Species profile
California Mussel
Mytilus californianus
At a glance
California Mussel (Mytilus californianus) is a bivalve mollusk regulated in 17 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 10 (Washington); the most generous is 300 (Federal Waters (DFO)).
Confirmed by 17,142 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, British Columbia, and Oregon the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- California Mussels can live over 20 years and grow shells up to 10 inches long.
- Dense mussel beds provide critical habitat for hundreds of other intertidal species.
- They anchor to rocks with dozens of byssal threads strong enough to resist crashing waves.
- California Mussels are a keystone species on rocky Pacific shores from Alaska to Baja California.
- Always check for red tide closures before harvesting — they accumulate toxins from harmful algae.
Where California Mussel are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for California Mussel
Background
The California mussel (Mytilus californianus) is a large edible mussel, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Mytilidae.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's California Mussel article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other clams/oysters/mussels on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.