What do I need to know about clamming

[chuckster]

Am from eastern Washington but have a three day weekend next week and going to visit family in Blaine that live right next to the beach. While there I would like to try clamming but it seems complicated, such as the tides being right, the bio toxin levels good, and the season open on the clams you are digging. Its kinda intimidating for some one who know nothing about it, but if this is a doable thing, next weekend I would love some advise on how to go about it

[Fl0und3rz]

Someone will chime in on tides.  Go before low tide is reached with the lowest tide a better option. If the beaches are open, toxins have been checked and are OK, I presume. It can be a bust if it is raining heavily, as it washes away the sign. It is a breeze.  Watch for a few minutes and you'll get the gist.

Each digger needs their own container and must dig for themselves.  There are other threads here on digging with kids.

[duckmen1]

I start 2 hours before absolute low tide and follow it out. The lower it gets the better they show. Got my limit within a half hour last weekend. Im no expert but I start my hole with a clam shovel and finish digging by hand. Dig quick and have fun. I dig for razors.

[bobcat]

Where he's going there aren't any razor clams, and I don't know anything about digging anything but razor clams.

[gasman]

Yeah, it depends on what your after 

If your goig after razor clams on the ocean, you need a clam gun, and low tide to find them.


If your going after butter clams of the sort, and are on rocky beach, a rake is best used.

So again, where and what are you after 

[jay.sharkbait]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/beaches/MapArea/01/

Some of the beaches in the area are closed year round..

[L-ofalab]

 

I clam often in the San Juans, close by where you are going. I would wear hip waders and maybe pad the knees. Little necks, manila, horse, butter, and cockles can be had in your area. I use a small garden shovel as soon as the tide gets to +1.5 it is easy to find them. Little neck steamer clams are usually on a beach that has medium sized gravel mixed with sand. You need to measure them with calipers. You can do a search on you tube maybe and find video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbrEqHMEldw

[Fl0und3rz]

Where he's going there aren't any razor clams, and I don't know anything about digging anything but razor clams.

You're right.  It was late and I presumed razor clams.

[Colin]

Little necks and manilla clam will be very close to the surface. Usually in rocky areas near the high tide line. Cockles are also near the surface a few inches deeper than the steamers. I don't care for them so don't usually harvest for other than crab bait. Horse clans are much deeper. Sometimes 12 to 18 inches deep. I stick my finger in the show and if I feel a good sized neck suck down I dig to the side of the show and follow the neck down. Good luck out there. Not all beaches have all kinds of clams.

[lokidog]

If you get into clams, go sideways staying at the same level.

I love cockles, they are sweeter than the Manilas.   

[RadSav]

My tip is to leave the expensive hunting boots at home.  Salt water has destroyed more than one pair of my favorite boots!  Waders, Muck or some old junkers are usually what I wear for clamming.

[Blacklab]

Wear rubbers an start 2 hrs b4 dig times. I like using the gun over the shovel. Once you get the angle you won't break as many   

[lokidog]

Wear rubbers an start 2 hrs b4 dig times. I like using the gun over the shovel. Once you get the angle you won't break as many   

He's clamming in gravel, not for razors, guns are tough on the north sound beaches.   

[Blacklab]

lol oop's.

[chuckster]

I saw a razor clam dig was opened for Sunday the 15th would I be better off driving south on Sunday for that. And by the way thank you very much for all the input. 

[bobcat]

I saw a razor clam dig was opened for Sunday the 15th would I be better off driving south on Sunday for that. And by the way thank you very much for all the input.

Yes, you should. It will be a good experience. You'll just need to find some youtube videos on how to clean and take care of the clams.

[Sportfury]

Chuckster we are heading to Grayland on Sunday. Maybe we will see you out there.

[fishnfur]

In muddier sandy areas, dig down to about a foot or so for steamers - they and horse clams are better for chowder IMHO.  I stay up high in the loose gravels on Hood Canal and use a dead/dull oyster shell to just push gravel aside for Manilla clams which tend to be smaller and more tender for pasta or just general eating .  Once I find a good spot, I can usually get a limit within about 15 minutes and never get wet at all.  I look for areas where the wave action  caused the gravels to pile up in ridges during the last big blow.  Many times live clams are right on, or just under the surface.

WDFW webpage has a marine biotoxin webpage link with the latest beach closures.  Somewhere in those pages there are also maps of public beaches good for clamming/oysters.

Have fun!

[Carp Commander]

What about prepping them for the table or for the freezer?

With all of the hard shell varieties I like to change the water out on them in a 5 gallon bucket for a day to clean them out not sure which types need to be gutted and which types like steamers can just be thrown in a pot.

Can anyone advise on how to prep them for the freezer or the table?

[chuckster]

Thank you for all the input we did great this weekend and have clam chowder cooking right now. My boy had a great time out there cant wait to do it again.

[lokidog]

What about prepping them for the table or for the freezer?

With all of the hard shell varieties I like to change the water out on them in a 5 gallon bucket for a day to clean them out not sure which types need to be gutted and which types like steamers can just be thrown in a pot.

Can anyone advise on how to prep them for the freezer or the table?

You can get some grit out by keeping in salt water for a day or so.  One way I used to do it was to put cornmeal in with them, they would intake the cornmeal which would help move other stuff out of their stomachs.  I'm not a big steamer off the shell fan, so I steam them then remove from shell and squeeze the stomach out.  Then I toss them in a bowl with some butter and garlic and microwave, yummy.

Be sure to keep the water aerated so they don't suffocate.

[Revwrangler]

What about prepping them for the table or for the freezer?

With all of the hard shell varieties I like to change the water out on them in a 5 gallon bucket for a day to clean them out not sure which types need to be gutted and which types like steamers can just be thrown in a pot.

Can anyone advise on how to prep them for the freezer or the table?

You do want to hit razor clams. But it is a quick simple project. My wife and I just cleaned, vacuumed sealed, and got 67 in the freezer in about 30 minutes.

  We learned from YouTube.