Best Oysters in March

March is a very good month to eat oysters: the water is still cold, oysters are still plump from winter, and spawning season is months away. As an "R month" it passes the traditional test too — though today's farmed oysters, harvested under strict cold-chain rules, are safe in any month.

Early spring oysters carry most of the qualities of winter oysters — firm texture and glycogen sweetness — with steadily improving variety as harvests ramp up. Both East Coast and West Coast oysters remain in excellent shape in March.

This is also a good month to explore beyond the familiar: cold-water regions in both hemispheres are producing well, and spring menus at oyster bars tend to be broad. Use our region guides to compare how the same species tastes from different bays.

Top picks

Frequently Asked Questions

Are oysters in season in March?

Yes. March oysters are still in near-winter condition — firm, plump, and sweet — because the water remains cold and spawning has not begun. It is also an "R month."

What is the "R month" rule for oysters?

The old rule says to eat oysters only in months containing the letter R (September through April), which avoids warm-weather spawning months. Modern refrigeration and farmed, often sterile (triploid) oysters make oysters safe year-round, but the rule still tracks when wild-type oysters taste best.

Do East Coast and West Coast oysters both taste good in March?

Yes. Cold late-winter and early-spring water keeps oysters in both regions in top condition, making March a great month to compare Atlantic brininess against Pacific sweetness.

Explore by region and species