Seafood Hotspots Along the Sonoma Coast

One of my oldest memories as a kid is piling the family into our dads Volkswagen bus and driving from Sacramento to Bodega Bay to load up on Dungeness crab. We would set up camp at Doran Regional Park, then spend the next couple of days feasting on fresh crab, cioppino, clam chowder, fish and chips, and as much salt water taffy as we could choke down. The Sonoma Coast’s best seafood is worth the trip. 

Now older and saner, I usually opt for a cozy suite at The Lodge at Bodega Bay, but the family feasting tradition continues — when it’s time for fresh straight out of the ocean seafood, we head to the Sonoma Coast.

Featured Photo: Bodega Bay Oyster Company

Dungeness Crabbing

A pile of large, dark-colored crabs, typical of Sonoma Coast seafood, are tightly packed together. The crabs are predominantly dark blue and brown with orange-tipped legs. Their shells appear hard and textured, with legs interlocked, creating a dense mass.
Photo: Spud Point Crab Co

There are two ways to do Bodega Bay right, depending on your skill set, budget, and willingness to get your hands dirty. 

The old-school way (and highly recommended for adventurous families) is to set up camp at Doran Regional Park, buy a crab net at Diekmanns Bay Store and head to the Spud Point Marina pier. Because it is a public pier, you dont need a fishing license; 10 Dungeness crabs is the daily limit for recreational crabbers, all crabs must be a minimum size of 5 3/4 inches, and as of April 2022, the use of standard crab traps is prohibited to reduce line entanglement risk.

Walk to the end of the pier, tie some raw chicken parts to the bottom of the crab net with string (necks and backs work best — other options are fish carcasses and cat food), and plop it in the bay. While youre waiting for the crabs to fight over your chicken parts, head across the street to Spud Point Crab Company, a tiny take-out stand with picnic tables in the front. Everything, including the clam chowder, crab cakes, and crab sandwiches, is homemade. Im going to start an argument here and claim they make the best clam chowder in California (and people, Ive tasted a lot of clam chowders).

After your seafood feast, walk back over to the pier and pull up the nylon rope to see whats for dinner. Youll want to bring an ice-filled cooler to keep your catch in, and some camping chairs as well (crab fishing involves a lot of waiting). To learn more about crab fishing, log on to the Crab-o-licious website. It covers everything you need to know about how to catch, keep, and cook Dungeness crab.

Clam Digging

An outdoor fire pit area surrounded by wooden chairs sits near a waterway at dusk. Buildings with rustic architecture flank the scene, and distant hills and evening sky form the backdrop. Signposts and ornamental grasses are also visible near the water's edge, adding a touch of charm akin to Sonoma Coast seafood dining spots.
Photo: The Lodge at Bodega Bay

Since youre already up to your elbows in chicken parts and live crabs, you might as well get down and dirty at the beach hunting for clams, which you can do year-round at Bodega Bay. The only skill required is digging (kids love doing this), and the only equipment is a shovel and a sturdy bag. A good pair of rubber boots is nice too, but not a deal breaker.

The rest is pretty straightforward. Find a good spot. (Hint: try the western side of Bodega Bay.) Wait for low tide. Search the sand closest to the water for a small, bubbling siphon hole, then dig like heck with whatever’s handy. (A narrow clamming shovel works best.) A California fishing license is required for anyone over 16; you can get a single-day license at many sporting-goods stores and bait shops. Limits apply.

Two people are sitting at a wooden table, enjoying a meal of Sonoma Coast seafood oysters. The person on the left, wearing a green shirt, is squeezing a lemon onto an oyster, while the person on the right, in a gray sweater and beanie, is about to eat with a fork. Drinks are on the table.
Photo: Bodega Bay Oyster Company

The world is definitely your oyster at Bodega Bay Oyster Company, which has been family-owned and operated since 1985. Martin Strain and his children, Whittaker and Lindsey, farm 92 acres of pristine, plankton-rich waters in Tomales Bay and Bodega Bay with the mission of supplying sustainably-farmed shellfish while maintaining their standing as active stewards of the marine environment.

You can grab oysters to go or eat them outside at one of the picnic tables, but I suggest checking out their on-site tasting room, Bodega Cellars. Try some local cider or pair your oysters with seasonal wines for a Bay-to-Bottle experience. Here’s how to shuck like a pro.

View Dining

A romantically set table for two by a large window overlooking a serene lake at sunset. The table boasts plates of Sonoma Coast seafood, vegetables, rice, wine glasses, a candle, and a small vase of flowers. Wooden chairs surround the table.
Photo: The Tides Wharf and Restaurant

Okay, so camping, crabbing, shucking and clamming isnt for everyone, so for those of you who prefer their crab pre-caught, pre-cooked, pre-cracked, and served on a platter in a warm restaurant with drawn butter, cocktail sauce, and a flute of champagne — not a problem. In the center of Bodega Bay are two large seafood restaurants, The Tides Wharf & Restaurant and Lucas Wharf Restaurant & Bar that serve Dungeness crab in all the classic variations: cakes, cocktails, cracked, hot sandwiches, salads, chowders, cioppino, and more. Be sure to ask for a table overlooking the ocean.

More Coastal Adventures in Northern California

Looking for more things to do in the area?

Visit our What to Do in Northern California page!

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