Oyster Map: Washington oyster beaches, WDFW, DOH and tides

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What is Oyster Map?

Oyster Map (oystermap.us) is a free map of Washington public beaches where recreational oyster harvest may be open. Each beach pin shows its WDFW season status, its Washington State Department of Health (DOH) shellfish status, and NOAA predicted tides from a nearby station. Oregon is not covered.

Other U.S. coastal states show published season summaries and, where an agency publishes them, official public-ground outlines. They have no beach pins.

What does Oyster Map show?

WDFW season and legality. In season, out of season, or closed, from the WDFW 2026 Annual Beach Seasons Bar Chart and, for some beaches, the WDFW beach page. The chart is planning information. Where the current beach page was not checked, current WDFW legality is shown as unknown.

DOH shellfish status. The beach's status from DOH's recreational shellfish beach data. That feed has no agency observation time, so even Open does not make a beach go-now.

Tides. NOAA CO-OPS predicted high and low tides (MLLW) at a nearby NOAA station. A station prediction, not a measurement at the beach.

License. A Washington personal use shellfish and seaweed license, or a combination fishing license that includes shellfish, unless you are under 16 (RCW 77.32.520).

Limits. 18 oysters a day, at least 2½ inches along the widest dimension of the shell before shucking. Shuck on the beach and leave the shells at about the same tide level (WAC 220-330-010).

Unknown health is never shown as go. Go-now needs every gate: WDFW season open, DOH health affirmatively open with an agency observation time, and a NOAA tide. Check official WDFW and DOH status before you harvest.

Facts from the map data

As of November 10, 2026, Oyster Map lists 42 Washington public beaches: 41 map pins and one named only (Raab's Lagoon (Vashon Island)), because WDFW publishes no map coordinates for it, so no pin is invented.

30 pins are reachable on foot and 11 are boat only.

The pins are in seven counties: Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, and Thurston. 26 are in Hood Canal.

39 of 41 pins are linked to one of 21 NOAA tide stations. The other two have no published station, and their tide shows as unknown.

The WDFW season chart is dated August 27, 2026. 10 beach pages were checked on November 6, 2026 (4:45 PM PST), and two Long Island beaches use WDFW pages from the November 7, 2026 source set.

Three pins are closed year-round for 2026 on the chart: Kopachuck State Park, Penrose Point State Park, and Port Townsend Ship Canal/Portage Canal.

The state list covers 22 U.S. states. Oregon is not included.

Frequently asked questions

Is recreational oyster harvest legal on these beaches?

Check both on the day you go. Harvest is allowed only when WDFW lists the beach as open for oysters on that date and the DOH Shellfish Safety map shows no closure for it. Oyster seasons and areas are set in WAC 220-330-140 and shown on each WDFW beach page. Oyster Map shows the WDFW season status it has on file, and shows it as unknown when the current beach page has not been checked, unless the 2026 WDFW chart lists the beach as closed year-round. It does not tell you a beach is safe.

Do I need a license to harvest oysters in Washington?

Yes, unless you are under 16. You need a Washington personal use shellfish and seaweed license, or a combination fishing license that includes shellfish (RCW 77.32.520). Licenses are sold by WDFW.

RCW 77.32.520: shellfish and seaweed license WDFW fishing and shellfish licenses

How do I check a beach's shellfish health status?

Use the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Shellfish Safety map. Oyster Map reads DOH's recreational shellfish beach data, but that feed has no agency observation time, so the map never treats it as go-now, and unknown health is never shown as go. Check the DOH map the day you harvest.

DOH Shellfish Safety map DOH recreational shellfish harvesting

Does Oyster Map cover Oregon?

No. Oregon is not covered. Oyster Map's beach pins are Washington public beaches only.

How current is the data?

WDFW season information comes from the WDFW 2026 Annual Beach Seasons Bar Chart dated August 27, 2026, plus WDFW beach pages checked on November 6 and November 7, 2026. It is not a live WDFW feed. DOH beach status and NOAA tide predictions are requested from DOH and NOAA while you use the map and are reused for up to about 10 minutes.

WDFW 2026 Annual Beach Seasons Bar Chart (PDF) NOAA Tides & Currents (CO-OPS)

Can I keep oysters of any size?

No. Under WAC 220-330-010 the daily limit is 18 oysters, each at least 2½ inches along the widest dimension of the shell before shucking. Oysters must be shucked before you leave the intertidal zone, and the shells go back on the tidelands at about the tide level they came from.

WAC 220-330-010: daily limit, size, and shucking WDFW shellfishing regulations

Oyster Map does not decide whether a beach is legal or healthy to harvest. WDFW and DOH do. When a value is unknown, the map says unknown.