Looking for something unexpected on the North Carolina coast? On my most recent trip to North Carolina, I visited an oyster farm via an excursion, and it was one of the highlights of my trip.
Booking an oyster farm tour with Ghost Fleet Oyster Company in Sneads Ferry is both a relaxing day on the water and a fascinating opportunity to learn everything you could possibly want to know about oysters. If you love eating oysters, you’ll be in heaven, and if you enjoy a day on the water, you’ll enjoy this hands-on, and science-driven trip.
I experienced the Ghost Fleet Oyster Company trip as part of a press trip to visit Onslow County, North Carolina.
What Is an Oyster Farm?
An oyster farm is exactly what it sounds like: a place where oysters are cultivated from seed to harvest. When I first got on the boat, I didn’t know how oysters grew or how they could possibly be farmed, but you learn so much while still having a chance to enjoy a scenic boat ride with great music.
And no, oysters don’t really grow from seeds like what you plant in your garden. The farms purchased juvenile oysters from a hatchery – generally the local university here – that are called seeds, and those are added to the various bags to grow into the oysters they harvest and we eat.
At Ghost Fleet Oyster Company, the team grows Eastern oysters that they call Topsail Jewels in floating cages in the nutrient-rich waters off the coast of Sneads Ferry and nearby Pender County. Unlike wild oyster reefs that are overharvested or off-limits during spawning season, these farmed oysters are stable, sustainable, and available throughout the year.
The oyster farmers have to get a permit and then are granted a specific area of water to farm, and they have a ten year lease that they can renew so long as they have an active farm. The oyster farms help to clean the local water, and there are ecological benefits to oyster farms beyond simply providing oysters for consumption.
What’s Included in the Tour?
The tour starts at the dock where you board the boat, and they have multiple boats so it may be a pontoon or it may be more of a cruiser depending upon the day. You head out to the farm to get an up-close look at oyster cages, as well as a full explanation of how oysters are grown, sorted, and harvested.
And the best part? You’ll get to sample oysters, often straight from the water. This includes a lesson in shucking, something I had never done before but successfully accomplished – multiple times.
Along the way, the guide explains everything from the oyster life cycle to how oyster shells are recycled to support restoration projects. On the farm, there’s generally someone working, so they also demonstrate the different sizes of oysters, how they sort them, and how they know when they’re ready to harvest.
Can You Really Eat All the Oysters You Want?
Yes, you absolutely can within reason. After you get all your questions answered about the workings of the farm, the guide pulls a bag of mature oysters from the water and empties it into a tray filled with ice.
Those oysters? All yours.
If you’re a fan, you’ll likely get your fill like I did. If you’re new to oysters or unsure about them, this is a low-pressure way to try them freshly shucked, possibly for the first time.
The boat has the appropriate condiments aboard to make them tasty, though I’ll admit I’m happy to shuck and enjoy as is. They have hot sauce, lemons, mignonette sauce, and more for you to doctor your oysters as you choose.
Can You Bring the Oysters Home?
Ghost Fleet does sell oysters to individuals. You can ask to purchase additional oysters when you book your tour to take back to wherever you stay that will be bagged and tagged with all the pertinent information like where and when they were harvested.
They also ship oysters. And the price isn’t ridiculous. While you have to buy a larger quantity, you can buy them for about $0.75 per oyster plus the shipping costs to get them there and keep them fresh.
Hint: The cost is less than buying them from your local fishmonger. The next party I have, this is my plan.
Is It Hard to Shuck Oysters?
As much as I love oysters, I had never shucked them myself. I was a little dubious, but by the end of the tour, I felt confident in my skills and had amply demonstrated them as I enjoyed the fresh oysters.
The guide demonstrates how to shuck the oysters once they fill the tray of ice. We had the owner Cody on our boat, and he walked through it slowly and answered all our questions.
Then he handed over gloves and the shucking implement, and we got to try it for ourselves. When we were unsure, he quickly jumped in to show us where we were going wrong.
With my first oyster, I didn’t know if I was going to be able to get it open or not. I eventually did, though it included a bit of shell with it.
As I continued, it got significantly easier. It doesn’t require a ton of muscle to do it. It’s about getting the implement into the right place on the seam of the shell at the right angle and then twisting to pop it open.
This is definitely a skill that’s fun to learn. And the rewards of an oyster that had been in the water just minutes before are a great motivator, too.
Is the Water Rough?
Yes, you are on a body of water, but it’s relatively shallow and still. I didn’t experience any rocking at all, so when we went out, there was minimal chance for seasickness.
That said, if it’s windy or other boats create waves from their wake, conditions can change. If you’re prone to seasickness, consider investing in one of my favorite seasickness remedies.
In general, however, this is not a rough body of water, and you should be fine.
How Much Does It Cost?
To book the Ghost Fleet tour, you book the entire boat for a three hour excursion for $385 (current price), which allows up to six people on the boat. You cannot currently book just two or four seats on the boat.
That works out to about $65 per person, which includes not just a three hour boat ride and information, but also all the oysters you can eat. If you’ve ordered oysters lately, you start to get the idea of how great a deal this is.
Note that this doesn’t include any gratuity. While it isn’t mandatory, they work hard and deserve one.
Can Kids Go on the Boat?
Absolutely. Kids enjoy the boat ride, and the hands-on experience is educational and safe. Ghost Fleet also runs summer camps for kids and hosts educational events for seniors and schools.
If your child loves animals, water, or science, this is a great way to spend a few hours outdoors. That said, know your child before you book just like with any activity you plan.
When Can You Go?
Tours run nearly every day of the year, weather permitting. While summer is the busiest season, spring and fall offer quieter, equally rich experiences and yes, you can enjoy oysters from the farm all year long.
I strongly suggest you book as soon as you know you might be interested. The tour sells out, especially in high season.
There is a morning tour at 9am and an afternoon tour at either 2pm or 4pm, depending on the season. That lets you plan your day to enjoy other fun Coastal Carolina activities, whether it’s shelling or visiting the turtle rehab center or just chilling on the beach.
Where Is It?
Ghost Fleet Oyster Company is based in Sneads Ferry, a working waterfront town near Topsail Island in Onslow County. They also operate farms in neighboring Pender County and sell oysters under the name Topsail Jewels.
Yep, the oysters you enjoy during your stay in North Carolina may be from the farm you visit. They actually ship oysters as far as Chicago and Kansas City overnight, but the heart of the operation remains rooted in the North Carolina coast.
Is It Just About Oysters?
While the tour may focus on the oyster farm, there’s a lovely ride to and from the farm, and you also learn about the other sides of the Ghost Fleet business. The owners are deeply involved in environmental work, too, which I love.
They collect and recycle used oyster shells from restaurants across the state. Those shells go back into the water to build new reefs to encourage more and more life to return to the area, and it’s already working.
Are You Ready to Visit an Oyster Farm?
Bookmark this article so you remember what you need to know. This is not just another tour meant for photos. It is a working farm, a floating classroom, and a chance to learn about real-world science while eating oysters pulled straight from the sea.
