How long until you have to clean razor clams?

[treefarmer]

How long can you let razor clams set before you have to clean?  Looking to dig two days and hoping to only clean one day.   

[JimmyHoffa]

A day in cold ice water would be fine.  Especially if you put flour or cornstarch in the water.  Then just clean both days worth at one time.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

 
Only one daily limit of fresh shellfish may be in possession.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Bag Limit
The first fifteen razor clams regardless of size or condition must be retained. One daily limit of fresh shellfish may be in possession. Additional shellfish may be possessed in a frozen or processed form. Razor clams may not be returned to the beach. For razor clams, holes do not have to be refilled as is required for hardshell clam digging.

[JimmyHoffa]

That's for transporting and in the field.  If he takes them home and puts them in ice water in the fridge overnight, then goes the next day that doesn't violate possession.  (or didn't last time I checked)

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

In that case, I suppose you could get away with it...
I have had bad luck with them dying in fresh (ice) water.
It is better to have them on top of ice so they stay cool.
I also bring a 5 gallon bucket to fill full of ocean water to keep them in.
I rinse as much sand as possible out then put them in bucket and keep them cool.
My kids always bring at least one extra friend so I end up with 90+ clams to clean, could not imagine 180+...

[JimmyHoffa]

Yeah, some I know like to put newspaper on top of the ice, then put the clams on the newspaper, then put more ice over the top.  Seems to work good too.  I know sometimes with the tides, you get in late from digging and the next good tide for the next day is around mid-day when it opens again, so not a huge gap in time.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

That's what I don't like about evening digs.
That is actually why I started bringing the 5 gallon bucket to fill with ocean water, I like them to wiggle when I cut them.
When the kids are cold, wet, tired and cranky from their nap in the car on the way home, all you want to do is get them in bed and relax the last thing I want to do is spend a couple hours cleaning clams.
Then the next day...well...

Morning digs, great!! clean them all, cook up a few there, throw the necks out into the surf for a few perch, Don't have shells and clam parts to dispose of even, get to go to bed soon after the kids.. all over but the eating!

[trophyhunt]

I let a limit sit over night in ice water once, I won't do that again.  They just didn't look the same, the taste was fine but had a yellow look to them.  Just pour a drink and get to work after the dig, it's just what I do.  I put them in boiling water for about 3 seconds then quickly get them back in cold water, the sand sticks to the slime on the shell and they come out of the shell very easily.  Spicey shake and bake, olive oil and fry them up!!!

[treefarmer]

Thanks for info.   Left first days in a cooler with wet towel covering.  Cleaned both days last night and they were all still alive and seemed fine     Am canning them right now using recipe I found on here.      On a side note if anyone finds the new clam shovel my kids left out ocean park let me know    Thanks !

[DRobnsn]

I do the same 5 gallon bucket trick. Seems like they will clean themselves out a bit if you leave them in it overnight vs cleaning immediately. I've left them in the sea water bucket for two nights once, the outside temp was around 36 those nights. They still squirmed when I cleaned them and tasted fine but I don't like leaving them that long.

[pianoman9701]

It says you can only have more than a day's limit in frozen or processed form. Storing them in ice water is neither frozen nor processed.

[Squidward]

I would not put them in fresh cold water as it will kill them. leave them dry in the fridge they will stay alive. Good luck!

[Stein]

I almost always throw them in a bucket with some ice if available until the next day and they are perfect.  Due to the way you clean them it isn't as critical as with steamers or the like.


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[lokidog]

In that case, I suppose you could get away with it...
I have had bad luck with them dying in fresh (ice) water.
It is better to have them on top of ice so they stay cool.
I also bring a 5 gallon bucket to fill full of ocean water to keep them in.
I rinse as much sand as possible out then put them in bucket and keep them cool.
My kids always bring at least one extra friend so I end up with 90+ clams to clean, could not imagine 180+...

   The clams will die in fresh water and will suffocate and die in salt water unless there is an aerator. Placing on ice will slow their metabolism, keep them moist and still allow them to absorb some oxygen from the air.  This works for crabs as well.  I cut the stomach off so don't worry about them cleaning themselves out in clear water.

I see others have posted similar info.  Congrats on the limits of clams!