Public Clam, Mussel, And Oyster Beaches - WDFW

Learn recreational harvesting rules and best practices for intertidal clams, mussels, and oysters (PDF). This two-page guide is translated into nine languages below.

The annual recreational clam, mussel, and oyster season-setting process is underway for 2026. Refer to our news release or visit the WDFW rule-making page to learn more.

Clam, mussel, and oyster harvesting seasons vary by beach. Refer to the WDFW pamphlet for full statewide shellfish and seaweed rules.

For at-a-glance, site-specific harvest seasons, please review our 2026 Puget Sound clam, mussel, and oyster season (PDF) guide or use the search tool at the bottom of this page.

A list of good harvest tides in the Puget Sound can be found in our 2026 best clam and oyster harvest tides (PDF) chart.

Harvesting shellfish legally and safely

WDFW works closely with DOH to ensure safe, legal harvest of shellfish on state beaches.In order to safely and legally harvest shellfish for human consumption, both the DOH health status and the WDFW season for a public beach must be OPEN.

Current water quality information, beach locations, harvest seasons, and health advisories can be found by searching for the beach name in the search tool on this page, or by visiting the Washington State Department of Health's (DOH) shellfish safety interactive map.

Identical information is found on WDFW beach pages and the shellfish safety map, but it may be easier to search geographic areas of interest using the map tool. The shellfish safety map also provides links to the detailed WDFW page for each beach.

Shellfish gathering tips and identification

Learn more and find shellfish gathering tips, including gear lists, in this 5-part blog series:

• Steamer clams (Manila and native littleneck)
• Butter clams and Horse clams
• Cockles and Eastern softshell clams
• Geoduck
• Oysters, including tips on how to remove them from their shells (shuck)
• Or visit our "Wild Eats" webpage for clam and shellfish recipes.

For help identifying clam, mussel, and oyster (bivalve) species, download our shellfish identification chart (PDF).

More detailed information about clam and oyster species may be found by visiting the Species in Washington section of this website.

Shellfish gathering rules

For detailed rules, refer to the Shellfish/Seaweed Species Rules in the Washington Sport Fishing Regulations.

In addition to license requirements and harvest seasons, there are minimum size limits, daily limits, and more regulations--and these may vary by species. Harvesters are responsible for knowing regulations before they pursue harvest of clams, mussels, and oysters.

Each recreational shellfish harvester must use a separate container and must be actively participating in shellfish gathering. Digging equipment may be shared.

Unfilled clam gathering holes and sediment piles can damage habitat and kill clams. Clam harvesters must refill holes created while digging. To reduce clam mortality, please push any undersized or discarded clams into the refilled holes.

In Washington, private tidelands owners may have their own rules for clams, mussels, and oysters on their lands. Proposed state rule changes do not extend to bivalve shellfish on private tidelands.

For recreational harvesting basics, review "Intertidal clams, mussels, and oysters." (PDF)

• 简体中文 Chinese (simplified) - 潮间带蛤蜊、 贻贝和牡蛎 (PDF)
• 繁體中文 Chinese (traditional) - 潮間帶蛤蜊、 貽貝和牡蠣 (PDF)
• 日本語 Japanese - 潮間帯の二枚貝、ムラサキイ貝、カキ (PDF)
• 한국어 [韓國語] Korean - 조간대 서식 조개, 홍합 및 굴 (PDF)
• Русский Russian - Двустворчатые моллюски, мидии и устрицы в приливно-отливной зоне (PDF)
• Español Spanish - Almejas, mejillones y ostras intermareales (PDF)
• Tagalog Tagalog - Mga intertidal na tulya, tahong, at talaba (PDF)
• українська Ukrainian - Молюски міжприливної зони: глибинки, мідії та устриці (PDF)
• Tiếng Việt Vietnamese - Sò, trai, và hàu ở vùng thủy triều (PDF)

Shellfish Treaty Rights FAQ

Treaty tribes reserve rights in treaties to harvest shellfish on most Washington tidelands and beaches.

Visit the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission’s frequently asked questions page for information regarding tribal rights to harvest naturally occurring shellfish on public and private tidelands in the Puget Sound and Hood Canal regions.

Find a beach

To find a beach to harvest clams, mussels, and oysters, enter all or part of a beach name and/or select a county from the dropdown menu below.