MASON COUNTY'S
shellfish Forage on Washington’s Wild Side.
Our Local Bivalves
Mason County’s saltwater bays and inlets OLYMPIC along Hood Canal and South Puget Sound are renown for NATIONAL FORES some of the tastiest and freshest bivalves in the OLYMPIC Northwest. Visit for the NATIONAL PARKpristine waters, open wilderness and public beaches stocked annually for families to enjoy! EAGLE Hamma
Get to know a few species NATIVE LITTLENECK CLAM
Up to 3.5” with rounded shell displaying concentric rings and radiating ridge lines, cream, grey, brown, or mottled. White inside shell; found at 6-10” deep in gravel, mud, mid-tide level.
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MANILA LITTLENECK CLAM (NOT NATIVE)
Up to 2.5”, oblong shell, Color can vary—typically gray,brown, or mottled and often times with what appears to be hand painted designs; some purple on the inside shell; found at 2-4” in gravel, mud, sand, typically above the half-tide level.
BUTTER CLAM
Up to 5”, shell with concentric rings (no radiating ridge lines), Yellow to gray/white colored; found at 1-1.5’ in sand, gravel, or cobble; 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.
LILLIWAUP STATE PARK
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
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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.
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POTLATCH BEACH PARK
Longest stretch of public beach, popular for swimming, kayaking, and picnics. Camping & restrooms
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SH WALKER PARK
MUSSELS
Blue Mussel (native) up to 3”, California Mussel (native) up to 6”, Mediterranean non-native) up to 5”. Oblong shell, blueblack 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; found at depth of 2-3’ in mud, sand, gravel in the subtidal zone (extreme low tides). FJORD
HOO
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.
Up to 12”, white/gray oblong shell with irregular, wavy edges; found in intertidal zone; tumbled (farmed) Pacifics have cupped shape with fragile shells. Up to 3”, rounded shell, white to purplish black and may be striped with yellow or brown; oyster’s flesh is a light olive green with a metallic flavor. Native oyster to the area and currently protected in wild habitats.
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OYSTERFEST
PACIFIC OYSTERS (NOT NATIVE)
OLYMPIA OYSTER
Expansive b property sig Warm enou Parking acro
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Beach access, playground, restrooms, picnic basketball court. Olympic Hwy to Arcadia Rd Rd take Left on Walker Park Rd, Park is on rig No shellfish harvest. No passes required
OYSTER BAY
Easy beach access on marshy estuary. Popula for bird watching and salmon observing/fish Pullout on Hwy 101 near Mile Marker 356; n KENNEDY CREEK INTERPRETATIVE TRAIL
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