Shellfishing

Season: November 1st - May 1st

Permit

• A season pass is required

• May be purchased at Greenwich Town Hall –

Department of Parks & Recreation or

Sportsman's Den in Cos Cob

• $15 adults, $5 children

• Included with permit: a map of the shellfishing beds

   at Greenwich Point, a copy of the shellfishing
   regulations, and a shellfish cookbook put together
   by the Shellfish Commission

Beds Open

Signs posted just north of the entrance booth and west of the Old Greenwich Yacht Club indicate if the beds are open or closed. May also call the Shellfish Hotline, (203) 622-7777 for up to minute shellfish bed status.

Water Quality

The Shellfish Coordinator does weekly testing of the waters; water samples are taken from 31points in Greenwich and tested to ensure that no pollution event has occurred that could affect the suitability of the shellfish for human consumption.

When a rainfall event exceeds 1 1/2 inches the shellfish beds are closed until shellfish meet samples have been tested and certified by the State Aquaculture Laboratory in Milford.

Good to Know

To dig and collect shellfish, you will need a potato rake with tines not less than 1 inch apart or a long handled garden fork with flat tines also not less than 1 inch apart. You will also need a shellfish sizing ring and a shellfish basket or bucket. The bucket or basket used must either hold 2 gallons or less or the 2 gallon level must be noted clearly on the bucket or basket. Per regulation you may collect no more
than 2 gallons of shellfish with a maximum of 24 oysters per permit per day.

Shellfishing takes place at low tide.

It is best to shellfish an hour either side of low tide. Click here for tide Information.

To locate clams, dig where you see dime-sized holes in the sand. The holes indicate the presence of steamers, razor clams and little necks. Closer to the water's edge is the best area for hard shell clams – soft-shell clams are everywhere. Oysters attach themselves to rocks and other shells above the sand, so you will not need to dig for these. Search the rocky areas that are usually covered except during low tide. Rebury all undersized shellfish so they may continue to grow.

Shellfish Wardens are usually on hand on the weekends and always ready to advise and assist you in
your search. In addition, the Greenwich Shellfish Commission holds several shellfish demonstrations throughout the shellfishing season. Check their website for dates, and for more information about shellfishing.