Oystermen report harvesting bounty of “real beauties” near Urbanna this season
by Tom Chillemi –
Some of the best oystering in years on the Rappahannock River comes to a close on Feb. 28.
Oyster grounds in Areas 6 and 7 near Urbanna were each open for two months and produced a bounty of oysters during the four-month-long season.
John Dryden motored his 46-foot deadrise from his homeport in Poquoson 38 miles to Urbanna in January. It was worth the trip. In Area 6 he and his helper harvested some real beauties. Dryden picked out some oysters that were “as big as my hand” and shucked a pint from just a dozen oysters. “I haven’t seen oysters that fat in a long time,” said Dryden, a fourth generation waterman.
“They’re real healthy and the river looks healthy. Oysters are really booming out there.”
J.C. “Bo” Burton of Mathews brought his two boats to dock in Robinson Creek and work the areas. In Area 6 in November “there probably were 80-90, close to 100 boats, scattered there. It was good for everybody.”
In about three hours oystermen were dredging their limit of eight bushels per license holder with a 16-bushel limit per boat, said Burton.
Quality
Dryden said most oyster buyers prefer Rappahannock River oysters because of their quality. “They’re real fat,” he said. The oysters from the James River were not as good a quality, possibly due to too much fresh water, he added.
The Urbanna Town Marina was filled with workboats, many of which came from Guinea, Poquoson and Yorktown…
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