Gathering Oysters: Tonging North Inlet

Oyster roasts are common gatherings in the Lowcountry of South Carolina during colder months of the year. The briny morsels may require an acquired taste for the first timer or just the guts to place the slimy bi-valvia in your mouth in the first place. Make no mistake about it, oysters and resulting oyster roasts, are traditional southern gatherings that are always well attended.

People can go about getting oysters in a variety of different ways. The most common (and very reasonable) way is to go to the local seafood market. Placing an order ahead of time is always a smart thing to do. Often you can time your pick up knowing that the oysters were freshly delivered.

Some locals simply love the outdoors and the adventure of getting their own oysters. Often people will simpy gather them on extreme low tides along the oyster filled banks of local creeks. 

Another old method that is not used much in these parts anymore is the use of oyster tongs. This is even harder back breaking work than bending over on a creek bank for an hour at a time. 

I took these pictures on a winter time outing with two long time friends. We had a good morning gathering oysters. We had an even better time that evening with friends at our own little oyster roast.