Coastal Foraging for Beginners: Where, When, & How to Harvest Mussels

[@OutdoorChefLife]

What's up guys, thanks for watching! I forgot to mention in the video that Del Norte and Humbolt counties are still closed for harvest. Please call biotoxin hotline for updates 1(800)553-4133. Closures can happen at anytime, even mid season so please call the number before you go out and harvest mussels!! Thanks, Taku

[@Aylab2pis]

Can u do gooseneck barnacles next?

[@OutdoorChefLife]

@@Aylab2pis I would love to but they're actually illegal to harvest in California.

[@owenscruggs484]

Outdoor Chef Life I love your stuff you need much more subscribers though I can tell you put work and really try for your videos keep it up!

[@grimmjow714]

Hmmmmmmm how about orange county area I'm pretty lost on where to go to find out this information as I have never collected mussels in my life other than for bait

[@nhice714]

I always go to Tomales bay and buy oysters and mussels . I wish to go and harvest mussels and steam it like you do👍🏻

[@christopherbiegel9553]

I really respect your appreciation for the sustainability of the resource and the regulations that help protect it. Fresh mussels in some garlic butter? You can't beat that! Thanks for another great video.

[@portlandreviewer2143]

I harvest mussels in Oregon even in the summer. I just call a governmental number first, to see if it's safe to do so. Once I get home, I put them in cold water with a bit of flour for 30 minutes. The French do this since the mussels spit out sand in order to eat the flour particles in the water. I then remove the mussels from the water and steam them in sauteed garlic, white wine, fresh thyme, red pepper flakes and salt. Great with a baguette and beer.

[@Ahmad-pu9ci]

They do that with clams as well. You can also use cornmeal.

[@grimmjow714]

Once collected what's the best way to store them while you head home to cook them up, and as far as the cold water to get out all the sand/grit would u just use tap water with ice or just cold tap is fine?

[@tastybellie7736]

@@grimmjow714 I usually store them on top of the ice in the cooler. Make sure they are not submerged under the ice water.

[@grimmjow714]

@@tastybellie7736 cool thanks alot I'm going to go this weekend if conditions are good

[@grimmjow714]

@@tastybellie7736 Corona del mar it's in orange county our weather cleared up had heavy rain and wind past few days

[@carolewiles281]

Watched Taku' s video, went down to the rocks, plucked the dudes, ..and just polished off the yummy lil critters...all in about 30-40 minutes! Thanks for making it so easy Taku.

[@cocoland502]

I’ve been watching foraging videos for about a month now , I’m so inspired by your channel and Craig Evans . I’m planning on going foraging for my 22nd birthday . I’m obsessed with the ocean , so many men in my family are /were fishermen . And now I’m learning more and more about the ocean ! I am planning on making foraging videos , might not get many subscribers but I want to do this to inspire others ! Keep making videos , don’t stop . Your channel is truly one of a kind , your teaching me things I never knew before. I am so inspired you have no idea , also I know that when we take from the ocean we must give back . So I will start by taking trash off the ocean whenever I go foraging , at least one full bag of trash I’m sure will save a lot of marine lives . And I have my mini stove my father gave to me , I am fascinated by cooking outdoors . Thank you for inspiring me .

[@OutdoorChefLife]

That's awesome! Let me know when you get your channel started, I'll make sure to check it out!!

[@AERoVALKYRiE]

I moved away from the Bay Area few years ago to the East Coast, I've never thought I would miss Bay Area until I came across your video. Now I want to go back, just to harvest some seafood in the bay. Keep up the good work

[@DoItYourselfDIYAtHome]

Thank you for your channel. I like the whole concept of foraging. Foraging connects me to the environment, being self sustaining, and being frugal.

[@jadenbroadway173]

what a killer find, so thrilled I found this channel. I notices some mussels the other day out near my home. Excited to learn more about the food around me.

[@benh5774]

That vivid orange looks amazing. Been passing by mussel beds waiting for the open season

[@sadboywavy]

Dude more of these please!!!! That mussel was so bright orange, amazing and looks so good.

[@alternatereality4198]

We recently found your channel and your content is great. We live in So Cal and you are making us want to head to the beach and try foraging for ourselves! Keep up the great work and your channel is going to blow up. Jill and Eddie

[@christinahutchens5433]

Great video, Chef!!! Your always making sure people do this correctly by sharing helpful information. Plus, you sure can cook!!! Love it!!

[@amandagilman2930]

Thanks for explaining the red tide! I thought all year it was red tide and you couldn’t forage anything ever from LA… I’m definitely going to try this now… Looks like so much fun!

[@hellaramen]

I love these sustainable foraging video tutorials! Thank you so much for sharing 🙏🏾

[@TL-ms6lp]

This is actually not a very sustainable practice. Thanks to videos like this, tidepool ecosystems are being damaged.

[@ericrodriguez167]

I appreciate this guy so much I wish all fisherman were like toku sorry if I misspelled your name but I besides that I wish I could hangout with him at least once it would definitely be a day I’ll remember for life 👊

[@jrh0369]

Thank you. This the type of information I needed. I live in SoCal and was always weary of harvesting mussels.

[@hcyobo2553]

Best type of videos, fun, educational, with the best part, eating! keep filimg! keep posting!

[@daviddude79]

I've been waiting for a video like this for years! Thanks for posting, i love muscles

[@dacandydog]

THANK YOU for making sure your video is steady! I love watching coastal foraging but there's so many channels that give me motion sickness just to watch 😂😂

[@benjaminhand338]

Great job man. Your vids are always educational and entertaining. Thanks for the content.

[@tinaheart]

Loved your video! I wasn't quite sure what you meant by the SF bay area water being polluted. After you said that I actually looked into reports of the Bay Area water being polluted but found quite the contrary. In fact several experts and water quality studies ranked the bay safe for eating shellfish with one report even giving many SF beaches an A+ in terms of having the cleanest water in the state. Let me know if you know otherwise! Please keep sharing your videos.

[@inactive2447]

your videos are always calming. thank you

[@Mrvantil]

Super inspirational and knowledgeable videos, Always look forward for mussel season and was waiting for you to make one! Keep it up please!!

[@TinciiBa_1992]

Ima mussels freak, so i’m so inlove with this video! TERRIFIC job with the video, keep it coming.

[@crisadence3707]

I love these videos so much and I’ve never hunted a or fished a day in my life!

[@user-se8iv8yj2u]

Nice hopefully when i go up to half moon bay i can collect some mussels along with rock and dungeness crabs. Awesome video bro thank you for the tips

[@maxsu8795]

It's good to know the red tide season and why it's toxic and not eatable. I heard about lots of micro plastic things in the mussels may need some considerations.

[@joeyhinds6216]

I really enjoy these videos even though I have never lived near an ocean. Sure makes me want to though!

[@kursk8]

Duuuuude, same!

[@edgarreid1026]

In Newfoundland the best time to harvest mussels seem to be around July month but now I’m wondering about the red tide and wondering is that a warm water concern because our North Atlantic water is very cold and never gets warm enough to swim in. Excellent video and boil-up!

[@msvaj]

VERY useful information and helpful tips. Thanks for the info. Great video

[@Glitterslug]

Great video- only thing I’d ask is that you don’t tear the seaweed from the rocks- just cut them so they grow back 🙏

[@iliawest5402]

I'm sold... Thanks for making me hungry at 1am

[@adeliaflores7897]

Hi there I really enjoyed your blog. Actually I had one 2 min video re mussels too. The title is - “From the ocean to the pan” . I just created my KZbin channel last week. I am inspired on how you presented your blog. I told myself that I have to eat more rice to improve into my new learning adventure. Lol.

[@elkhunter76]

Fresh mussels are very good. Unfortunately the only thing we can usually get are frozen and they aren't worth buying. Thanks for another great video.

[@lifeofeels8271]

Hi, I just started watching your videos after seeing you on Ishwithfish 'put him in the bag' video. Very awesome content on your videos. I especially enjoy watching all the foraging videos. They're very informative, I learned a lot from them. New subscriber.

[@sally3024-h4c]

My mouth just watered, looks delicious

[@BoringFisherman]

In the garlic butter That's my favorite way to eat them. I am in Oregon and I get mussels off the rocks at low tide. I like to scrape mine clean and cook them on my little propane grill untill they open. And then some. I enjoy the meat a little bit more firm than in your video and dipped in garlic butter. Keep up the good videos.

[@lukeriley4628]

do you purge the sand at all when cooking on the beach?

[@Gachalifegirl-123]

Awesome video. I'm from Australia and recently noticed mussels around my local jet. Took some, cooked them up and they taste amazing. Not as good looking as your ones though.

[@taaylorrgaang]

Knife is life! This video was the one that got me to subscribe to you

[@francistoth7360]

You are cool man. I just got some mussels off the Oregon Coast. 4th of July, 2020, we feast. Subscribed to your channel too. Good work and thank you.

[@oktoberskyy8661]

im just watching cause i love seafood and outdoor ..and love this attractive man

[@sallynoble4317]

I’m here for the little mukbang moment at the end

[@timetocreatefuture917]

I searched how to harvest mussels this video is the top hit...we got king tides mid month!!

[@tushetukala]

Thank bro!!! Saw hella mussels while dungeness snaring before crab season is over. Ill make sure to call the hotline # when crab season open again and harvest some mussels too.

[@drudown805]

Great information. I've recently moved back to CA and now I would like to start harvesting my own food. Last year I bought some mussels at a seafood market in SB and thought to myself what are the difference between these and the ones that are stuck to rocks at the beach? That will be the last time I ever buy mussels! Now I just got to wait till Jan 1st so could get a fishing license. No point in getting one now since the year is going to end soon.

[@poormansoutdoors.6765]

Ahhhhh!!! No Mussels here in Minnesota!! But I would love to move back to Cali just to eat off HWY 10/PCH. Lol!! Love your vids Bro!!

[@Jaxionisnum2]

Dang I remember my step dad doing this before when I was younger , I wanna try it out, almost harvest time too lol

[@tamalpias]

shelled, cooked on a salamander grill (or toaster oven) with saracha-mayo and sprinkled with tobiko as a garnish is my favorite way to eat mussels.

[@OutdoorChefLife]

Sounds good!!

[@kavinjayaraman2562]

Your vids are so addicting!!! I’ve been craving to watch one 😂

[@jimmychanga774]

Great info.... thanks from Monterey California.

[@blackbeardgoatjr2434]

There was a lot of great info in this. Thanks!

[@jtf267]

Wow. This brought back a lot of memories. Went with friends to harvest mussels down a cliff near Montara. I was young then. The cliffs would be too challenging now. Would love to introduce this activity to my nephews. Where did you film this? It looks doable.

[@koko-rl9zm]

Lot's of good info, actually I wondered about alot of the questions that you answered! Thanks!

[@kellywaggoner6703]

You so rock!! These mussels look amazing. I’m quite jelly. 😊

[@foodforthought92]

I have to work tomorrow, i love these videos though.

[@familiamaciasauto6403]

Answered all my questions!! Thank you brotha!!

[@adambaumbach6763]

Dude, that’s so rad! I’m definitely going to be looking for some on my next kayak fishing trip. I’m glad I stumbled onto your channel and ig page, Thanks Brotha 🤙🏼

[@tamweir3458]

Rad? Really?

[@vglugos0721]

HI Taku! We liked your videos about foraging so much that we tried it. It was one of the highlights of our summer. We can not wait to try foraging for mussels when the season opens. By the way, where do you usually go to forage that is close to the East Bay? Keep it up! we truly enjoy your videos.

[@epifaniarcruz]

Wow that make hungry 👍🏼 very interesting show you doing thank you 🙏😊

[@LarsSveen]

Recently went diving near Ensenada, BC and was shocked at the size of the mussels there. They were often about 8 inches long! Big fat ones.

[@geodrewbilee]

I just got into foraging in Nanaimo BC!

[@jeffvw1994]

I steam them till they open with some shrimp then make a pasta with them. Butter and italian seasoning and garlic, so good.

[@VRDIRTY]

Post more cooking and camping! Please if you can haha, I really enjoy them!

[@hp858]

Although I live in Hawaii, I’ve never had fresh mussels, looks delicious. Mike

[@Howwerelivingfishing]

I hope I can get out to forage for mussels and periwinkles again soon

[@yunomitv]

Just found you out today and i love your videos!

[@Pinoytrailtrekker]

Fort Bragg has plenty. Next time I go there I’ll harvest some.

[@knutsolbakken6923]

love your information! it creates a step by step means to avoid bs. i guess most people have no clue of that nogo zone u were talking about. i mean, people dont research if the place is valid for consumption or not. a good place is a goood place in most minds, why not. the gov/ county has to be better at that disclaiming info which may be suddently, in which i also understand. in Norway it would be on the news and a massive sign and probably a physical fence. but that is small norway though. but we have some coastline to take care of though. btw haha in which EU thinks they are apart of = big quata...in which the EU think they can just have freely. Brussels is greedy to say at least. the blood diamond magnate allows it all?

[@OutdoorScienceDad]

Do you not purge the mussels of sand first? A rest in water in a bucket. Do you find them gritty if not? Thanks in advance. Negative tide tomorrow, I’m going poke poling! I find your videos helpful and entertaining. See you out there sometime.

[@eqlzr2]

Grilled with cheddar cheese on top is hard to beat. Thx!

[@The19pumas]

Man come pick me up so i can try those mussels buddy they look delish 😋 gl and take care

[@LAAPmusic]

Hey Taku! first off, I've become obsessed with your channel! 2nd do you happen to know if you can forage mussels in so cal? i live in the LA area but cant seem to find any real info online whether or not i can find them in malibu, leo carillo, etc.

[@sitdownandvibewithme3981]

always wondered if you could cook those muscles , great video man

[@kingkwaduleach9088]

Never eating mussels makes me want to eat them now good video

[@fuamatuanastacio4852]

I live in Santa Rosa trying to get into this stuff again I’m from the islands so we do things different lol

[@sageharmon2319]

Fuamatu Anastacio I’m in Santa Rosa too! I’m gonna go this weekend

[@freerangemaker]

Thank you so, so, so, so, so much!

[@quentinjohnson2210]

In Arizona, licenses are needed for fishing and hunting. In the states of the west coast do people have to get several licenses for fishing, foraging, etc?

[@pakalsoutdoorcookings788]

Great video....very educational....must see video....

[@cenaidajimenez3919]

Awesome 👏🏽 Thanks for sharing you made it cool East fun yummy. 😉😁

[@cliff_lu]

liked before i even started watching lol

[@WoodyFruity]

holy moly... i wish i lived near the coast...

[@catchncookcalifornia1574]

Great stuff man! We are craving bivalves so bad right now!

[@OutdoorChefLife]

Lets go gettem!!

[@catchncookcalifornia1574]

@@OutdoorChefLife We are in! Also, we should freedive for Pismo Clams sometime! Fun and very tasty!

[@SpamMusubi308]

Ok need fishing license gloves scale bucket/bag to carry harvest limit 10 lbs per person(can you comingle the harvest in the same bucket/bag? ) gotta get organized oh season runs November to end of April? Very cool video Taku thanks for sharing

[@OutdoorChefLife]

Yup November to end of April!

[@PandaKeikoSaranghae]

kinda tricky to get mussels now, with all the protected areas... they were not as strict 15 years ago

[@izraelleon]

Looks bomb homie! Only thing missing was a ice cold beer!

[@knutsolbakken6923]

in terms of avoid as much toxins and heavy metals as possible, and still use the broth. is it a good idea to boil mussels/ whatever seafood for 60 sec and change the water and use that for broth later? will it get rid off enough toxins? lets say it was San fransisco mussels to be exaggereated ...... i thought it was always neccesary to blanch seafood this way. first for 30-60 sec to get rid of contaniments, and then another blanch/ cooking to achieve whatever u want. is this true???

[@vincentdevenecia-calderon1579]

Hi new sub love the video im taking my kids mussle gatherimg they love ur shows. Is there a place u can share with us to try im not from the bay and never done this before were coming from Sacramento thank u keep up the good work

[@360revolucion8]

Mussels can be hand picked by hand or with an implement with a flat edge or blade no bigger than 12mm in width. Have the regulations in California changed?

[@rorofs3056]

Yeah new video

[@porp109]

Considering harvesting them in Coney island

[@icwtao]

Hey Taku, I live in the Bay Area and would love to go foraging along the coast. Would you be open to adding Google Maps links to where you forage in your videos? I think it would help a lot of people get started. Thanks!

[@amnamalik3862]

Hey i have found a place here in istanbul.there are lot of mussels here n its summer time.just tell me is it ok to hervest baby ones and lil bigger than the baby ones?

[@gamerguy5656]

Is there a website or somewhere with all the information and harvest and rules for foraging in Northern California/Bay area?

[@1oldvato782]

Hey Taka love your videos so what sizes are the best the small, medium or larger .

[@Ahmad-pu9ci]

Hell yeah! I love mussels! 👍🏼

[@kendallreed1711]

Always looks delicious

[@alexanderpark5472]

Knife is life 💯💯💯💯

[@BudoFishing]

I'm going to have to try that! Thanks for the vid!!

[@OutdoorChefLife]

Yeah man they're delicious!!

[@maccaroni6355]

What do they taste like?? I feel like they'd be salty and earthy tasting? I've never had them. You should add half a lemon in that garlic butter sauce. Lemons good on everything.😂 Loove the video btw!

[@OutdoorChefLife]

Not salty or earthy. Closest thing would be oysters. and yeah lemon would've been great with it!

[@navidask8ter1]

Do these taste like what they eat?. Cuz ive had many mussels and they weren't good at all! Taste like crap! I love clams and oysters..! wondering if fresh mussels taste clean!.

[@balob]

Hey Taku, long term fan, I just flew into SF. Have no car, what's a good spot to go coastal foraging and anything good specifically during this time?

[@BobbyAeros]

Its April 22 today and I got a good bunch of mussels off a prviate north malibu beach far away from the city or any sewer runoff. I've never had the courage to eat them but I really want to. How safe is it really? Every online resources talks about the dangers of and the paralytic poisoning you get if you eat thes durring a red tide. It seems not worth the risk but how risky is it really? How do I know if there was a red tide recently? I call the number and it says there is no qurantine but other sites say that doesn't mean its safe either.