So what really is "underwater foraging"? This will be a comprehensive guide to the basics of underwater foraging in Southern California including what marine species to search for, how to identify what is what, and most importantly how to safely and sustainably catch your next meal!
Let's start with "What the hell is underwater foraging?". Essentially it's going to be free diving or scuba diving for anything on the ocean floor that you won't need to shoot or spear. This could include any variety of shellfish from 10 pound Spider Crab all the way down to tiny little quarter-size Black Turban Snail, two different species of Sea Urchin, multiple types of Rock Scallops, Two-Spot Octopus, and more. You might be amazed at all the creatures close to shore that are not only edible, but also absolutely delicious.
Spider (Sheep) Crab
California Spider Crab, also known as Sheep Crab, is the largest crab species you will find in Southern California. They typically spend most of their time in deep water, so to encounter one close to shore is a sweet treat, literally! Their meat is deliciously sweet and make the best crab cakes, so long as you have the patience to crack through their super tough shell. If they are in the shallows, I have typically found them right on the edge of where the sand meets the reef. Just beware, their pincers are strong, so when you go to grab one make sure you use two hands to grab right below each pincer.
Turban Snail
There is a wide variety of edible sea snails along the California coast, you just need to know what to look for on your dives and once you can properly identify which species is which, sea snails are some of the easiest to forage. My personal favorite is the largest member of the Turban Snail family, the Wavy Turban Snail. They have a tough muscular meat that once tenderized and cooked resembles the highly regarded abalone. These snails are plentiful which makes them a very sustainable choice and an easy entry into foraging for beginners. Just be sure to only take what you really need so we can continue sustainable harvest for generations.
Rock Scallop
There are two species of rock scallop the you will encounter while diving (if you keep your eyes open for them). The Orange Lip Rock Scallop and the Grey Lip Rock Scallop can be found over rocky reef structure along the entire West Coast. Even though they inhabit a lot of water, they can be very hard to actually find due to their impressive camouflage. What you need to look for is a very faint electric orange line along the rocks. Once you do locate some scallops, you'll need a strong dive knife or a pry bar to get them off the rocks.
Sea Urchin
One of my personal favorites is Sea Urchin. You will find two different types of Sea Urchin on your dives here in SoCal. In the picture on the left is the large and world renowned Red Sea Urchin. There is also a smaller and much more plentiful Purple Sea Urchin that are scattered all over rock reefs and kelp forests. Urchin is harvested for the five bright orange tongues of briny, buttery flesh inside them called "Uni". Don't let the fact that this delicious, highly prized seafood is actually the gonads of the urchin discourage you from trying them because their flavor and texture is exceptionally unique and tasty. The smaller purple urchin is found on almost every rock reef and is not only a sustainable choice of seafood, you are actually helping save the ocean every time you remove the purple urchin from the water. The smaller Purple Sea Urchin is an invasive species and in recent years has decimated kelp forests along the California Coast, so if you want to grab yourself a delicious snack and save the planet at the same time, try to grab some of these purple urchin. Just remember to wear gloves!
This list is truly a fraction of the bountiful seafood you can forage for here in Southern California. Before you go out and start collecting though, make sure to do some research for your area to understand any legal size or bag limit for your species or any specific way they must be harvested. Two-Spot Octopus for example can only be harvested by hand. If you want to impress your family and friends with some fresh, delicious and out-of-the-box meals, sign up for our Guided Underwater Foraging trip where we will point out all the species under the water in real time that you can or should harvest and go into detail on how to spot, catch, and cook these tasty treats.
