Kayak tour company bring oyster tasting to Morro Bay estuary
Participants learn oyster farming and shucking from local experts
– Central Coast Outdoors has partnered with Grassy Bar Oyster Company to launch tours that combine kayaking on Morro Bay with oyster shucking and tasting.
The tour takes participants by kayak to Grassy Bar’s farm site in the Morro Bay National Estuary. Guides from Central Coast Outdoors explain how the farm operates and answer questions during the visit. After returning to the kayak docks, a Grassy Bar staff member provides a shucking lesson and additional information about oyster farming. Each participant receives six oysters to open and taste, with dipping sauces included.
John Flaherty, co-owner of Central Coast Outdoors, said the company has long fielded requests for trips to the oyster farm. “We used to organize these tours on an ad hoc basis, but now we are fortunate enough to collaborate much more closely with Grassy Bar Oyster Company and run specific tours that offer actual oyster tasting as part of the experience,” Flaherty said.
The first scheduled tour earlier this month drew positive reviews. One participant described the outing as “excellent” and said the oysters were “delicious.”
Central Coast Outdoors has offered guided kayak trips on Morro Bay since 2003 and is ranked as the top outdoor activity in the city on Tripadvisor. Grassy Bar Oyster Company has operated its oyster farm in Morro Bay since 2009.
Additional dates for the tour are set for Sept. 12 and Oct. 11. The cost is $95 per person, which includes kayak gear and six oysters.
Details and reservations are available at centralcoastoutdoors.com. More information on Grassy Bar Oyster Company is at grassybaroyster.com.
