Two oysters, one tray, one memorable stop along the coast.
I sampled these these super-sized bivalves at Jetty Fishery, whose other (and less credulity-stretching) offerings include live Dungeness crab, and boat rentals for adventures on Nehalem Bay.
A trap full of crabs
When an surprise encounter with a friend turned into one of the best invites I’ve received in a long time, I quickly jumped at the opportunity to boat from Portland to Astoria on the Columbia River. I was hooked right from the beginning as Captain Nick and Captain Jake described the plan: five salty dogs, one boat, one weekend and plenty of crab traps to throw into the waters at the confluence of the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean. (more…)
Our food scene has bloggers buzzing – and TV audiences salivating, thanks to Travel Oregon’s new spots that feature the range of the state’s culinary experiences: from food carts to wine, from Dungies to truffles, and from farm to table.
Oregon Bounty, the state’s culinary promotion, runs through Nov. 6. Planning your trip?
My pal Christian — an Indiana native and fellow fan of The Deadliest Catch — flew to town last Saturday. His mid-morning arrival left plenty of time for AJ and me to take him out to Wheeler for an afternoon of crabbing on Nehalem Bay.
The happy result: In the three-hour run-up to high tide, we spotted a bald eagle, enjoyed the fall sunshine and pulled in six Dungeness keepers (or, as my brother would say, “sweet, sweet sea meat”).
It’s about a two-hour drive from Portland to Wheeler, which has become one of my favorite spots on the coast, thanks in large part to Jim Neilson, the kind owner of Wheeler Marina. In the years I’ve been going to Wheeler, Jim has freely dispensed encouragement, insider’s tips and straight-shooting assessments of weather and crabbing conditions.
Jim’s boat rentals include all the gear and bait you’ll need. He’ll send you out with a license, and send you home with a great memory — and, with any luck, a few Dungies.
Reservations and conditions: 503.368.5780.
Directions: From Portland, go west on Hwy. 26, then south on either Hwy. 53 (a bit narrow and curvy) or Hwy. 101 (a bit more spectacular, right along the coast).
