The native oyster of the west coast of North America, Ostreola conchaphila, supported a vibrant fishery in the late 1800s. From Willapa Bay alone, an estimated 100 million oysters were removed annually between 1870 and 1905. Populations of native oysters have not recovered, despite the existence of oyster reserves and negligible harvest pressure for seventy years. Low recruitment and poor post-recruitment growth and survival could explain lack of recovery. We measured weekly recruitment at five sites in 2002 and compared our results to historical records (1930-1989). In 2002 and most earlier years, recruitment of Ostreola exceeded recruitment of the introduced oyster, Crassostrea gigas, which forms extensive reefs in the bay. We also placed tiles with hatchery-set Ostreola spat at five sites with replicates at two tidal elevations and nearby moorings. We periodically removed potential competitors from half of the tiles. Under optimal conditions, Ostreola grew rapidly in its first summer to a shell length of 2 cm, with 40% survival. Overwinter survival was high (75%), but growth slowed. However, conspicuous settlers on tiles included numerous introduced species (ascidians, hydroids, oysters) as well as native barnacles and algae. Post-recruitment interactions with introduced species are implicated in the failed recovery of Ostreola.