A One-of-kind Kayak Party that Comes with a WARNING!!
oysters picked in the wild.
Take take home up to 120 lbs of oysters per kayak. To collect oysters yourself, Florida Residents and Visitors need to acquire a Florida Saltwatrer Fishing License .
Harvest oysters and hangout on deserted islands. St. Johns County is one of the few places in Florida where the water is more than clean enough to harvest oysters. Start off at a legendary Kayak Launch. From Genung’s Fish Camp get directly into the Matanzas River Oyster Fields under the SR 206 bridge in Crescent Beach.
Pluck plump oysters from the pristine waters of the Matanzas River. Encounter an ecosystem with a critical role in human survival and health of our environment. Learn about the role Oysters play in combating rising sea levels, overcome erosion, and built the foundation of diets for eons of explorers and settlers in the Ancient Land of Flowers, Florida.
Oyster harvesting is only allowed by law November – May.
Fishing license is required if you wish to collect live Oysters. Everyone with proof of a valid Florida Saltwater Fishing License may collect upto two 60lb bushels per day. Florida Residents and Visitors will have to purchase Florida Fishing and Hunting Licenses from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission before arriving for the Oyster Picking Adventure.
Explore a world that is only there a few hours a day, then vanishes for the rest. Glide over oyster mounds that just an hour before were islands of living crystallized calcium pods encapsulating the salty buttery fresh flavor of Matanzas Oysters… Maybe even a pearl! Oh, they clean fish poop and pollution out of the water too! But hey… eat away.
Only Oysters 3 inches or longer. Be sure to return all oyster shells from where they came to prevent Oyster Reef Collapse.
- Get a taste for restoring the Oysters Habitat
See how the Oysters’ Biosphere is rebounding after a long history of habitat destruction by human activity.
Oyster restoration is a good reason to get your hands dirty. Or, just let the guide get dirty bringing you a first hand experience with these unassuming and underestimated heroes… Not many places remain where it is safe and delicious to eat oysters. Matanzas Oysters fetch a premium being a delicacy for their clean texture and limited supplies.
Consumption of raw or under cooked shellfish can lead to serious injury or death. GeoTrippin’ does not provide harvesting, shucking, or roasting services. They only provide the education and a means to the end for those who wish to partake.
Available October – May. For water quality safety, we may reschedule if trip falls withing 72 hours after large rains.
WARNING ABOUT CONSUMING RAW OYSTERS FROM THE MATANZAS RIVER. EATING OYSTERS, NOT JUST RAW, MAY CAUSE SEVERE ILLNESS AND EVEN DEATH IN PERSONS WHO HAVE LIVER DISEASE (FOR EXAMPLE ALCOHOLIC CIRRHOSIS), CANCER OR OTHER CHRONIC ILLNESSES THAT WEAKEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.
If you are unsure if you are at risk, please consult your physician before purchasing your tickets. If you eat raw oysters and become ill, you should seek immediate medical attention.