- Mussel Harvest on Whidbey IslandGreen Lake Park & Ride, Seattle, WA
Description
Imagine a day trip to the serene Long Beach on Whidbey Island, a hidden gem nestled in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. As you step onto the beach, the cool, salty breeze from the Puget Sound greets you, carrying with it the distant cries of seagulls. The beach, with its miles of unspoiled shoreline, is a haven for nature lovers and shellfish enthusiasts alike.
Your adventure begins with a leisurely stroll along the water’s edge, the rhythmic sound of the waves lapping against the shore accompanying your thoughts. The beach is dotted with driftwood, each piece a natural sculpture shaped by time and tide. As you walk, you spot a bald eagle soaring high above, its majestic silhouette a stark contrast against the clear blue sky.
But the real treasure of Long Beach lies beneath the waves. At low tide, the sea retreats to reveal a bounty of mussels clinging to the rocks. With a shellfish license in hand, you can harvest these delicious bivalves. The thrill of the hunt is matched only by the satisfaction of a successful harvest.A trip to Long Beach on Whidbey Island isn’t just about getting mussels. It’s about immersing yourself in nature, taking a moment to slow down, and truly savoring the simple pleasures life has to offer. So why wait? The beach is calling. 🌊
Optional Clams
There are clams on the beach which we can harvest. They won't be the goal for the main group but if you're personally interested, you will be able to dig for them. Butter clams, cockles, horseclams, and native littlenecks are reported to be in this location. If you intend to do that then you will need to take responsibility for bringing equipment, knowing the regulations, risks, and everything else that goes with clamming.Itinerary
- 8:00AM We will meet at Green Lake Park and Ride
- 8:15AM-10:00AM We will carpool to Whidbey Island
- 10:00-10:45AM Eat Brunch
- 10:45-11:00 Drive and walk to Long Point
- 11:00-3:00 Harvest Mussels
- 3:00-5:00 Drive back to Seattle
- 5:00-6:00 Cook Mussel and Other Shellfish(Optional)
- 6:00-7:00 Eat Mussels(Optional)
Regulations
We can only harvest 10lbs on mussel and everyone must have a shellfish license.
Shellfish/Seaweed Species Rules - Washington Fishing | eRegulationsLocation
We will be harvesting mussel at Long Point. We will go to Twin Lagoons as backup if we don't find enough at Long Point.
Long Point and Long Point West | Washington Department of Fish & WildlifeWest Penn Cove and Twin Lagoons | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Equipment Needed
- Shellfish License. You can buy the annual shellfish license or one of the temporary combination licenses.
- Bucket
- Gloves(Highly recommended) and/or crowbar for prying mussels(Highly recommended)
- Study shoes
- Long Pants
- Your host will bring a scale for everyone
- Cooler
- Clamming Equipment(Optional)
- Cooking ingredients(Optional)
How to Harvest Mussel
Follow this linkWhy it's a good time
This is a good time according to this tidal chart.
WDFWBestClamOysterHarvestTides.pdf (wa.gov)Also mussel and other shellfish are best gotten before the summer when bacteria levels rise and mussels use their energy to spawn.
Communication
We will be using whatsApp for questions and communication
https://bit.ly/3J7qcF3Optional Cooking
We will host an optional cooking in Seattle after we get back. We can use my apartment lounge or if someone wants to volunteer to host us, that works as well.Waitlist and Liability form
Filling this liability form is required to get off waitlist
https://forms.gle/siAPpBod5A5FSV7V6Here is more info
Gather your share of shellfish as plenty of spring-time choices are blossoming on nearby beaches | by The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife | Medium - Ape Cave + Mount Saint Helen's Vista FULLGreenlake Park n Ride, seattle, WA
You need to give a carpool location to be placed in a car. Renton meet time 7:35a. Waitlist will state full, but available spots will be updated in title as waitlist used to wait for deposit and spots per location. Greenlake will only have a spot if someone drops.
Due to no shows and length of drive, a deposit is required that can be refunded or applied to your gas chip ($10) Sara is driver for Greenlake and Anuja is for Renton.
Explore a chilly, pitch-black lava tube over two miles long. A short, paved, accessible trail beneath towering trees leads to a stairwell into the cave.
Ape Cave is the third longest lava tube (2.5 miles long) in North America and the cave temperature is 42 degrees F/5.6 degrees C year-round. Make sure to bring two sources of light per person (a cell phone light is not bright enough), sturdy shoes, warm clothing, even in warm weather. The cave was named by the Boy Scout troop that explored the cave in the early 1950s.
Ape Cave formed about 2,000 years ago, when an 8-mile-long lava flow known as the Cave Basalt poured down the southern flank of Mount St. Helens. As it flowed, parts of the lava started to cool, forming a hardened crust and creating an insulated tube for the still-molten lava flowing inside. Scientists estimate that the lava in the Ape Cave tube continued moving for as much as a year. Eventually, the last of the molten lava drained out through the hardened tube, leaving the interior empty. Over time, sections of the hollow tube collapsed from above, creating several natural skylights. The largest of these collapsed sections now forms the entrance to the cave.
Reservations are required and were purchased by your hosts for two cars.
We will stop by the suspension bridge portion of a neary trail and stop at a viewpoint before heading back.As mentioned above- please bring a headlamp and flashlight or lantern, warm clothes, sturdy shoes. Only water is allowed (no food). Due to narrow spaces, do not bring a bulky backpack. Please do not touch cave walls or ceiling. Touching kills cave slime, a basis for the food chain of tiny creatures that live there. HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME AND PROTECT OUR CAVE ECOSYSTEM! It is believed that people are responsible for spreading the disease from cave to cave. To minimize the potential that YOU will spread the fungus to Western caves, do not bring ANY item (gear, clothing, boots, etc.) that has been used in caves or mines outside Washington or Oregon into any of the caves or mines in these states.
It won't be possible to know exactly when we will be back, so please do not sign up if you have obligations later in the day.
Please be courteous and update your rsvp instead of not showing up. I do my best to fill cars so drivers are compensated for the wear and tear and to ensure passengers have a seat. Sometimes people drop out with little notice, so waitlisters should change their RSVP to 'no' if unable to come with short notice. No shows are marked and not given spots for most events.
Please check your messages as I may need to reach you to coordinate cars/contact waitlisters after drop outs.Not open