Once again, I’m not sure if the “Inshore Discussion” section is the correct place to start this discussion, but I started one about crabbing on here and it got pretty popular.
Does anyone on here go out and get their own oysters? I have never tried, just got my own boat (firmiliar w/ the water, but finally got my own boat), and it is something I’d like to try. I’ve been looking at the DNR maps so I have and idea of where I want to and can legally go.
I know the basics, low tide, only during daylight, cull on the bank, 2 bushels per person per day, or 3 limits per boat, in a week period. Any additional information on the subject would be appreciated. Best tools to bring, any helpful hints, and maybe some good locations if you don’t mind sharing. Big Thanks to all who are very helpful on CF.
A bad day fishin’ is better than a good day at work!
Why would anyone want to live anywhere besides the Lowcountry in South Carolina?
Favorite tools: sturdy flat head screw driver and a thick rubber glove. working the low tide line often produces nice singles with little work. take your time. the smash and grab technique will leave you with a lower meat/shell ratio. call the DHEC hotline (1-800-285-1618) at the hill before you go to check for local closers. i get checked everytime in the folly.
Mountain Dew or Crab Juice. Eeww…sheesh…I’ll take a crab juice.
Go get a pair of good rubber boots from the hardware or tackle store. Oysters cut through a pair of crocs i had on.
Get a milk crate to put your oysters in. If you are crossing a muddy area to forage a bit, you can set it down in the mud and lean on it to help stabilize + distribute weight… will keep you from sinking so much. Wider bottom than a bucket helps distribute more! Bonus is you can dip it in the water before getting on the boat and shake off some mud.
you can fit more wayyyyyyyyy more singles in a bushel than clusters.
Shorter, fat (thickness) oysters often have more oyster in them than long narrow + skinny ones.
move around. If you spend 45 min tromping around one 5x5 area and turning the whole thing into mud, you can ruin that bed for a long time. I personally think its better (although harder) to spread out and get just the best oens from a wider area.
This is the year I try my hand at oystering. My wife has been bugging me for the last couple of years…she loves them. I just need to figure out where the public beds are now.
all great info. culling in place is the only way i pick. put an oyster knife in your pocket and “test” the ones you break accidentally… if you like 'em snotty, that is.
protect both hands with gloves. ALWAYS. one slip almost cost me a tendon reattachment surgery on my dominant index finger.
my kit is: boots, gloves, screwdriver, hand rake (clams), oyster knife, hand towel, croaker sack, 3-4 buckets. everything can be nested into the buckets.
bring more buckets than you think you need, and at least one “croaker sack” (bushel bag) or sturdy bushel basket to dump into and rinse (if not going the milk crate route). i measure using buckets, never going all the way to the top (9.3 gal = 1 US bushel)
make sure to take your time and get just singles. it will be tempting to get clusters and be finished quickly but you won’t be happy when you start sucking them. don’t forget the crackers, hot sauce and oyster knife. might need to “test” some out while you are there. also, your boat might get a little dirty
Ya’ll help me out here. I was looking at the SCDNR shellfish maps and am confused. The following was taken straight from their website:
"Maps of each Public Shellfish Ground show the season of applicability at the top. Make sure you are looking at a 2011-12 shellfish map. The Public Shellfish Ground (R-###) is outlined in red. Other shellfish areas such as state shellfish grounds (S-###) and culture permit grounds (PERMIT) may appear on the same map and are outlined in black.
Colored areas are SCDHEC harvest classifications. Recreational harvest is not allowed in areas colored red or orange. Areas colored yellow may be closed to shellfishing after heavy rainfall. Check with SCDHEC prior to harvesting by calling 1-800-285-1618. The SCDHEC management areas are outlined in blue".
It says the Public Shellfish Ground is outlined in red. The next paragraph says recreational harvest is not allowed in areas colored red or orange. What am I missing? A little help please.
Also, if anyone would be interested in teaching me a little about oystering, I would supply the boat, just looking for someone to help me out with the hands on part. I am a visual learner. Ha Ha
outlined in red designates public, completely filled in with red (see charleston harbor) designates closed area. i had the same interpretation issue last year and thought for a few minutes that my favorite spot was closed.
DF, send me and spmirhs a PM with your plans for the next month- would be good to snag some filter feeders with ya.
public grounds are raped! hit the state grounds (the same as commercial pickers) and work the small feeder creeks…pro tip* go to places that others won’t go or can’t go. I have worked many little creeks that go dry at low water, and the rewards are awesome! There are many many great places on state grounds 194, 205, 206,
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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”
why are the public grounds different from the state?
quote:Originally posted by sellsfish
public grounds are raped! hit the state grounds (the same as commercial pickers) and work the small feeder creeks…pro tip* go to places that others won’t go or can’t go. I have worked many little creeks that go dry at low water, and the rewards are awesome! There are many many great places on state grounds 194, 205, 206,
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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”
public (recreational) are easy to get to, and get hammered by anyone with a boat. Commercial pickers are not allowed to pick there. Most people don’t know that you can pick on state grounds with a rec. fishing license.
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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”
Looks like all the equipment has been covered, but usually when we go we carry the rod and reels and fish over the beds that we picked from as the tide comes over it. Alot of small stone crabs have been exposed and where you’ve been culling has left alot of broken shells and oysters that draw spot tail bass and trout, especially if you’re in mud flats where alot of beds are.Its like a big bed of chum when the tide comes over it.
I’ve gone a few times now in Beaufort with my buddy from Charleston. He brings his waders and does all the work, I just supply the boat and ‘supervise’. Its a pretty nice arrangement. Instead of a milk crate or bucket we have been using my recycle bin for collection. I don’t know if the ones in Charleston are the same as the ones in Beaufort, but that’s worked out pretty well for us so far.
So I guess my best piece of advice is to find someone who likes oysters but doesn’t have a boat and is willing to do pretty much all the work for you
