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Catch your own

Shellfish & crustaceans

Some of the best eating on the coast never takes a rod. Drop a trap for crab or lobster, throw a cast net for shrimp, rake a flat for clams, or pick oysters and mussels off the rocks at low tide. Pick a species below to see what it gives you, how it is caught, the gear and season - and the one thing that matters more than any of it: harvesting only from clean, open, legal water.

Shellfish

Read this before you gather anything

Clams, oysters, mussels and other filter feeders concentrate bacteria and natural biotoxins (red tide / PSP) from the water they live in. Harvesting from closed or polluted waters can make you seriously ill. Always check your area's shellfish status and any health advisory first - it takes a minute and it is the whole game.

Shellfish safety & the rules

Crustaceans

Crabs, lobsters, crayfish and shrimp - caught in baited traps, by hand, or with a cast net.

Blue Crab

Blue Crab

Sweet, delicate crab meat

Dungeness Crab

Dungeness Crab

Large yield of firm, sweet meat

Stone Crab

Stone Crab

One claw, crab returned alive

Snow Crab

Snow Crab

Long, sweet leg meat

King Crab

King Crab

Huge legs of rich meat

Jonah Crab

Jonah Crab

Big claws, sweet meat

American Lobster

American Lobster

Firm tail and claw meat

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

Sweet tail meat (no big claws)

Crayfish (Crawfish)

Crayfish (Crawfish)

Small sweet tails, big boils

Shrimp (Cast-net)

Shrimp (Cast-net)

Fresh sweet shrimp

Green Crab

Green Crab

Small crabs and rich stock

Red Rock Crab

Red Rock Crab

Sweet claw and body meat

Atlantic Rock Crab

Atlantic Rock Crab

Delicate white crab meat

Tanner Crab

Tanner Crab

Long legs of sweet meat

Mantis Shrimp

Mantis Shrimp

Sweet lobster-like tail meat

Spot Prawn

Spot Prawn

Large sweet prawn tails

Mole Crab (Sand Flea)

Mole Crab (Sand Flea)

Ghost Shrimp

Ghost Shrimp

Prized live bait

Slipper Lobster

Slipper Lobster

Sweet tail meat, no claws

Gooseneck Barnacle

Gooseneck Barnacle

Prized briny delicacy

Kelp Crab

Kelp Crab

Sweet crab from docks & kelp

Rock Shrimp

Rock Shrimp

Sweet lobster-like shrimp

Coonstripe Shrimp

Coonstripe Shrimp

Sweet Pacific pot shrimp

Fiddler Crab

Fiddler Crab

Top sheepshead & drum bait

Asian Shore Crab

Asian Shore Crab

Invasive crab for stock

Bivalves

Clams, oysters, mussels and scallops - raked, dug or picked from flats and reefs at low tide.

Hard Clam (Quahog)

Hard Clam (Quahog)

Chowder, steamers, raw littlenecks

Soft-shell Clam (Steamer)

Soft-shell Clam (Steamer)

Tender steamers, fried clams

Razor Clam

Razor Clam

Sweet, meaty clam

Geoduck

Geoduck

Large, crunchy-sweet clam

Eastern Oyster

Eastern Oyster

Raw or roasted oysters

Pacific Oyster

Pacific Oyster

Plump raw or grilled oysters

Bay Scallop

Bay Scallop

Sweet little scallop meats

Sea Scallop

Sea Scallop

Large, prized scallop meat

Blue Mussel

Blue Mussel

Cheap, plentiful, tasty mussels

Cockle

Cockle

Small, sweet, plentiful clams

Manila Clam

Manila Clam

Sweet steamer clams

Butter Clam

Butter Clam

Firm, rich clam meat

Atlantic Surfclam

Atlantic Surfclam

Big clams for chowder & strips

Pismo Clam

Pismo Clam

Large, prized eating clam

Gaper Clam

Gaper Clam

Big clams, meaty necks

California Mussel

California Mussel

Big, plump wild mussels

Ribbed Mussel

Ribbed Mussel

Hardy marsh mussels

Calico Scallop

Calico Scallop

Small sweet scallops

Coquina Clam

Coquina Clam

Tiny clams for rich broth

Jackknife Clam

Jackknife Clam

Sweet, tender razor-type meat

Purple Varnish Clam

Purple Varnish Clam

Easy, abundant steamer clams

Mahogany Clam

Mahogany Clam

Rich deep-water quahog

Pen Shell

Pen Shell

Scallop-like adductor meat

Squid, Snails & More

Squid, octopus, whelks, periwinkles, abalone and sea urchins - jigged, hand-gathered or dived.

Squid (Jigging)

Squid (Jigging)

Fresh calamari, top bait

Octopus

Octopus

Rich, tender (when cooked right)

Whelk / Conch

Whelk / Conch

Firm, chewy sea-snail meat

Periwinkle

Periwinkle

Tiny snails, traditional snack

Abalone

Abalone

Prized, tender-when-pounded meat

Sea Urchin

Sea Urchin

Uni - rich, briny roe

Queen Conch

Queen Conch

Sweet, firm conch meat

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish

Tender white meat, ink

Moon Snail

Moon Snail

Chewy, abalone-like meat

Limpet

Limpet

Small chewy shellfish

Chiton

Chiton

Traditional foraged shellfish

Sea Cucumber

Sea Cucumber

Prized Asian-cuisine delicacy

Channeled Whelk

Channeled Whelk

Firm meat for scungilli

Knobbed Whelk

Knobbed Whelk

Large firm scungilli meat

Turban Snail

Turban Snail

Small, tasty foraged snails

Slipper Limpet

Slipper Limpet

Mild meat; invasive to control

Keyhole Limpet

Keyhole Limpet

Large foraged limpet meat

Market Squid

Market Squid

Sweet small squid (calamari)

Explore shellfishing

What can I catch?Match a shellfish to your gear, water and effort.

Safety & rulesRed tide, closures, licences and size limits.

Gear guideWhat you actually need to get on the water.

New to it all? Start with Start Here, then learn to clean and cook your haul in Catch and Cook.

Kit for crabs and clams

Check the local rules and closures before you go - the shellfish safety page has the official sources.

Crab trap Check the trap rules for your water first - size, escape rings, floats. Check price Crab gauge Legal size checked at the trap, not at home. Check price Clam rake Works the sand at low tide. Check price Shellfish gauge Legal size checked on the beach. Check price

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