My buddy and I decided to try a commercial oyster license this year since it was just $100. We’re finding out that its a bit more complicated than just getting the license and selling the oysters to people for roasts and such.
Does anyone know any wholesalers around the area we can talk to about harvesting oysters for them? If you could send me a name and phone number in a PM it would be awesome. Right now we have a few spots down around Folly/Kiawah so someone close to there would be ideal, but we’ll take any lead we can get because we can always change grounds if we need to.
Other than that, anyone else have experience with a commercial shellfish license and want to share some wisdom? If nothing else this will be an interesting learning experience.
both of you will need to have shellfish licenses. The hard part will be trying to find harvest tags. Most wholesalers have their crews that pick for them. I use Capt. Harry (Hal Wertan) Seafood as my picker. He has a crew of about 5 or 6 pickers and these guys are animals. Two of his guys picked 52 bushel one day last week!!! that is incredible. They have a floating wash station and the oysters are washed and bagged before they come off the water. I would suggest getting with Crosby’s, or Marvins, or even Huff’s seafood to see if you can train with some pickers. You may think you know how and where, but trust me, there is more to this than throwing oysters in a bag.
.
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”
both of you will need to have shellfish licenses. The hard part will be trying to find harvest tags. Most wholesalers have their crews that pick for them. I use Capt. Harry (Hal Wertan) Seafood as my picker. He has a crew of about 5 or 6 pickers and these guys are animals. Two of his guys picked 52 bushel one day last week!!! that is incredible. They have a floating wash station and the oysters are washed and bagged before they come off the water. I would suggest getting with Crosby’s, or Marvins, or even Huff’s seafood to see if you can train with some pickers. You may think you know how and where, but trust me, there is more to this than throwing oysters in a bag.
.
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”
52 bushels is insane! I believe I’ve only had one trip in my life that I didn’t cut the crap out of my hand, and I wear welding gloves over thick latex. Those guys must be d@mn good at it!
Picking oysters is hard work! …and as Paul said…you need to go with someone who can show you the best way to pick ,cull and handle oysters if you don’t already know. There are lots of rules and regulations…even in the transporting of them . My dad got a ticket one year for a small tear in the tarp he uses to cover them(another rule)…in transporting them home…and he didn’t even now it had been cut by the oysters. He is in his 70s and still picks and tongs oysters and clams commercially… In fact he went today and got 15 bushels…he amazes me as I can’t keep up with him…lol. Just be careful…and good luck to you!
