WAREHAM FISHING FIELD GUIDE
BaysGiving at Onset Bay: Waders, Quahogs, and a Community Boil
A free community event that pairs a boat ride to Burgess Point and hands-on quahog harvesting with a chef-led quahog boil—this guide explains the schedule, what to bring, and who can participate.
BaysGiving at Onset Bay: Waders, Quahogs, and a Community Boil.
Onset Bay Center gathers neighbors for an afternoon on the water and a communal feast: participants board a boat for Burgess Point to harvest quahogs, then return to the center to learn preparation from a local chef and share a boil that also serves members of the Wareham Council on Aging.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Hands-on shellfishing at Burgess Point
A boat ride carries the group to Burgess Point where participants don waders (optional) and learn to harvest quahogs under staff guidance, an instructive, tactile introduction to local shellfishing.
A quahog boil led by a local chef
After the harvest the group returns to Onset Bay Center to watch and help a local chef prepare the catch, enjoying freshly cooked quahogs and a pre-made stuffed quahog as part of the communal meal.
Service and local stewardship
The event is free and framed as a community giving: participants will help prepare and serve members of the Wareham Council on Aging, while Wareham natural-resources staff and the harbormaster share rules and best practices.
What the day feels like
What the day feels like
The afternoon moves from a short boat ride to a low-tide harvest at Burgess Point—participants step into the shallows (waders optional), learn harvesting technique, then reconvene at Onset Bay Center to transform the catch into a communal quahog boil with a local chef, finishing the evening by sharing the meal with fellow attendees and members of the Wareham Council on Aging.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this event suits—and who it excludes.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The event runs in the late afternoon: shellfishing from about 3:00–5:00pm, with food preparation and a communal meal roughly 5:30–6:30pm.
All equipment is provided; wear comfortable clothing and warm layers. Participants may choose to wear provided waders when entering the water.
Meet at the Onset Bay Center for check-in and orientation before boarding the boat to Burgess Point.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Is there a cost to attend?
No—the BaysGiving shellfishing and quahog boil is a free community event.
What ages can participate?
The event is open to participants age 13 and older.
Do I need to bring any gear?
All equipment is provided; attendees should bring comfortable clothing and warm layers and may use provided waders if they enter the water.
Where do we meet?
The meeting location is the Onset Bay Center.
Will there be instruction and oversight?
Yes—Onset Bay Center staff will guide activities, and the Wareham Department of Natural Resources and the harbormaster will be onsite to share shellfishing rules and guidance.
Will harvested quahogs be shared with the community?
Yes—participants will help prepare and serve the catch to members of the Wareham Council on Aging, and each participant can enjoy a few fresh quahogs as well as a pre-made stuffed quahog, depending on the harvest.