent a pontoon, bay boat, kayak, or paddleboard right from the marina dock and set off into some of the clearest water in Florida. During scalloping season, Presnell's is ground zero, with rentals, gear, and guides who know exactly where the scallops are hiding. Fishing guides and charters depart from here too, so whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned angler, you'll find your trip of choice. The on-site ship's store stocks everything you forgot to bring.

Visit Presnell's Bayside Marina

Want the full write-up with more photos? Read it on visitportstjoeflorida.com.

More Port St. Joe Guides

Keep Planning

Cape San Blas white sand beach with emerald Gulf waters, Port St. Joe Florida Beaches Cape San Blas Beaches: Where to Put the Chairs Down Cape San Blas · St. Joseph Peninsula State Park · Port St. Joe Beach and more The White Marlin and Oysterette in Port St. Joe, FL Restaurants Where to Eat in Port St. Joe and Cape San Blas The White Marlin and Oysterette · Krazyfish Grille · Joe Mama's Wood Fired Kitchen and more Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center, Port St. Joe, FL Family Activities Port St. Joe With Kids: Turtles, Lighthouses and Paddleboards Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center · T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park · George Core Park & Cape San Blas Lighthouse and more

Pick Your Dates. We'll Have the Lights On.

Check Availability