Motts Channel Seafood

Seafood market · Wrightsville Beach

Motts Channel Seafood

Seafood market · Wrightsville Beach

1

120 Short St, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480

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Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null
Motts Channel Seafood by null

Highlights

Dockside market offering unbelievably fresh seafood, shrimp, crab  

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120 Short St, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480 Get directions

mottschannelseafood.com
@mottschannelseafood

$$ · Menu

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120 Short St, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480 Get directions

+1 910 256 3474
mottschannelseafood.com
@mottschannelseafood

$$ · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 25, 2025

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10 Best Beach Towns in North Carolina

"An on-the-water, family-owned seafood market known for selling local catches—including seasonal varieties such as hogfish when available; one local reviewer notes a habit of entering 'through the back loading dock so I can chat up the mongers about what they just brought in.'" - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com.  Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/best-beach-towns-in-north-carolina-8648660
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Dawn Dykstra

Google
Love this place! We love all of the fresh seafood that we get here. We usually purchase peeled and deveined shrimp. We normally blanch them in boiling water for 2-3 minutes then shock them in ice to stop the cooking. We chill them in the fridge and then eat them with a nice salad plus chips and salsa. They are so big and very meaty. They taste fresh and clean with a touch of the sea 🌊 Always a delicious choice.

Harinath Bingi

Google
Super fresh seafood!! Biggest lobster I have seen on sale - the weekend we visited

Christopher Garza

Google
Place was great seafood was fresh and vibe of the place was very laid back. If you need fresh seafood to take home to cook i would definitely recommend this place.

David Ross

Google
Great service. The staff filleted the salmon perfectly and proportionately. They were very friendly as well. And the salmon turned out wonderful.

James RV007

Google
Whenever I am in town I always stop and get fresh seafood to take back home 4 hrs away! Always FRESH never Frozen food! You can always tell the difference and it is sooooo worth it going to Motts! Stop in and see the family owned business that is the best in Wilmington!

R Frerichs

Google
By far the best seafood in Wilmington! They catch the fish the same day and it is always fresh and amazingly good to eat! 5 stars are well deserved!!

Liam Connolly

Google
Some of the freshest (if not the freshest) in the Wrightsville Beach area. Great selection and always bringing more out so they have items on tap.

Gina

Google
This is the place to get the best freshest fish! For the quality of the fish the price is very good. Always friendly service.
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April L.

Yelp
I always love coming here for fresh, local fish when I have family visiting! It's an experience and we get awesome seafood options! Staff is always helpful and friendly. Great selection and tons of other local items!
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Aimee N.

Yelp
I completely fell in love with this place today. I have never been in such a clean, friendly, fish market. In sots right on the water at Wrightsville beach so the view Pulling g up is even beautiful. Inside, I was greeted by very nice employees and I saw the most beautiful sashimi tina ever. They have the fish and shrimp section, then the oysters/crabmeat part, a little pantry area and a few frozen sections. Prices are reasonable and fish was delicious.
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Claire R.

Yelp
The varieties of fish are plentiful and always fresh! We buy six types whenever we're there. Why get grocery store fish when you can have super fresh!
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Colette L.

Yelp
First time there and will definitely be back. Very fresh fish with a nice selection. Place is super clean, the young man that waited on us was knowledgeable and friendly.
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Chad C.

Yelp
the customer service was amazing, he waited there while the wife and I was choosing what to get. Very patient. If I'm ever in town I'll definitely stopping in here. After reviewing their website; I definitely found some new ways to cook too, 5 stars !!!!!
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Rusty J.

Yelp
Following a fishing trip I came to the seafood market to buy a little more fish to supplement our catch. They had a nice selection of fresh fish to choose from. I ended up getting a slab of mahi mahi that was nice and thick. The person assisting me explained that part of their fish was caught in the Gulf and part of it is locally caught. She gladly told me which was which. If you like shrimp they have lots of shrimp. They also had produce and other edible items. I was just there for the fish and I am very happy with my purchase. They required masks. Only 5 customers at a time were allowed. The place looks super clean. You can smell a hint of fish but it isn't a strong pungent smell. Give this place a try.
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Krystle M.

Yelp
Super clean seafood market. They even have their filets covered with plastic. They didn't have any black bass during our visit so we didn't make a purchase. Their seafood looks super fresh and the market doesn't have a fishy smell. They do have a posted mask sign and a customer went in before us quickly left out and obtained his mask. So happy they are enforcing the mask mandate. They also only allow 5 customers in at a time Motts Channel Seafood 120 Short St Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480 Sunday December 20,2020 1:30pm

Richard H.

Yelp
Great place for fresh seafood. It's not Walmart so don't expect Walmart prices. Fishermen go out far and deep to bring them in.
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Ethan H.

Yelp
Family run local business that gives back to the community. Recently we taught fishing merit badge to a bunch of scouts and once Motts heard what we were doing and that they had to clean and cook their fish they happily helped us out. Huge thanks to Tom and his staff.

Betty W.

Yelp
I have patronized Motts for years. In the last year, I bought what I thought to be-fresh shrimp-after all, this is a fresh seafood business. The shrimp was mushy and not flavorful. The 4th time, 5th time and 6th time, I asked if the shrimp was fresh and was told it was frozen. Not indicated unless asked. I was so surprised. Charging fresh prices and selling their stock of frozen shrimp So I quit going for several months-don't buy shrimp there anymore but stopped by and bought a nice looking and fresh snapper filet. Cooked it and just ate it, full of bones! Ugh pricey fish that isn't fully prepared as a filet I'm done! Sorry

Frank D.

Yelp
Great service and seafood! Highly recommend this place. Straight off the dock. Stop every time we are in Wilmington.
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Andrew L.

Yelp
This place I have never been but my mom and dad have and they said it was an amazing place to go to and I would recommend it is so so so good and amazing and awesome keep that seafood on up I love seafood so much I would love crawfish there also and shrimp and lobster and crab and snow crabs and oysters and also mussels and flounder
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Melissa G.

Yelp
This is the gold standard of seafood markets. It's been here forever, or at least seems like it, and consistently has a great selection for good prices. They also offer fresh fruit and vegetables, rice, grits, and seasoning so this could be your one stop dinner shop. Every time we've been there, someone comes from the back and adds just caught shrimp to the selection. The employees are always helpful and nice.
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Christine F.

Yelp
Love this place, it has the best fresh seafood in town! It's a small store on Wrightsville Beach, just over the first bridge. Upon walking in , everything looks and smells fresh, no stale seafood smell . They sell everything from whole fish, fillets, scallops, shrimp , crab and oysters in season , all kept on ice. Plenty of locally caught seafood. They even have a freezer section. The staff is knowledgeable about what they sell, and even give some cooking tips. They do sell vegetables to go with you meal , along with sauces and rubs and tee shirts too. So happy that they rebuilt after Hurricane Florence. If you are looking for the best seafood in town, head to Motts Channel Seafood.
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Matt F.

Yelp
Can't get fresher than the dock unless you're in the boat. This is an old school fish market with some merch thrown in for the summer tourists. Stop by and ask what just came in.

A. I.

Yelp
There is no better choice for fresh, local seafood than Motts! Their Incredible selection is only outdone by their customer service! Alice & Jack went above and beyond to help me the other night, when I was running late getting onto the beach; for swordfish. They had actually closed for the evening but were sitting outside the store, enjoying talking with two friends. I arrived in a complete rush of excitement about my soon to be fresh fish, only to see the store dark and locked. My face must have said everything, and my shoulders sank thinking about where I would go now that I had missed their normal hours. Alice saw me sink with sadness and sweetly told me she would 'open up for me to grab my fish real quick!' Jack jumped up to walk me in, and helped me find the perfect pieces from the big walk-in cooler. I was able to get the most amazing fresh fish, and a personal tour of the fish house cooler! #southernhopsitality #buylocal
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Amanda B.

Yelp
Great fresh fish, loved being able to cook seafood at our condo while on vacation- we will make it a yearly stop!
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Ethan S.

Yelp
The absolute best place to buy fresh seafood. The grouper has become a family staple, but all the fish are excellent. Just point out what you want and you'll be cooking and eating insanely fresh fish in no time. If you're as passionate about this place as I am, purchase a long sleeve shirt to rep the shop before heading out.
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Ken E.

Yelp
Best Seafood on the East Coast! Gene Long and his staff always have customer service and quality of product in mind. You must go to Mott's Channel Seafood it is worth the trip. Thanks Ken Elliott
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Jeremy B.

Yelp
Looking for fresh seafood? You've found it. They have just about everything you're looking for here. From peeled shrimp to shelled to crab legs to oysters and clams. Don't forget about the fresh fish. As soon as you open the door to this place, you can just smell the freshness. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Neat little market with a side shop for t-shirts, hats and spices to flavor up not only your style but your fresh seafood as well. The one thing I recommend when coming here is the southern grits. Its in a little plastic bag right in front of the register (not in the instructions but, just add a little half n half, you'll thank me later).
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Joe K.

Yelp
This place is great for fresh seafood. I would rate it a five star but I can no longer get into the store. I am handicap and can no longer manage the large step into the building.
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Kelly B.

Yelp
This is a great place to buy seafood! We stopped in around 5pm to pick up some stuff to grill. They still had a wide variety, even late in the day which I was really happy about. We got a pound of shrimp, grouper and some old bay seasoning. And we picked up a zucchini- it was really big and very fresh. The fish and shrimp was really fresh. We grilled it up and it was delicious and fed a group of 6 of us. Would definitely return, everything seemed really fresh and reasonable pricing.
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Jaylen R.

Yelp
Motts Channel Seafood is the best and most fresh seafood market in Wilmington! They almost always have a vast selection of seafood, it's all fresh, and the staff has always been very kind and helpful. I've been a customer of Motts for nearly 15 years and I don't ever plan on shopping anywhere else.
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Monica P.

Yelp
Great selection of daily catches and fresh fish and seafood! Try this place out. We usually get shrimp from here but this time decided to get their lobster and grouper. Both super fresh and it's great to have fresh seafood. You can taste the difference. We steamed our shrimp at home and baked and fried our grouper. Fed 6 adults and 3 children! Bought 3 lbs of grouper and 3 lbs of shrimp. Go early. The selection is better.

Blane S.

Yelp
Just consumed the best fresh tuna steaks. MEMORABLE. The numerous fish options were narrowed to the tuna when informed it was "fresh today". Being an extremely harsh critic of key lime pies, the one purchased from Motts Seafood was uniquely "chiffon-like" with creative graham cracker crust. Perfect touch of sweetness in these "all from scratch" creations. We will not pass by Wrightsville Beach without a return visit to Motts!
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Tom D.

Yelp
I am saving the 5 star for my next trip - but trust me - the locals have a real gem with this place. The food is fresh and AMAZING! The crap my son purchased to stuff mushrooms with was superb - the scallops oh so tender and the huge shrimp were a meal in themselves. There was one staff member outside cleaning the oysters from the morning haul - talk about fresh - the place might be small, but they have what you will want from fresh seafood!
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Natalie K.

Yelp
It's been 4 years since I left a review and still today I stand by what I wrote.. the best place to buy the freshest seafood anywhere hands down.
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Jeremy K.

Yelp
Came in with limited knowledge of seafood and preparation thereof, and was assisted by many of the locals who frequent this establishment in selecting the elements of a seafood boil. Gigantic Lobster fresh off the boat that morning, Fresh grouper from that morning, and fresh jumbo shrimp from that morning, along with some mussels, made up our dish the next day. Everything was so fresh and so tasty! I loved the atmosphere the service and the customers all at the same time. Highly recommend.
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Anna D.

Yelp
My favorite seafood spot! Freshest in Wrightsville and Wilmington. Great selection and fast, friendly service. Never disappointed with their Tuna and Salmon options.
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Ralph R.

Yelp
Freshest Fish and seafood in town. Always a good selection. Everything from Salmon to Sheepshead. Obviously local fish vary from day to day.

Marianne P.

Yelp
Such a great selection of fresh seafood. Plus they have all the spices and sauces you need.
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Rachel C.

Yelp
Easily the best seafood market in Wilmington. I but seafood every single week and theirs is alway the freshest, best looking and tasting, and most consistent. I've bought from many other markets in town who's shrimp isn't as fresh or as well deveined and most other places don't clean or filet their fish properly on a regular basis. Motts is consistent and delicious every single time. Their salmon tails are my favorite. Always fresh. Always well priced. They are really good about posting their new or unusual catches on Instagram and their employees are always so helpful and knowledgeable. They are eager to help you choose the best fish for your meal. I recommend them 10:10.

Jeanette D.

Yelp
Oh my goodness. I just discord Motts Channel Seafood last wk. when we were down for 7 days. Can't say enough great things about it. We bought shrimp, crab cakes & fish for dinner for 3 of the nights we were there. Each meal was better than the last. Fresh, quality seafood & polite, helpful employees. I'm grateful to have met their acquaintanc & I will be back.
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Gene W.

Yelp
Why didn't I buy hush puppy mix? Because I am a fool, that's why. My only regret about my experience at Motts is my own stupidity. They tried though. They really tried to force a perfect experience on me, despite myself. We picked up a couple of salmon steaks. Delicious. Picked up a couple of deviled crabs. Delicious. Why didn't I buy hush puppy mix? Because I am a fool.
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Dale M.

Yelp
This place is my go-to fresh seafood market. The Stumps and Topsails we got there last month were ideal! Love the large shrimp and fresh fish choices. People are quick and friendly and helpful. Best around. P.S. Yelp has the worst customer service on the planet.
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B Q.

Yelp
Ample selection of local fish plus plenty of produce & spices and such. They're great with advice and are happy to prep the fish in any way you wish. Peek in the back and watch them taking in & cleaning some local catches. A big treat. Definitely go here if cooking some delicious local fish is on your agenda.

Brad N.

Yelp
Best seafood in town hands down. Check out the hog nose snapper (when available). The filet mignon of fish!
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Victor P.

Yelp
This place is right on the water and has a large variety of fish. I even bought a t shirt which has a very cool design. They have catches i did not even know existed.
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Stephanie M.

Yelp
Fresh fresh salmon steaks and delicious sweet shrimp that pops in your mouth? Yes, please! Their location right on the dock attests to the legit freshness of the product they sell. Service was fast and friendly. The only thing that could make it better is if they cooked the food and fed it to me.
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Monica K.

Yelp
These guys are fish cleaning machines! Pick out a whole fish and tell them how you want it, blink, and it's done! I like that this place is actually located on a dock over the water (Hmm, Motts Channel perhaps??). The front of the building is a small storefront while the back is a spacious, well-maintained area for receiving and cleaning fish. Selection of whole fish was somewhat limited when I went, but there were lots of different kinds of fish fillets on ice in the main display. In the cooler they had sacks of clams and mussels and some beautiful soft shell crabs. Service is friendly and efficient and their product is solid. Check it out!

Allison B.

Yelp
They were completely unprofessional in every way. I had a much better experience with sea view seafood. They had a better selection and they have live blue crabs. If you are ever interested in getting seafood, go somewhere else. Motts is not a good idea.
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Kelly B.

Yelp
Great little fish market down by the water. We were in from out of town, and took home shrimp & clams for a boil. The clams were cleaned and the seafood was great! Came back for a grouper filet the next night and it was also really tasty. Great selection, clean shop, and really great local fish!

Sysan C.

Yelp
Stopped on Sunday morning on our way out of town. I was skeptical of finding much fresh fish on a Sunday morning. Most fish was filleted, but a few whole fish: flounder, sheepshead, trout had sparkling eyes. Lots of fresh shrimp; lump, backfin and claw meat crab. For the Yankees they had frozen crab legs. Good selection of fresh veggies: okra, sweet corn, green beans, summer squash, jalapeños and asparagus. Great little spot just before the causeway to Wrightsville Beach. They filled our cooler with ice to carry home our fish.
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Kristen S.

Yelp
Reading these reviews, it's not hard to see why I keep getting "wrong number" calls for Motts! For the past four years I've been redirecting people to the "right" area code - (910)! Rock on, Motts!
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Margaret H.

Yelp
I bought the fresh grouper for the first time 4 days ago. It was so good that I ate it for 3 more nights in a row. And that's saying something as I'm not normally a big seafood fan. I had always bought my seafood, when I bought it at all, from the supermarket, but I won't do that any more. The fish, at least the grouper, at Motts was delicious. I'm a permanent new customer here.
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Jason N.

Yelp
The best fresh seafood market in Wilmington. Period.
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Tara A.

Yelp
Great selection and super fresh seafood. It's a bit on the pricey side, but for shrimp that are already deheaded you're saving about a third on the weight so it's not a bad deal. Lots of seasonings, sauces, and mixes to compliment your meal, too.
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Klokie G.

Yelp
Knowledgeable and helpful staff, great fresh fish selection, and delicious imported crab and oysters from up north can be found here. If you want low prices, try another market or Harris Teeter.

Rachel B.

Yelp
Not a giant selection but what was there was incredibly fresh and priced well. The guy working was helpful and was able to describe the fish we were unfamiliar with. Clean market.