Thursday, September 16, 2010

Getting ready for Oyster season in the Lowcountry

Fall is "in the air", the temperature is dropping slightly, the days are getting shorter, and the months that have the letter "r" in them are quickly approaching. But wait... September is a month with the letter "r" in it! This is WONDERFUL!
September is the first month of Oyster season in the lowcountry. We are all anxious for the official start of Oyster season. It is traditionally opened on or around September 16th (that's today folks) but in recent years, it has been delayed until as late as October 1st.
When the season is opened, all that a person needs is a recreational saltwater fishing license, a couple of 5-gallon buckets, some old tennis shoes and gloves, and a metal rod. Making a trip down to one of the open oyster beds is usually pretty easy if you have a shallow-bottomed boat. Just navigate out on a falling low tide, and look for the official DHEC signs indicating that the bed is open. Park anywhere and go get some Oysters!
I love this time of year because it is still warm enough to enjoy the boat ride and the low tide oystering, and the days are still long enough that I can get out after work for a couple of hours of oystering. On a Friday or Saturday night it's a great excuse to have some friends over to eat the catch of the day.
So, call a buddy and go get some oysters (when the season opens of course). It is a great time of the year to be outdoors harvesting as well as enjoying good company.
Happy Oystering!