by larsolater on Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:34 am
I have a bouy just for mussels. I suspend the mussels about 4 feet down from the bouy. It all sits on the bottom exposed at low tide, currently at the +2 foot level. I decided to try this because when I serviced my outboard bouy nearby, it had more mussels on it than my grow bags, in which they mostly died. I think this will work since it worked so well on the boat bouy.
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Another method I plan to try is to wrap a stick you put in the beach with that floaty yellow rope. I understand it attracts mussell babies, and simply pounding a stake in the beach, and wrapping it with yellow rope will result in it being covered with mussels a year later. I have not initiated this yet, but UW says it works great.
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I have a bunch of mussels in a grow bag. I believe it is a bit high on the beach, which is muddy, so they do not do well. But the beach is covered with natural mussels. I think the problem is the bag gets muddy covered (yes I could clean it more, but I don't) so that is why they have a hard time. This is in a very calm protected cove, so tide wash is not an issue.
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I tried to just place the mussels on the ground/mud all in one area. Either a seal or otter found them or who knows, but the natural ones are scattered all around, not in clumps, so maybe that a better idea.
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We harvest probably 10 times/year and my wife's recipie is sautee garlic and onions in butter till just brown, add white wine till boiling, and steam the mussels till just opening and serve with fresh bread to dip in the juice. Takes probably 10 minutes to harvest the mussels, and 10 minutes to cook.