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Fishing with Captain Jay

from Southern Tides November 2022

by Southern Tides Magazine

from Southern Tides November 2022, page 22

Article from: Southern Tides November 2022

The Bitter End

IT'S OYSTER SEASON!

By Captain Jay Cranford www.coastalgafishing.com

Photo by Amy Thurman

How do you hunt for oysters? How do you store oysters?

First, you must know the legal areas and dates for public harvest (see info and link near end). In those designated areas you can find oysters scattered around flats and creek banks well below the high-tide line.

When is the best time to harvest oysters?

The best time to harvest oysters is during the day when the tide is lower than two feet. This makes it easier to find oyster reefs, and to remove clusters. Pay attention to water conditions so you don't become trapped as the tide goes out or comes back in.

Due to the lack of naturally occurring rock, oysters in Georgia grow in clusters and must be pried loose with a tool, such as a screwdriver, painter's spatula, or small crowbar or hammer. Their shells can be razor-sharp, so wear a pair of gloves both while harvesting and while shucking. Oysters much be at least three inches in length from hinge to mouth, unless a smaller oyster can’t be removed from the legal oyster without destroying it. You should also check for and remove small seed oysters that may be attached to adult oysters.

Are oysters safe to eat?

If the shell is slightly open, tap the shell. If it closes, the oyster is still alive and breathing. A shell that doesn't close (or one gaping open) is dead and you shouldn’t eat it.

As to Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp), the bacteria that occurs in shellfish, you should be safe during months when the water temps are cooler (below 81 degrees) and if the oysters are kept in temps below 40 degrees prior to cooking.

Should you wash oysters?

Oysters can be very muddy. If you’re planning a recipe that needs the natural brine in an oyster, you can gently clean them in the sink with a toothbrush to remove mud and sand. If you’re preparing a bushel or more, such as for an oyster roast, you should spray them down with a hose or pressure washer.

Is it safe to collect shellfish outside of designated harvest areas? Captain Jay has over 20 years experience fishing the Georgia coast. No, it is not safe to collect shellfish, especially bivalves (mussels, He's passionate about fishing and enjoys sharing his knowledge and oysters, clams, etc.), outside of these areas as the water quality is not experience with you! monitored by the DNR and therefore the safety of your harvest is gacharterfishing@gmail.com • www.coastalgafishing.com/ questionable. Oysters must be stored below 40 degrees, kept damp, and have plenty of air circulation. If you store oysters Oyster Riverfellas on ice, they must be kept out of the water. By Janet Stewart and Nancy Cadle How do you eat them? There are many great recipes for oysters Steam and shuck Georgia oysters. including Oysters Rockefeller, oyster stew, steamed oysters, and of course, eating Place the meat in a bowl with some them raw. My favorite recipe is one that our of the juice and save the shells. Wash dear friends Joe and Nancy Cadle make at and clean the shells and place on our get togethers that Nancy calls "Oyster large baking pan. Layer spinach leaves on shells then place an oyster Riverfellas." They’re delicious! See the recipe at left. More Information on top of spinach. Top with either Oysters and clams can only be collected Parmesan or pepper jack cheese then from approved recreational harvest areas top with a spoonful of oyster juice and a Georgia Fishing License and Saltwater and diced jalapeños. Put in broiler till cheese melts and browns. Information Program (SIP) Permit is required. For harvest areas, limits and more information visit coastalgadnr.org/ Then enjoy! approvedrecharvestareas Be a good steward of our waters, don't litter and only keep what you plan to eat. There will be more opportunities the next time you go. Don't wish ... let's go fish! [Please recycle your oyster shells! More information on page 7.]