In 1980, Johnny Macker “The Clam Attacker” left North Carolina for warmer waters, settling in Daytona Beach, where he didn’t know a soul. 🦪
He began harvesting clams and oysters from Matanzas Inlet waters and never looked back, starting numerous seafood businesses over the decades.
In 2012, his sons Tristan and Jon opened Macker Seafood—a market specializing in fresh, local seafood with steamed carry-out meals.
This family-run operation on Bay Street has become Daytona’s hidden gem, where all fish is cleaned on premises, and nothing is pre-frozen or pre-packaged.
How Macker Seafood won Daytona Beach’s hearts
Macker Seafood captured Daytona’s loyalty by doing what few restaurants dare—harvesting their own shellfish and selling only the freshest local catch.
The brothers run the shop daily while their father Johnny remains heavily involved, still doing the majority of shellfishing using their own boats in the St. Augustine area.
Their commitment to cleaning all fish on premises and never selling pre-frozen or pre-packaged fillets sets them apart in a market flooded with mediocrity. 🐟
The restaurant’s Southern steam pots became legendary—loaded with potatoes, corn, sausage, and hard-steamed eggs, liberally seasoned with Old Bay, garlic, and butter to customer preference.
The flexibility to have anything steamed, grilled, blackened, or fried meant customers could enjoy seafood exactly how they wanted it, with staff adjusting seasoning levels to individual tastes.
Customers called it the “best boil in Daytona,” and owner Tristen hooked them up with portions so generous that they fed more than expected.
Food Highlights
Dockside Delight: The signature steam-pot featuring one snow crab cluster, 12 shrimp, sausage, corn, potato, and egg liberally seasoned with Old Bay, garlic, and butter. 🦀
- Feeling Shellfish: For variety lovers, this combination delivers six oysters, six shrimp, six clams, and six scallops.
Jumbo Shrimp and Scallops: A popular favorite served as a kebab with great flavor and very tender texture that customers rave about.
The Shrimptastic Basket: This generous portion includes 12 shrimp, sausage, corn, and potato in one satisfying meal.
Family Snow Crab Platter: The ultimate family meal featuring six snow crab clusters, one pound of shrimp, four sausages, four corn, four potatoes, and four eggs. 👨👩👧👦
Lobster Steampot: A luxurious option with lobster tail, six shrimp, sausage, corn, potato, and egg for special occasions.
Enough for Two: A couple’s feast with two snow crab clusters, one pound of shrimp, two sausages, two ears of corn, two potatoes, and two eggs.
Blackened Flounder Basket: This delicious preparation features flounder seasoned and blackened to perfection with classic sides
Fried Mahi: A customer favorite, perfectly cooked with delicious seasoning, never dry like other restaurants
Mahi Reuben: This exceptional sandwich features perfectly cooked mahi that’s never dry, converting even mahi skeptics. 🥪
Lobster Roll: Made with langostinos and delicious sauce, customers call this the best lobster roll they’ve ever had outside of Boston.
Oyster Po’ Boy: A cool dude named Woody will tell you about this amazing sandwich featuring fresh oysters.
Raw or Steamed Oysters: Dozens available as appetizers, harvested by the Macker family from their own boats
Atmosphere
Macker Seafood is a super casual, off-the-beaten-path market with a few picnic tables where the focus is entirely on fresh seafood, not fancy décor.
This isn’t a dress-up destination—it’s a laidback and casual environment where you come hungry and leave satisfied with abundance.
The small, clean space combines a seafood market with dining, allowing customers to buy fresh fish to cook at home or enjoy steamed meals on-site.
Located on Bay Street, this family-run gem offers free off-street parking and service that makes you feel like part of the Macker family. 🌊
Bottom Line
Visit Macker Seafood for family-harvested clams and oysters from Matanzas Inlet, all fish cleaned on-site and never pre-frozen. Enjoy customizable Southern steam pots with Old Bay garlic butter, Mama Macker’s hospitality that treats everyone like family, and the best seafood boil in Daytona Beach.
Address:
141 Bay St, Suite 100, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
📞 (386) 253-9905
🕔 Mon–Sat 11 AM–9 PM, Sun 11 AM–7 PM