WC Oyster Description

Pacific Gold Seafood offers a wide variety of freshly harvested west coast oysters, clams and mussels.  We only purchase product from reputable approved suppliers and processors of seafood.  All product is harvested to order and is HACCP certified.  The following is our complete product list with a brief description of each item.  All oysters, unless noted otherwise are packed in a 10 dozen count bag. 

CHEF CREEK OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas)
Available: September – July ~3" in length 
This oyster is raised near Chef Creek of Baynes Sound, British Columbia, Canada. It is tray grown to a perfect size for half shell eating, approximately 3 inches. After harvest, these oysters are brought to Penn Cove where they are suspended in certified wet storage until sold. This oyster’s taste has a nice medium briny, yet sweet flavor.

DABOB BAY OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: September - July ~ 3" in length 
For those who like a nice and briny 3 inch oyster, this is a good one. It is grown on the shores of Dabob Bay, which extends off of the northern end of Hood Canal in Washington State.  It is harvested at a young age to keep it small and perfect for those who enjoy oysters eaten raw off the half shell.  You can expect to taste the ocean freshness and yet enjoy a sweet after taste when eating this wonderful oyster.

DEER CREEK OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: September – July -~ 3" in length
A perfectly sized oyster for those just beginning to discover one of nature's best kept secrets. This 2.5-3 inch extra small oyster, is just the right size to taste and yet full of a fresh, briny and crisp flavor to leave one desiring more. This little oyster is grown on the cobble beaches of the Puget Sound in the heart of oyster country. Harvested at approximately two years of age, it has a round and deep cup and is flush with meat. The intertidal culture process leaves this young oyster with a good hardened shell which is perfect for shucking.

DEEP COVE OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: September - July ~ 3" in length 
Our Golden Mantle Oysters are tray raised in the pristine northern waters of British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, just north of the Powell River. This area is quite famous for culturing oysters in B.C., due to the abundance of food and cool, clean waters in which the oysters may thrive.  The shell of this oyster is deeply cupped due to being tray raised, and the meat is full and has a noticeably sweet, melon like finish.

EVENING COVE OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas)
Available: September - July ~ 4" in length 
Grown in the rich waters off Denman Island in British Columbia, Canada, this oyster is for those who like a full bite of oyster. After harvest, these oysters are brought to Penn Cove where they are suspended in certified wet storage until sold. This fast growing oyster has a clean, mild fresh flavor.

EUROPEAN FLAT OYSTERS - (Ostrea edulis)
Available: September - July ~ 3" in length 
These European Flat Oysters are also named for the area where they are grown in the northern Puget Sound; these are also the same species as the famous Belon oysters traditionally grown on the coast of France. These pond cultured oysters grow for about three years and develop a distinct round-flat shell along with a very sharp, or metallic, crisp flavor unique to the European flat oysters.

GIGAMOTO OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: September - July
Packed in 10 dz. Units ~2 ½" in length
Beach grown on the wild northern beaches of Samish Bay, Washington, at the doorway to Mt. Baker, this oyster has the same characteristics of our Kumo, half-shell sized Select Oysters. With a tough shell, the meat on the inside is full and firm. An easy to shuck oyster due to its hard outer shell, the taste has the perfect briny flavor that fresh oysters are known for.

GOLD CREEK OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: September - July ~ 3" in length 
This delicious and classic looking Pacific oyster is seeded and grown on the rocky beaches of the southern end of the Puget Sound of Washington State. The area is famous for the rich history of oyster farming dating back to the gold rush days and still provides plenty of nutrients enabling this oyster to grow quickly and develop a full, firm meat, and the intertidal habitat provides for a beach hardened shell excellent for shucking. The nice, full cupped shell is 3-4 inches in length and the briny, crisp oyster meat makes this oyster a Puget Sound favorite.

HUNTER POINT OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas)
Available: September - July ~ 4"-5" in length 
This beach grown Pacific oyster is cultured in one of the inlets of the Southern Puget Sound in the clean watershed of the Olympic Mountain Range. This area's winter's snow melt and sunny summer days provide the perfect combination of temperature and food for oyster aquaculture. This oyster is grown for the half shell oyster lover for about 3 years before harvest. This time allows for the meat to grow full in the shell and creates a shell perfect for shucking or roasting. The meats are full and have a firm texture and fresh from the sea flavor.

KUMAMOTO OYSTERS - (Crassostrea sikamea)
Available: Year Round ~ 2"-3" in length 
This small, deeply cupped oyster is named for its bay where they originated on the Japanese island Kyushu, although they are grown in Humboldt Bay, in northern California. Even though they require several years to grow to size, their salty, sweet flavor makes up for what they lack in size. True Kumamotos are somewhat rare in the everyday oyster bar due to their popularity and difficulty to grow, but they are very well worth the efforts. Their size and great flavor make them a favorite for beginning oyster eaters.

KUSSHI OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: Year Round ~ 2" in length 
From the Japanese translation for "Ultimate", this small, deeply cupped Pacific oyster is grown to mimic the outstanding characteristics Kumamoto oyster, although they are tray grown in a very unique process in the rich waters of Deep Bay off of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.  While they are tray raised, they are tumbled regularly to take the length out of the growth, causing the oyster to grower deeper in profile.  This effort creates a consistently deep cupped, very meaty little oyster, appealing to beginner oyster eaters and old pros alike.

LARGE PACIFIC OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: September - July ~ 5" in length, 5 Dozen Pac
This delicious and classic looking Pacific oyster is seeded and grown on the rocky beaches of the southern end of the Puget Sound of Washington State. The area is famous for its rich waters that create a full, firm meat, and the intertidal habitat provides for a beach hardened shell excellent for shucking. The nice, full cupped shell is 5-6 inches in length and the briny, crisp oyster meat makes this oyster a favorite.

LUNA OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: October - May  
Packed in 5 and 10 dz. units ~2"-2.5" in length. 
Luna Oyster- Grown to rival the size and market of the famed Kusshi and Kumamoto Oysters. These oysters are handled monthly to insure a perfect petite size yet a nice, deep cup. Luna's have delicate meat and flavor of crisp melon, with a salty cold finish. Tray grown from a suspended long line
culture system in southern California. Shells are ivory in color.

MALASPINA OYSTERS - (Crassostrea Gigas) 
Available: September - July - ~3 ½" in length 
This hardy oyster is beach grown on the gravel shores Malaspina Inlet of Vancouver Island, Canada. The results of the rich waters there are a plump, dark mantled oyster with a semi-sweet finish. After harvest, these oysters are brought to Penn Cove where they are suspended in our certified wet storage until sold.

OLYMPIA OYSTERS - (Ostrea lurida) 
Available: Year Round ~ 1.5" to 2" in length 
This small, uniquely flavored oyster is the only native oyster to the Pacific Coast of North America.  It is more similar to a European flat oyster like a Belon in shape and flavor, with one exception and that is its size.  They grow slowly and are harvested at a diameter of just over 1.5 inches.  These oysters have a crisp, briny flavor with a unique coppery finish, which is something of an acquired taste, but sought out by many oyster aficionados.
Olympia oysters are beach raised in diked off segments of the tidelands of the southern Puget Sound.  Diking helps to prevent predation by crabs and scattering of the oysters by winter storm waves.  This oyster provided the basis of the Puget Sound oyster industry for almost 100 years before the introduction of the Japanese pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, which is now the oyster produced primarily here and around the world.  These oysters were often used to supplement the ballast of sailing ships returning to San Francisco laden with lumber for use in mines during the gold rush there, where they were almost treated like gold themselves.

OLYMPIC MIYAGI OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: September - July ~ 3" in length 
This oyster is beach farm raised at the foot of the Olympic Mountain range along the shores of Washington State's southern Puget Sound.  The name reflects the true nature of the area, as the coast is lush and green from the heavy rains they receive, however, it is quite sunny and beautiful there in the summer time. These oysters are visually a classic Pacific oyster, as they have heavy fluted shells, making them prime for shucking, and the meats are quite nice; full and crisp, but not too salty.

PEBBLE BEACH OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: September - July - 3 " to 3.5" in length 
This is a beautiful and classic example of Northwest oysters.  It is bag grown on the gravel shores of Pebble Beach, which lies along the southern reaches of the western side of Hood Canal in Washington State.  It has the shell appearance and full meat of a perfect half shell oyster.  These oysters have the briny sea flavor you would expect as if you had harvested them fresh yourself.

PENN COVE SELECT OYSTERS - (Crassostrea Gigas) 
Available: Year Round - ~ 3" in length 
Originating where the Samish River meets the northern Puget Sound, these beach raised oysters are intensively cultured to an extra small half-shell size before being taken to Whidbey Island's scenic Penn Cove in Washington State. The oysters are suspended from the surface in bags where they can feed and purge themselves of any grains of sand. They are seasoned in Penn Cove until harvested for each order. The meats are firm with a crisp, briny flavor leaving a fresh aftertaste. Simply Oysterific!

QUILCENE OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: September - July ~3” in length 
These are beach grown on the windy beaches of the northern Hood Canal in Quilcene Bay, Washington, this oyster has the same flavor profile of our popular half-shell sized Quilcene Oysters. With a rugged shell, the meat on is full and firm, perfect for the barbeque or oven. The taste has the briny flavor that freshly picked oysters make so popular.

RAINIER OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: September - July ~4" in length 
This large oyster is beach grown on the Puget Sound's south most beaches in view of majestic Mt. Rainier. This oyster has the same flavor characteristics of our popular half-shell sized Gold Creek Oysters. Perfect for baking or grilling, or putting in a stew, the meat is full and firm. The briny, sea fresh taste, is sure to be enjoyed by all.

SISTER POINT OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas)
Available: September - July ~ 3" in length 
This oyster is from the lower end of Hood Canal, Washington. As thumbnail sized seed, these oysters are placed in plastic mesh bags, which are then staked directly onto the beach. They are tended regularly allowing for water to flow freely and feed the oysters for about a year and a half until they reach the perfect size. They have a nice deep cup with a firm, meaty body and briny flavor with a sweet finish.

SNOW CREEK OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: October – July ~3" in length 
Coming from Discovery Bay on the northern end of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, these oysters are raised in trays suspended from long-lines until they reach a perfect half-shell size. Farmed in cold, clear waters which open wide to the Straits of Juan de Fuca. These fast growing oysters have lovely fluted shells which yield nice firm meats with a crisp and mildly salty flavor leaving a sweet aftertaste.

STELLAR BAY OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: Year Round- ~ 2"-3" in length  
This small, deeply cupped Pacific oyster is like a large Kusshi Oyster and is grown to mimic the outstanding characteristics of Kumamoto oysters, although they are tray grown in the rich waters off of Cortes Island in British Columbia, Canada. They are tray raised, but tumbled regularly to take the length out of the growth, causing the oyster to grower deeper in profile.  This effort creates a deep cupped, meaty little oyster, perfect for beginner oyster eaters and old pros alike.

SUN HOLLOW OYSTERS - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: September - July ~3" in length 
This is a typically shaped beach - raised pacific oyster from the lower Hood Canal of Washington State. This oyster is grown low in the tidal zone and therefore grows fast which gives it a nice fat meat for those who like a slightly briny, yet sweet oyster meat, this is the one for long time oyster eaters looking for a taste of the Puget Sound region.

SUNSET BEACH OYSTERS - (Crassostrea Gigas) 
Available: September - July ~4" in length 
A perfectly shaped beach- raised pacific oyster from the Hood Canal of Washington State. This oyster has all the characteristics in appearance and flavor of those oysters which have been picked by generations of families while vacationing along the shores of Hood Canal. An easy to shuck, tough outer shell with a nice fat meat for those who like a briny, yet sweet oyster, this is the one.

SKOOKUM & TOTEM INLET - (Crassostrea gigas) 
Available: Year Round  
Packed in 5 and 10 dz. units ~3" in length. 
These are great beach raised; triploid pacific oysters from the cool waters down near the big bend of the Hood Canal in Washington State.  These waters are fed by the runoff from the Olympic Mountains and are some of the most prolific oyster growing beaches in the state.   These oysters are harvested and transported immediately to Penn Cove where they are wet stored until the time of sale.  They have the characteristic fluted, hard shell of a beach raised oyster and are graded to a market size of about three inches. This oyster has a clean, deep cupped shell, while the meat on the inside has a light salinity; it is crisp and the same time perfect with a glass of Pinot Gris or Pilsner.

Penn Cove Mussels (Mytilus trossulus)

Available: January - December  Packed in 10 lb., 2.5"-3 " in length - ~ 25 pcs./lb.
Known as the mussel of choice by discriminating chefs and specialty retail buyers, throughout the year.  Since 1975, these are the mussels by which all others are compared when it comes to taste!  From America’s largest and oldest commercial mussel farm, these mussels have won international mussel taste contests and will win you over as well! This species of mussels are naturally prevalent from Alaska to Washington, preferring pristine bays where snow melt keeps the salinity lower than the open ocean.   Farmed in Penn Cove since 1975, we think that you will find, as others have, that they are the sweetest and best tasting mussels you've ever had.   Penn Cove Mussels are mild in texture and full of sweet flavor and they are grown to a market size of 2.5 to 3 inches in approximately one year's time.