thank you so much for mentioning the location as well. Many youtubers would not do that and it is frustrating! Really appreciated! Just subscribed to your channel!
Thanks for your comment and subscribing! Always good to share location ... especially since there are so many great places to see in the PNW. Have fun and be safe!
I wonder if there is a difference between East Coast New England area oysters and how to shuck then from the West Coast. Having shucked probably well over sixty thousand oysters each year working at a seafood restaurant on the Cape every year as a teen (and I had the forearms and grip strength to prove it) I can honestly say that I never shucked an oyster the way that you are doing it as that is the strongest part of the shells connection. Help me understand how wand why you were taught that way.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for your great question! There's definitely a risk of toxins in shellfish (anytime of year, whether summer or winter). So you need to do your research before harvesting, including checking the WDFW website before going clamming. The WDFW website will have links to a map that shows which beaches are closed or open to harvesting specific species of shellfish. Please see the description of the video for more shellfish safety information, and to links to the WDFW website and maps. Have fun and be safe!
Also I dont see how the oysters are able to sustain the people who catch them if you guys are harvesting over the same oyster beds? Are the oysters all harvested in that same area or were they further out near the waters edge?
The oyster beds are fairly far out on the beach, so you can only reach them during low tides. The oyster beds cover a fairly large area, although a good portion of the bed are empty shells (the law requires you to leave the shells on the beach to help propagate future oysters). There's also a legal limit to how many oysters a person can harvest.
Thanks for your comment! The sand didn't affect the taste of the clams. Although, I did purge the clams in a bucket of salted water (3.5% salinity) for a couple of hours after bringing them home, so they were nice and clean (the bucket had an aerator, so they had plenty of air). [If you go to my channel, you can see a video on how I made the aerator bucket that I used to purge the clams.] Even after purging the clams, you will get the occasional clam with some sand still in it, but seems like that always happens with clams. The clams were delicious ... I made linguini with white clam sauce.
The address of Tolmie State Park is 7730 61st Ave NE, Olympia WA 98506. If you view that address on Google Maps, you can see the upper parking lot (shaped like a loop) on the right-hand side as you drive into the park on 61st Ave NE. To get to the lower parking lot, just continue driving on 61st Ave NE (about 800 feet past the upper parking lot) and you will get to the lower parking lot. The road dead ends at the lower lot, so you can't miss it (the parking lot will be on your left as you get to the bottom of the hill). There's also a driveway to the right of the parking lot entrance, but that's a walkway and for park vehicle's only. If the lower parking lot is full, then you can drive back and park in the upper lot. There's a short walking trail that goes from the upper lot (trail entrance sign is located on the left-side of the upper lot restroom facility) down to the lower lot area. The trail is a short walk (few hundred feet), but it is a dirt trail with a fairly steep slope, so you have to be careful if it's wet out or if anyone in your group has issues walking. You can always drop off any gear and people down at the lower lot entrance (near the beach walkway/entrance), and park at the upper lot. Please note that a Discover Pass is required for both parking lots at the park, so be sure to properly display it in your front windshield/rear view mirror. Have fun!
Nice catch! In the video, I labelled that clam a Softshell clam, since that was the closest looking clam included in the current WDFW regulations. A description of the Macoma clam isn't included in the WDFW regulations, but images of the Macoma clam on google does look like the clam in the video. The Softshell clam and Macoma clam do resemble each other, but I recall the clam in the video having a bent nose in the shell, which I think is a characteristic of the Macoma clam. Thanks for watching the video and pointing out that mistake.
@@LepzOnerDanh Oh nice! Should be lots of fun! Don't forget to bring your Shellfish License and check for Beach Closures and Advisories, and Beach Season before you go. Links for all that info is in the description of the video.
@@genjster Best Banh mi is ....Banh Mi Saigon in Lacey, Wa............approximately 3 miles from Tolmie State Park. I live 2 miles from Tolmie.........We love Lacey!
Sorry, I don't know if this beach has geoduck or horse clams. I've only been to Tolmie State Park 2 times, and both times we only dug for Manila clams. Since the Manila clams are only a few inches deep, we never came across any geoduck or horse clams, which are much deeper in the sand. I didn't see anyone else digging for geoduck or horse clams either.
Manila clams are littleneck clams, so they can use their littleneck to dig in the sand. However, they do not dig very deep (2 to 6 inches), and after settling on a beach they move around very little. So for the most part they stay in the same place on the beach.
We from another state we like to fishing but don’t know where’s to fishing around Portland Oregon , can you please give us address and which exit because we followed google but we can not find any exit. Thanks
Hi Lan. Are you trying to go to Tolmie State Park (the park in this video)? This park is located in Washington State, not Oregon. This park is 125 miles from Portland, Oregon. The exit for Tolmie State Park off I-5 is Exit #111 (WA-510 E/Marvin Road). The address for Tolmie State Park is: 7730 61st Ave NE, Olympia, WA 98506. Hope that helps! Be Safe!
Please remember to stay within the state park boundaries so you are not digging or trespassing on private property. The signs defining the state park are not well marked. When you see houses, then you know you are on private property and their property extends way past minus tide not just in front of their houses.
@@yo6687 similar to someone else's car being parked on a public road ... just because it's parked on a public road, doesn't mean you can take what's inside the car. Taking the oysters would be considered illegal poaching.
@@yo6687 the oyster seeds are actually purchased and then placed in the bag, so not really wild. But if you have any further questions, you should contact WDFW, since they are the government agency that enforces the applicable rules and regulations. Thanks!
Thanks for showing me this, appreciate all the detail on how to harvest these little gems!
thank you so much for mentioning the location as well. Many youtubers would not do that and it is frustrating! Really appreciated! Just subscribed to your channel!
Thanks for your comment and subscribing! Always good to share location ... especially since there are so many great places to see in the PNW. Have fun and be safe!
I wonder if there is a difference between East Coast New England area oysters and how to shuck then from the West Coast. Having shucked probably well over sixty thousand oysters each year working at a seafood restaurant on the Cape every year as a teen (and I had the forearms and grip strength to prove it) I can honestly say that I never shucked an oyster the way that you are doing it as that is the strongest part of the shells connection. Help me understand how wand why you were taught that way.
Thank you for the video. It looks really fun. Is it safe to eat clams harvested in the summer? Isn’t there a risk of toxins?
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for your great question! There's definitely a risk of toxins in shellfish (anytime of year, whether summer or winter). So you need to do your research before harvesting, including checking the WDFW website before going clamming. The WDFW website will have links to a map that shows which beaches are closed or open to harvesting specific species of shellfish. Please see the description of the video for more shellfish safety information, and to links to the WDFW website and maps. Have fun and be safe!
Thank you for your video.
Also I dont see how the oysters are able to sustain the people who catch them if you guys are harvesting over the same oyster beds? Are the oysters all harvested in that same area or were they further out near the waters edge?
The oyster beds are fairly far out on the beach, so you can only reach them during low tides. The oyster beds cover a fairly large area, although a good portion of the bed are empty shells (the law requires you to leave the shells on the beach to help propagate future oysters). There's also a legal limit to how many oysters a person can harvest.
what kind of oyster are those that were caught?
I'm not positive, but I believe they were Pacific Oysters. That's a common variety in Puget Sound.
that looks like pretty dark sand there...does it affect the taste of the clams?
Thanks for your comment! The sand didn't affect the taste of the clams. Although, I did purge the clams in a bucket of salted water (3.5% salinity) for a couple of hours after bringing them home, so they were nice and clean (the bucket had an aerator, so they had plenty of air). [If you go to my channel, you can see a video on how I made the aerator bucket that I used to purge the clams.] Even after purging the clams, you will get the occasional clam with some sand still in it, but seems like that always happens with clams. The clams were delicious ... I made linguini with white clam sauce.
Is there directions to the second lower parking lot? Great video!
The address of Tolmie State Park is 7730 61st Ave NE, Olympia WA 98506. If you view that address on Google Maps, you can see the upper parking lot (shaped like a loop) on the right-hand side as you drive into the park on 61st Ave NE. To get to the lower parking lot, just continue driving on 61st Ave NE (about 800 feet past the upper parking lot) and you will get to the lower parking lot. The road dead ends at the lower lot, so you can't miss it (the parking lot will be on your left as you get to the bottom of the hill). There's also a driveway to the right of the parking lot entrance, but that's a walkway and for park vehicle's only. If the lower parking lot is full, then you can drive back and park in the upper lot. There's a short walking trail that goes from the upper lot (trail entrance sign is located on the left-side of the upper lot restroom facility) down to the lower lot area. The trail is a short walk (few hundred feet), but it is a dirt trail with a fairly steep slope, so you have to be careful if it's wet out or if anyone in your group has issues walking. You can always drop off any gear and people down at the lower lot entrance (near the beach walkway/entrance), and park at the upper lot. Please note that a Discover Pass is required for both parking lots at the park, so be sure to properly display it in your front windshield/rear view mirror. Have fun!
@16:50 is not a butter clam, it's a macoma clam. I didn't remember seeing it in the regs book but found it when I googled.
Nice catch! In the video, I labelled that clam a Softshell clam, since that was the closest looking clam included in the current WDFW regulations. A description of the Macoma clam isn't included in the WDFW regulations, but images of the Macoma clam on google does look like the clam in the video. The Softshell clam and Macoma clam do resemble each other, but I recall the clam in the video having a bent nose in the shell, which I think is a characteristic of the Macoma clam. Thanks for watching the video and pointing out that mistake.
No worries! Thanks for posting, I enjoyed the video and probably will be heading there to grab a few clams and oysters soon.
@@LepzOnerDanh Oh nice! Should be lots of fun! Don't forget to bring your Shellfish License and check for Beach Closures and Advisories, and Beach Season before you go. Links for all that info is in the description of the video.
Now I want a bahn mi...and clams.
You can never go wrong with a good bahn mi sandwich and some fresh clams!
@@genjster Best Banh mi is ....Banh Mi Saigon in Lacey, Wa............approximately 3 miles from Tolmie State Park. I live 2 miles from Tolmie.........We love Lacey!
Thanks for your comment and Banh Mi recommendation! Will have to checkout Banh Mi Saigon the next time I'm in the area. Thanks!
Do they have geoduck or horse clam there ?
Sorry, I don't know if this beach has geoduck or horse clams. I've only been to Tolmie State Park 2 times, and both times we only dug for Manila clams. Since the Manila clams are only a few inches deep, we never came across any geoduck or horse clams, which are much deeper in the sand. I didn't see anyone else digging for geoduck or horse clams either.
Can those clam go anywhere or they stay at the same place
Manila clams are littleneck clams, so they can use their littleneck to dig in the sand. However, they do not dig very deep (2 to 6 inches), and after settling on a beach they move around very little. So for the most part they stay in the same place on the beach.
We from another state we like to fishing but don’t know where’s to fishing around Portland Oregon , can you please give us address and which exit because we followed google but we can not find any exit. Thanks
Hi Lan. Are you trying to go to Tolmie State Park (the park in this video)? This park is located in Washington State, not Oregon. This park is 125 miles from Portland, Oregon. The exit for Tolmie State Park off I-5 is Exit #111 (WA-510 E/Marvin Road). The address for Tolmie State Park is: 7730 61st Ave NE, Olympia, WA 98506. Hope that helps! Be Safe!
How do you have JBLM before Fife and Tacoma? 🤣
Nice catch! You're right ... JBLM should have been after Fife and Tacoma. That was an error in editing the video. Thanks for pointing it out.
Please remember to stay within the state park boundaries so you are not digging or trespassing on private property. The signs defining the state park are not well marked. When you see houses, then you know you are on private property and their property extends way past minus tide not just in front of their houses.
So much talking 😒
Why you didnt take the ones trapped in the bag
The oysters in the bag are someone else's private property. They are usually planted by someone living on the water near the beach.
@@genjster but their trapped in a bag on the ground in a park
@@yo6687 similar to someone else's car being parked on a public road ... just because it's parked on a public road, doesn't mean you can take what's inside the car. Taking the oysters would be considered illegal poaching.
@genjster that's a little different though because these oysters are wild animals trapped in a man made bag on the ground in a public park
@@yo6687 the oyster seeds are actually purchased and then placed in the bag, so not really wild. But if you have any further questions, you should contact WDFW, since they are the government agency that enforces the applicable rules and regulations. Thanks!
Let me come kick it wit u