Tomales Trifecta or Dancing with Whitey

This isn't a kayak report and I didn't "fish" but I just had to tell you guys about this day.  Went out to Tomales and met my friends Tim and Bruce early Wed.  Beautiful sunny day without wind (rare for spring at Tomales)  We went out to the clam island and dug up 30 clams, then I suited up and Tim took me out to Tomales Point where I made 3 dives for 3 abs.  I don't like to screw around out there for obvious reasons.  The vis was about 2-3 feet and the water was warm, but it is hard to relax out there.  Tim promised that I wouldn't get eaten   , not sure how he was going to prevent it but it all worked out.  Then on the way back in from the point we stopped at his oyster boxes and he hooked me up with 3 doz big beautiful oysters .  Just about that time the south wind really started kicking up and we got out pulled the boat.  Ate some lunch, drank a beer, took a nap   and was home by 3   .

we stopped at his oyster boxes and he hooked me up with 3 doz big beautiful oysters  

Cool.... Does you buddy Tim have a commercial oyster farm?
I've never heard of anyone privately cultivating oysters.

No, he just does it for fun and food.  He is a commercial fisherman and just likes everything from the sea.  He is a really amazing, talented guy.   He built these fiberglass, foam and wood boxes that he cultivates them in.  Sean has told me stories of harvesting wild oyters on the N. Coast with his kids.  Sounds cool too. We are so lucky to have such an abundance of seafood available to us.
Dave

believe it or not, the SF bay used to be known for its oysters.  Richardson bay in particular was apparently quite amazing oystering in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  THere is a program now to bring them back, as they do a fantastic job of cleaning up the water.  I've actually noticed that in the last few years there are more and more little oysters on the rocks around lochlomond, and strawberry point area...

I found a big beatiful oyster near our Brickyard launch near the Loch Lomond Marina.  It looked like something you'd find at only the best fish markets.  I showed Freddie and Stu.  We almost couldn't believe it was alive and just laying there on the waters edge.    I was so tempted to slurp it down, but chickened out.  I didn't know if it was safe.

They're focusing on repopulating the areas with the silver dollar sized native oysters rather than the large market oysters.  IMO that's kind of a bummer, it'd be better if they were supporting shellfish with a greater economic value.

By the san mateo bridge, at low tide the 'beach' there is actually solid oyster shell.  It's pretty cool.