Residents catch quahogs with the Coalition
May 25, 2019
Residetns joined the Buzzard Bay Coalition on Saturday afternoon to learn to catch their own quahogs. The group met at Onset Pier and travel by boat over to Burgess Point. Photo by: Nadya Korytnikova.
Amy of Wareham Land Trust demonstrates to the participants how to pick up the quahogs. Photo by: Nadya Korytnikova.
Paul Athanasiou, 9 proudly presents his catch. Photo by: Nadya Korytnikova.
Dimitri Athanasiou. Photo by: Nadya Korytnikova.
John Hanlon struggles to take off his shoes and had to call Alyson Agoglia for assistance. Photo by: Nadya Korytnikova.
Susan Francis. Photo by: Nadya Korytnikova.
On a warm Saturday afternoon, 20 people put on thick, rubber boots and waded into the water near Burgess Point to catch quahogs.
Organized by the Buzzards Bay Coalition, the May 25 event was catch-and-release except for those who had a shellfish permit from the Town of Wareham.
Participants received waders, baskets, rakes, and a brief lesson of basic quahogging tactics. Along with quahogs, some caught crabs and oysters, which they released back into the water after careful examination.
“This is an Asian shore crab, an invasive species,” said Buzzards Bay coalition coordinator Emily Boardman as one of the participants picked up a small green crab on his rake. “They are breeding and increasing rapidly in number. Because it is not a picky eater, it outcompetes native species such as fish and shellfish for food.”
Due to the warm weather and still water, participants filled the baskets with quahogs of all sizes.
“I am so happy I caught a few today,” said Susan Francis of Wareham. “It was definitely worth coming here. It was very fun, especially since the weather is so perfect.”
