MASON COUNTY & HOOD CANAL AREA
Pacific Oyster
Manila Clam
Mussel
Go play on the beach.
Geoduck Purchase your license online: FISHHUNT.DFW.WA.GOV
Toll-free: (866) 246-9453
HARVEST SHELLFISH
Come prepared with license (purchase online: fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov), shovel, gloves, buckets, boots to harvest clams and oysters on Hood Canal and South Puget Sound beaches. Regulations vary from
1.
DAILY LIMIT: K18 OYSTERSL
XCHECK TIDE
Oysters consumed on beach
Look at a tide chart online for the bay or inlet you are harvesting. The lower the tide the bigger the reward!
Oysters may only be harvested by hand or with a hand-held manually operated prying tool (no hammers, etc.). Min. size 2.5” measured across longest distance of shell.
the Shellfish Emergency Rule Change Hotline (866) 880-5431, or contact the WDFW customer service desk (360) 902-2700. Each harvester must use a separate container.
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your Beach for clams, oysters, or 2. musselsCheck at wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/shellfish-beaches,
oysters
claim the Clams
DAILY LIMIT: K40 CLAMSL
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Look for little sand holes/dimples called the “show.” MANILAS (2-4” deep) & LITTLENECKS (6-10”) can be found using a rake. Use a shovel for BUTTERS (1-1.5’ below the surface) and GEODUCK (3’).
Fill Holes
To reduce clam mortality, push undersized clams into the refilled hole.
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count toward a limit.
Aw Shucks
Oysters must be shucked on the beach. Leave shells on the same tideland and tide height where they were taken.
Clam limit not to exceed 10 lbs in the shell, all species combined [excluding horse (7) & geoducks (3)].
sand purge
Manilas, litttlenecks and small butters should soak in cold seawater for at least four hours to purge sand and grit.
Purchase Licenses locally
BAYSHORE TEXACO 3841 SR# 3, Shelton | (360) 427-0709 FRED MEYER #603 Shelton | (360) 427-2979 VERLE’S LLC 741 E Golden Pheasant Rd, Shelton
SHELLFISH & BEACH
Guide
Forage on Washington’s Wild Side .
beach to beach— ALWAYS check the rules at wdfw.wa.gov before harvesting.
How to CATCH a bi valv e...
SHELLFISH & BEACH
MASON COUNTY & HOOD CANAL AREA
Mason County’s saltwater bays and inlets along Hood Canal and South Puget Sound are renown for some of the tastiest & freshest bivalves in the Northwest. Enjoy pristine waters, plenty of wilderness and public beaches stocked annually for the public to enjoy!
SOUTH PUGET SOUND & HOOD CANAL
We are here to help. Hoodsport Visitor Center 150 N Lake Cushman Rd, Hoodsport | (800) 576-2021 North Mason Chamber Visitor Center 30 NE Romance Hill Rd, Belfair, WA | (360) 275-4267 Shelton Visitor Center The Red Caboose, 230 W Railroad Ave (360) 426-2021 Union Visitor Information Center Hunter Farms, E 1921 SR 106, Union Kamilche Visitor Center 31 West SR 108, Kamilche | (360) 432-0921
(360) 426-0933 | Verles.com WALMART 2121 Shelton | (360) 427-6226
mussel seasons in Puget Sound are the same as clam seasons on each beach. No min. size. Daily limit 10 lbs. in shell. cover photo: George Stenberg
YOUR GUIDE TO SHELLFISH, WATER EXPLORING & BEACH ADVENTURES ON HOOD CANAL AND SOUTH PUGET SOUND
a few local species NATIVE LITTLENECK CLAM
Up to 3.5” with rounded shell displaying concentric rings and radiating ridge lines, cream, brown, or mottled; white inside shell; found at 6-10” deep in gravel, mud, mid-tide level.
TR ITON
OysterRama
101
OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST
Hamma
Know the Bivalves
HAMA HAMA OYSTER CO & OYSTER SALOON 35846 US-101, Lilliwaup | (360) 877-5811 This high energy 5th generation farm serves oysters pulled from the last tide and prepared to order with an ever changing menu of seasonal local ingredients. Retail Store and farm dining. hamahamaoyster.com
E LD ON
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK
DEWATTO BAY
HAMMA HAMMA
HAMA HAMA OYSTER RAMA
Giant intertidal family celebration at Lilliawaup on the Hama Hama Oyster Farm each Spring. Music, food, special events and plenty of oysters. hamahamaoyster.com
Expansive beach when tide is out, obey property signs. Excellent oyster beach. Warm enough for swimming in summer. Parking across from Eagle Creek Saloon.
BUTTER CLAM
Up to 5”; shell with concentric rings (no radiating ridge lines); yellow to grey/white; found at 1-1.5’ in sand, gravel, or cobble in lower intertidal or shallow subtidal zone. Butter clams retain marine biotoxins longer than other clams.
COCKLE CLAM
Up to 5” with round shell; prominent evenly-spaced radiating ridges fanning from hinge; mottled, light brown color; found at 1-2” in sand, mud in intertidal or subtidal zone.
Full off on Hwy 101, stairway to beach at north opening of Lilliwaup Bay. Walk north or south when tide is out. Oysters and Clams. Eagles andOLYMPIC osprey. Overnight RV camping permitted; no restrooms. NATIONAL FOREST
TAYLOR SHELLFISH 130 SE Lynch Rd Shelton (360) 432-3300 Taylor’s product line includes worldwide export of geoduck, clams, mussels and oysters. Headquartered in Kamilche, retail store is open daily. taylorshellfish.com
OLYMPIA OYSTER
Up to 3”, rounded shell, white to purplish black and may be striped with yellow or brown; flesh is a light olive green with a metallic flavor. Native oyster to the area and currently protected in wild habitats. Blue Mussel (native) up to 3”, California Mussel (native) up to 6”, Mediterranean ( non-native) up to 5”. Oblong shell, blue-black or brown; attaches to rocks, pilings, boats, gravel, or other hard surfaces in the intertidal zone with bissel threads.
GEODUCK
Up to 10”, 2.5 – 10 lbs. Gaping oblong shell with concentric rings; white shell with flaky brown skin; siphon and mantle are too large to withdraw. Depth: 2-3’, found in mud, sand, gravel in subtidal zone (extreme low tides).
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B E L FA I R
300
119
H O O D SP O RT
MENARD’S LANDING
HOODSPORT
Public boat dock with beach access. Starfish and crabs at low tide. Closed to shellfish gathering.Picnic tables & restrooms,nearby dining, grocery and shopping.
101
P OTLATC H
Gazebo, garden, play area, pier, restrooms and beach access with boat A L LY N launch.
TA H U YA
202
302
TWANOH STATE PARK
POTLATCH BEACH PARK
Longest stretch of public beach in area, popular for clams, oysters, swimming, kayaking, and picnics. Camping & restrooms. Requires Discovery Pass.
106
UNION
Traditionally held in October at Shelton Airport, the two day festival features seafood delicacies prepared by local non-profits as well as the Northwest Oyster Shucking Championship & live music.
Excellent camping, swimming, kayaking, picnic sites, and shellfish harvesting. Requires Discovery Pass. GR A PE V IE W
UNION CITY MARKET
HUNTER FARMS 101
ALLYN DAYS & GEODUCK FESTIVAL | Allyn, WA
Each July enjoy vendors, wine and beer garden, live music and seafood throughout the weekend. allyntown.com
Craving Local Seafood? Here are a few locations that serve local Hood Canal & South Puget Sound seafood. Call for hours & reservations. Bistro at Lakeland Village
921 WA-106, Union | (360) 426-2222 Direct farm to market retail includes Hood Canal, oysters at the general store located on the farm.
MAT LO C K
SHE LTO N
3 101 E Pine St
WALKER PARK
Beach access, playground, restrooms, picnic shelter and basketball court. Olympic Hwy to Arcadia Rd, from Arcadia Rd take Left on Walker Park Rd, Park is on right. No shellfish harvest. No passes required.
HOPE ISLAND STATE PARK
A 106-acre marine camping park reachable only by boat. Covered with old-growth forests and saltwater marshes, the park features a beach oneand-a-half miles long. Access by boat only.
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101
OYSTER BAY
CHELSEA FARMS OYSTER BAR
KA M ILCH E
108
explorehoodcanal.com
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222 CAPITOL WAY N, OLYMPIA | (360) 915-7784 Eld & Totten Inlet, South Puget Sound Chelsea Farm have made a priority of farming the native Olympia oyster that was on it’s way to extinction. Visit oyster bar in Olympia for a local seafood experience. chelseafarms.net
Robin Hood Restaurant
470 E Country Club Dr, Allyn (360) 277-4137
6790 E State Route 106 - Union (360) 490-8168
Boat House Restaurant
Smoking Mo’s
18340 E WA 3, Allyn (360) 275-2954
102
Easy beach access on marshy estuary. Popular for bird watching and salmon observing/fishing. Pullout on Hwy 101 near Mile Marker 356; near KENNEDY CREEK INTERPRETATIVE TRAIL.
Community park offers beach access, a picnic area and portable restroom and is very popular with kayakers, fishermen and local residents. Located on SR-3 at the south end of Allyn. The parking area is open only during the shellfish season.
5101 E State Route 106 | Union | (360) 898-3500 3 Art, gifts, seafood and grocery items and seasonal cafe DNR 24/GRAPEVIEW, DNR beach clams and oysters open within a working marina. all year. Access by boat only. |
OYSTERFEST
Ask your doctor before eating raw shellfish if you have any concerns about allergies, are taking medications, or have a weakened immune system (such as cancer, liver disease, or HIV). Shellfish are a great and healthy food. Avoid illness by following the 3 C’s.
NORTH BAY
ALLYN
Expansive beach (at low tide), picnic area, and views of the Olympics. RENDSLAND CREEK, DNR owned clams and oysters open all year.
c Hwy S SE Olympi
MUSSELS
Beaches for walking and exploring with summer water temperatures quite warm. Restrooms, camping and picnic facilities.
DEWATTO
106
PACIFIC OYSTERS (NOT NATIVE)
Up to 12”, white/gray oblong shell with irregular, wavy edges; found in intertidal zone. Tumbled (farmed) Pacifics have regular cupped shape with fragile shells.
LI LLI WAUP
S 1st St
Up to 2.5”, oblong shell; color can vary—typically grey,brown, or mottled and often with what appears to be handpainted designs; some purple on the inside shell; found at 2-4” in gravel, mud, sand, typically above the half-tide level.
LILLIWAUP STATE PARK
CHECK: Health closures and advisories: doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety Harvesting closures: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulationSigns on the beach: Follow posted warnings and respect private property
COOK: Cook shellfish in summer months when Vibrio illnesses can occur. To kill Vibrio bacteria cook shellfish to 145° F for at least 15 seconds, cooking does not destroy biotoxins. Do not harvest in areas with pollution closures.
BELFAIR STATE PARK
101
MANILA LITTLENECK CLAM (NOT NATIVE)
CHECK. CHILL. COOK.
CHILL: Harvest shellfish on the outgoing tide and put them on ice as soon as possible to prevent bacterial growth. Keep them cold until ready to eat.
Small beach with dramatic view of the Olympics. Lots of ripe berries in late summer. From Belfair: take the Befair-Tahuya Road to Dewatto Rd. Continue four miles to Dewatto. Parking limited.
EAGLE CREEK 119
OLYMPIA OYSTERS AT MIKE’S BEACH RESORT 38470 N Hwy 101, Lilliwaup | (360) 877-5324 Guests enjoy waterfront cabins with view of the canal & farm with first dibs on some of the freshest oysters on the fjord!
Hama Hama Oyster Saloon
35846 US-101, Lilliwaup (360) 877-5811
Hook & Fork
233 S. 1st St. Shelton (360) 462-0163
Spencer Lake Bar & Grill
1180 E Pickering Rd, Shelton (360) 426-2505
Squaxin Island Seafood Bar
5101 E State Route 106, Union (360) 898-3500
91 West State Route 108, Shelton (360) 432-7120
Model T Pub & Eatery
Taylor Station
Restaurant at Alderbrook
Tides Family Restaurant
24281 N US 101, Hoodsport (360) 877-9883
10 E Alderbrook Drive, Union (360) 898-2200
62 SE Lynch Rd, Shelton (360) 426-8501
27061 US-101, Hoodsport (360) 877-8921
View more area dining at explorehoodcanal.com