One of the most uniquely Pacific Northwest activities you can do is to spend an afternoon shellfishing. There are dozens of great beaches along Oregon and Washington (especially Puget Sound) where shellfishing is a regular activity for the locals. It is also the perfect family activity, as kids get a kick out of digging in the sand anyway, right?
It doesn’t take a lot of skill either, making this the perfect way to spend a day if you are just visiting. There are, however, a few preparations to make and licenses to purchase before you head out to the beach for your catch of the day.
There are certain beaches to hit (which are listed below). Here you can easily find oysters, clams, and even the infamous Pacific Northwest geoduck!
What to Do to Prepare
Firstly, check out the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website for regulations and the beaches currently open for fishing. This website is continually updated to give you comprehensive information about current conditions, and which beaches are good for shellfishing. The Oregon Fish and Wildlife crabbing and clamming site.
Secondly, get the proper supplies. Garden shoves, sand buckets, rubber gloves, and crab ring (if you want to hunt for crabs) can be purchased or rented at any tackle store, or anywhere near the beach of your choosing.
Thirdly, you will need to purchase the proper licenses, which are good for the entire season. A general fishing license will suffice unless you also want to go crabbing, in which case another, very inexpensive crabbing license is required. Pro tip! For bait, crabs really go for raw chicken. You can purchase licenses for Washington State here. https://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/
The Best Time to Go
Ideally, the best time of year for shellfishing are the winter months. The coastal bays of Puget Sound are ripe with succulent oysters and are home to world-class mollusks and crustaceans. Dungeness crab here is king; you will find it on most any seafood restaurant menu throughout the region.
Shellfish typically spawn during the summer months, then fatten up come winter, prime for picking. If you are into raw oysters (a genuine delicacy) there is nothing finer than eating a raw oyster right off the beach – a treat that every seafood aficionado must experience!
Another, more expensive option is to rent a boat and go further out in the water. This method will give you the best chances of catching great crab. Just know that you will have to throw some catches back, as you may get baby crab and other less desirable catches into your net.
The Best Places for Shell Fishing
In Oregon, Check out where to go for Crabbing and Clamming
In Washington State for Shell Fishing, go to Washington Beaches with Shellfish
Here is a great reference website for geoduck digging: Washington Geoducks
And here is another great blog post I’ve found on the subject, from the Parent Map: Northwest Family Clamming Guide
Even if you are not into seafood (what is WRONG with you?!? Sorry, vegetarians!) you will no doubt get a kick out of visiting any of these beaches and simply watching others having all of the fun. It is one of the best ways to live life like a local in the Pacific Northwest. I would LOVE to hear your crabbing and clamming experiences!
