Shellfish Harvesting on Hood Canal’s West Shore: A Guide to Pristine Beaches
Hood Canal’s west shore is a shellfish harvester’s dream, offering pristine beaches and a variety of shellfish. Here’s a guide to help you plan a successful and sustainable harvest, excluding Twanoh State Park but including Eagle Creek and Dosewallips beaches.
Regulations and Licenses Before you begin, ensure you have a Combination or Shellfish/Seaweed License1. Always check the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) for open seasons and the Department of Health (DOH) for health advisories23.
Daily Limits and Size The daily limit per person is up to 40 clams, not exceeding 10 pounds in the shell4. Most clams must be at least 1.5 inches across the longest part of the shell, and a shellfish gauge is recommended to measure your catch4.
Tools for Harvesting Prepare with buckets, boots, and a license. A wide-tined potato fork is suggested for digging butter clams in rocky substrates56. Remember to keep shellfish on ice or consume them soon after harvest, especially from June through September, to avoid illness from Vibriosis5.
Beaches for Harvesting
- Eagle Creek: An excellent beach for oysters, it opens on June 8 for clam, mussel, and oyster harvest7.
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Shellfish Harvesting at Dosewallips State Park: A Sustainable Delight
Nestled on the eastern shores of the Olympic Peninsula, Dosewallips State Park is a haven for shellfish enthusiasts. With its expansive tidal flats and pristine waters, the park offers a bountiful harvest of clams, mussels, and oysters, providing both a recreational activity and a culinary treat for visitors.
Seasons and Regulations: Before planning your visit, it’s crucial to be aware of the seasons and regulations. Clam and mussel seasons are open from July 15 through September 30, 2024, while oyster season is open year-round1. However, the southern part of the park is closed year-round due to health concerns, as shellfish from this section are not fit for human consumption.
Harvest Profile: Dosewallips State Park is particularly known for its Manila littleneck clams, found in the mid-upper tidal zone in mixed sand and gravel substrate. The area around and among the oysters is often overlooked but can yield productive digging. Butter clams, cockles, and horse clams are also available in the sandy areas below the oysters. For geoduck enthusiasts, these large clams may be found in the low intertidal zone below minus two feet.
Access and Amenities: The park is accessible from Highway 101, with day parking and beach access reached just before the Dosewallips River bridge. The flat trail from the parking lot to the beach is suitable for wheelchair access, although some areas of the beach may be challenging due to sticky mud.
- Lilliwaup State Park: A Coastal Treasure for Shellfish Harvesting
Adding to the allure of Hood Canal’s west shore is the picturesque Lilliwaup State Park, a coastal treasure that offers more than just scenic beauty. Renowned for its rich beds of butter clams, native littleneck clams, and Manila clams, Lilliwaup is a shellfish harvester’s paradise. The park’s rocky beaches provide a unique harvesting experience, where the rewards are as satisfying as the effort put in. Oyster enthusiasts will be delighted to know that Lilliwaup is also an excellent oyster beach, with these sought-after shellfish available for harvest throughout the year.
Access to Lilliwaup State Park is straightforward, with parking available just north of Lilliwaup Bay. From here, a set of stairs leads down to the beach, inviting harvesters to begin their adventure. After a day of harvesting, visitors can explore the local area, which is steeped in history and offers a variety of hiking trails that showcase the stunning views of the Olympic Mountains and the Hood Canal
Incorporating sustainable practices, Lilliwaup State Park is a testament to Washington’s commitment to preserving its natural resources. By adhering to the regulations and respecting the daily limits, harvesters can enjoy the bounty of Lilliwaup while contributing to the conservation of this pristine environment.
Harvesting Tips: When harvesting, it’s important to take care not to cover oysters with sand and mud, as this can kill them. Always measure your catch using a shellfish gauge to ensure they meet the size requirements. The daily limit on oysters is 18, and they must be shucked on the beach, leaving the shells behind.
Harvesting shellfish on the west shore of Hood Canal can be a delightful experience. By following the rules, using the right tools, and choosing the right beaches, you can enjoy the bounty of the canal while ensuring the sustainability of this precious resource2537948.
1 eregulations.com
2 wdfw.wa.gov
3 wdfw.wa.gov
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5 explorehoodcanal.com
6 wdfw.wa.gov
7 bing.com
8 wdfw.wa.gov
10 wdfw.wa.gov
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12 wdfw.wa.gov
13 wdfw.medium.com
14 fortress.wa.gov
15 pugetsoundestuary.wa.gov
16 wdfw.medium.com
17 wdfw.wa.gov
