This an inquiry about shellfish versus finfish, but I didn’t know where else to post. Anyway, I occasionally discover mussels among oysters I gather and find them tastey. Unfortunately, I never find quantities. I’ve heard they can be found on the sandy, higher elevations of marhes, but that doesn’t seem right because those sandy flats don’t appear flooded regularly and I question how the mussels could live without daily coverings of water. Any advice?
they do live in the high marsh, and can go weeks without tides covering them. generally speaking they can be found at elevations higher than where oysters and clams typically live- not in the creeks, but up in the mud.
They must be picked from open shellfish areas. concentrations of “cleaner” ones can be found on marsh points where large rivers break off into smaller creeks. look for high ground and short grass.
I eat them occasionally- usually purge them for a few days off a dock after collecting, partially because they don’t get flushed as often as other bivalves, and partially because the areas I get them are high energy (waves) and they tend to be gritty.
barbawang, thanks for the info!!
make sure you are picking on State / recreational shellfish beds. look for the signs “S-206” or R-194. Stay out of “C” beds as these are culture leases
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Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
quote:Post more than 4 times?
Originally posted by oakridgeThis an inquiry about shellfish versus finfish, but I didn’t know where else to post. Anyway, I occasionally discover mussels among oysters I gather and find them tastey. Unfortunately, I never find quantities. I’ve heard they can be found on the sandy, higher elevations of marhes, but that doesn’t seem right because those sandy flats don’t appear flooded regularly and I question how the mussels could live without daily coverings of water. Any advice?
It’s funny. I was looking on the DNR website about gathering oysters. Looking for a plan C for spring break in case this sorry azz weather persists into mid April. Anyhoo it says you can gather from a lease if you have written prmission…Sooo I guess if you are gathering mussels and you know a lease holder you may could gather there.
quote:
Originally posted by TyOneOnPost more than 4 times?
Crappy attitude.
This is the only fishing website where I see responses like this…and I see it regularly here.
I agree cape. It makes no matter how many posts someone has. Sometimes…actually many times people with very few posts have something very important to say. I know a lot of folks who know more about fishing etc. than a lot of folks on here, including myself Because they have no posts, does that make their advice and comments not worth taking?
…nevermind.
I always find them in clusters of 5 to 50 when in the marsh and they are in the shorter/patchier grass usually and 2 -5 inches in size, great for black drum chum and bait. Also at low tide on the rocks at the beach are the mini mussel a 1/4 to 1 inch long great for sheep heads.
17ft Key west