San Diego fishermen and women will roll up their sleeves and shuck some oysters next week for a charity event that will help get a new generation of anglers out into the water.
On Aug. 8 – just a few days after National Oyster Day (Aug. 5) – Ironside Fish & Oyster in Little Italy will host its 4th annual charity-driven dining event, the “Shuck-a-Thon,” featuring the shucking skills of the fishing pros make the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market happen week after week.
From 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., local fishermen and women will take turns shucking oysters behind the raw bar at Ironside alongside the eatery’s executive chef, Jason McLeod. Oyster enthusiasts are invited slurp the seafood, which will sell for $1 a pop.
One-hundred percent of sales from each oyster shucked that day will benefit the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation, a charity that gives special needs children a chance to enjoy a day outdoors, learning how to fish.
Last year, when female chefs took over the restaurant’s raw bar, the Shuck-a-Thon raised more than $5,600 for charity. Organizers expect this year’s event to match or surpass that fundraising target.
In past years, top-notch local chefs have shucked for charities like Fundacion Luz, Project Wildlife, Children International, Waves of Water and Rady Children’s Hospital. The inaugural event in August 2014 raised $2,565 for local charities.
The event is free to attend; walk-ins are welcome. Ironside Fish & Oyster is located at 1654 India St. As its name suggests, the eatery is known for its oysters and fresh seafood dishes.
The fishermen and women of the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market set up shop every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the pier at 598 Harbor Lane near Seaport Village.
At the pop-up, open-air market, patrons can purchase fresh-caught seafood directly from local fishermen and aquafarmers, all working toward minimizing the carbon footprint through sustainable fishing practices. The Dockside Market has been running since 2014.
