Hi all. I was looking to try my hand at harvesting oysters this season. I’ve never tried it and am not totally sure where to start. Would anyone be willing to give up their spots for finding them in the bay?
Comments
RyCalll OP t1_j5l54fe wrote
That’s what I was thinking. I don’t see any info about it not being encouraged, why is that? I’ve been reading up quite a bit and while there’s definitely a lot of regulations it didn’t come across as not encouraged. I’m currently looking at a historical oyster bar off of Gibson island that seems to be a possibility.
MD_Weedman t1_j5l7ywo wrote
Don't waste your time off Gibson Island. No oyster spat have been seen above the Bay Bridge in over a decade.
Maryland's history with oystering had legislators (who make most of the oyster rules) always favoring watermen over recreational harvesters. It's been that way for many generations. Many books out there if you want to learn more about how it came to be that way. It was so bad that it wasn't legal to start a new lease to grow your own oysters until 2009.
RyCalll OP t1_j5l87z1 wrote
Do you have any suggestions on spots that would be good for walking the waterline?
MD_Weedman t1_j5lqcka wrote
I have tons of great suggestions. I know a spot on the lower Potomac where you can snorkel in 4' of water and find a legal bushel in a few minutes. I've got a spot in Worchester County where you can walk a beach at low tide and barely get your feet wet while harvesting your legal limit. Of course I'm never telling my spots to anyone. I don't imagine you'll find anyone willing to give up their spots.
RyCalll OP t1_j5lz2or wrote
Ah, ok. Thanks anyway
PigtownDesign t1_j5lfbmi wrote
And with the grounding of the Ever Forward last spring, any remaining beds were ruined.
MD_Weedman t1_j5lpe00 wrote
The Ever Forward hit an old named oyster bar, but it didn't hit an oyster bed. See this report from June 2022.
Shiny_Deleter t1_j5lxyb8 wrote
After everyone chimes in with their spots, can y’all tell me where to find some morels in a cooler months🤔🤣
anne_hollydaye t1_j5or5tg wrote
I believe my friend got started through this forum.
PigtownDesign t1_j5lfqh6 wrote
Here is a post from a few years ago. It's pretty impossible to do this. Most oyster beds are privately owned and the owners would not take kindly to having someome come harvest their crop.
trymypi t1_j5l561p wrote
From Nov 2022 issue of Chesapeake Bay Magazine
You can get tongs from: Messick Bros Foxwells Antiques & Collectibles Blue Crow Antique Mall James E Harvey Millwork Hogge Seafood
Maryland Regulations: https://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/pages/rec_oysters.aspx
Biomirth t1_j5r4x2m wrote
Like hunting mushrooms people are very private and rightly so (about exceedingly rare and endangered things). If we were back in 1750 you could just go anywhere and have as much of whatever you want, but alas, tis no longer the case goodsir Ry.
I lived on the Outer Banks for awhile and you could find food so easily but none of the natives would ever tell temporary outsiders (like tourists) how easy it was to Flounder, Clam, Crab, Fish, etc.. because just a tiny bit of interest snowballs into destruction.
MD_Weedman t1_j5l2l6a wrote
Unless you are a diver or you have hand tongs you are stuck walking shorelines on the lower eastern shore. Dorchester and Wicomico County. It's not a practice encouraged by the state so make sure to read the regulations on the DNR web page.