One of my favorite recreational activities in the Pacific Northwest is harvesting shellfish. Not only is it a great time for the whole family, but when you find success, the reward is usually delicious! Some of the more popular shellfish to harvest are Oysters, Dungeness Crab, Red Rock Crab, Spot Shrimp, and Razor Clams. There are also plentiful amounts of other species of clams and smaller shrimp species to be had.
Oysters
Grab your foldable chair, oyster knife, and favorite bottle of hot sauce, and head to your nearest Oyster beach (provided the beach has been considered safe for harvesting by the DOH). Eating raw Oysters on the beach is one of our favorite experiences!
Dungeness Crab
It’s hard to beat the excitement of retrieving your crab pot from your boat or quite often from docks and seeing the large keeper Dungees emerging from the depth frantically feeding on your bait.
Spot Shrimp
I’ve never seen an opener on Puget Sound as busy as the few times a year open for Spot Shrimp, especially in the Central and South Sound Marine Areas. Some of the best shrimping can be had in the Strait or the San Juans throughout the late spring and summer months.
