Geoduck

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

As I start this thread, I want to clarify a few things.
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I put this in "other big game" because they are not easy to find on public beaches.
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Access to areas that hold them is more restricted than hunting.
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Public/private, long hikes..
Boat only access areas..
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You think the moon affects hunting?
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Low tides are dependent on the moon.
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Unless you're a diver, have private access, or a boat..
 You have limited opportunities to even find one, let alone dig one.
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Limit is 3 a day, but I only dig one a year.
Just to say "I did it!"
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Digging a 4 foot deep hole on the beach is hard work.
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I question my motivation.
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Sure, they taste good...
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But not that good..
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Every other mollusca is easier, and just as delicious.
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Why even work that hard for one?
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The "trophy' is the picture, and sense of accomplishment.
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As I plan this year's quest for "the one", I am aware that it really isn't about the food, it is about the experience and time shared with friends/family more than just getting a clam.
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Anybody else "hunting" Geoduck this year?

[Wphunt]

I have dug 2 up years ago, and I did have private access. Only saw them on a very low tide, like -2’ or more. I agree with you, it’s hard work, really muddy, good but not great eating. It’s fun in a way and a good experience though. I never got a picture, post a geoduck grip and grin if you get one!

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Planning a trip in June with -4 tides with a couple of forum members.
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We will have pictures.
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Actually starting out on private beach that maybe has them, then going to my "secret" public spot to get our one.
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It's just that I have seen people actually show pictures of multiple limits (3+)
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And just digging one kicks my ass.

[253shotgunner]

Geoduck digging is the ultimate tide to table adventure for us clam diggers. 253sg

[DrAri]

We have them on our beach in the Olympia area. There’s many homes here that lease their tidelands out to geoduck farmers

[Encore 280]

Anybody use a garbage can or big diameter stove pipe? Makes it a lot easier, keeps things from caving in around ya. Years ago we'd order geoduck steaks at the old Kingston Inn, damn good! 

[pianoman9701]

I love geoduck but have never hunted for them. I eat the siphon raw in ceviche. I take out the stomach and deep fry the body cut up into 2-3" chunks. I think I like the ceviche more than the fried pieces. It's sweet and if sliced fairly thin, not rubbery at all.

[pianoman9701]

More

[Stein]

Every time I get an itch to do it I just watch a YouTube and after that any desire to do it myself has mercifully passed.

[pianoman9701]

Its preparation is certainly not for the weak of heart or PETA crowd. The pieces from the siphon squirm a bit after being sliced. This goes on for a couple of minutes.

[elkrack]

Every time I get an itch to do it I just watch a YouTube and after that any desire to do it myself has mercifully passed.

Thanks for the tip! Other than to get a good workout in I don’t see the satisfaction. Lol

[GWP]

Geoduck digging is the ultimate tide to table adventure for us clam diggers. 253sg

Don’t lump me into your ‘clam diggers’ group. I dig clams. Now days with a clam gun.
I have no interest in hand digging 3’ down and burying my arm up to my armpit and staying there to pull up one ‘bigger’ clam.
 

[pd]

@pianoman: I agree with you, the syphon served raw with lemon & olive oil the the best way to go.

Here are some more ideas: IG @puget_wild

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

As I stated in original post, it is more the challenge of finding and digging that is my "reward"
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I can get one for eating without any problem...
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However, the "hunt" and effort provides an excitement much like other big game.
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Recreational harvest is limited to very few tides a year.
Access to productive beaches are limited.
Equipment is specialized..
(My Geoduck tube is family heirloom)
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Yes, going a full arms deep in the mud for an ugly clam, after digging 3 feet down, is not what most people call "fun", but the sense of accomplishment is why I do it.
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[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Anybody use a garbage can or big diameter stove pipe? Makes it a lot easier, keeps things from caving in around ya. Years ago we'd order geoduck steaks at the old Kingston Inn, damn good! 

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I have a 24"x36" tube with handles that has been in my family for years.
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Definitely makes digging the hole easier.
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But it is a pain to carry.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Family I brought out last year.
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She found it, we dug it.
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[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

It was a "once in a lifetime" experience for these city slickers, but the smiles made it all worthwhile.
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That's why I do it.
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We actually dug 3 that day.
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Mike and I agreed that 2 was enough, until she found one on her own...
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We had to dig it...
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Her "trophy"
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OIL experience for some.
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I like to do it more often than that.
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1 a year.
My goal.
Easiest big game in Washington.
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I'm happy with an elk every 4-6 years, and they are much more work.

[Wphunt]

Great pic stik.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Great pic stik.

Yeah, Michael Hellickson even had shirts made for his "team"
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'Clubwealth" Real Estate..
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16 people showed up for the bbq, but you can see who actually dug in the photo.
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We had cheerleaders, but they only came out for the bbq and didn't think digging a big hole in the mud was fun.
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I know that Michael and his family had more fun.
Especially because they all pitched in on the hole, and their daughter was the one with her ear in the mud reaching down to wiggle the thing loose.
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!!
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Mom found it while Mike and I had agreed that one apeice was enough.
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Then his wife yelled at us, "is this one" ?
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Insisted that because she found it on her own, we're digging it!
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So, yeah..
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It's not for everyone.
Why bother?
Not worth it.
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600+ people on a public beach (Dosewallups) with only 7..
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Reminds me of elk hunting.
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It's easy to say it's not worth it.
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Success is measured by attempting to succeed.
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100% on a 3 day trip to get a Geoduck.
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6 years in a row.
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And you are right...
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It's not fun, it's not worth it.
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I guarantee that I won't be the only one on the beach.
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Wierdos.
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[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

My first Geoduck, and some crab during July at Dosewallups.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Bio said 600+ people checked, 7 had Geoduck.
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Explains to me that it takes 4+ years for one to grow.
Recommending that I find private, or boat only access.
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Public beaches?
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Yeah..,
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Only 3 weeks a year, one week a month.
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Public beaches are not always open for clamming.
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Honestly it is worse than elk hunting.
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I dig a "Duck" a year.
Not because they taste good, it's because saying "I can" is not the same as saying "I did"

[AL WORRELLS KID]

Kopachuck State Park when it was open during the lowest Tide of the Summer, was the place to find Geoduck, Butter Clams - Oyster harvesting and Crab (that you could catch by hand just by going out wading using a small net tied on to a long Bamboo pole.)
This year it's open for Clams, Mussels, and Oysters for harvest April 1 through May 31 only, (too bad as the Lowest Tides are later in the Summer.)
 A Geoduck Gun makes digging a whole lot easier, as it holds the sand from falling back into the hole as you dig.   

[Teepee96]

Kopachuck State Park when it was open during the lowest Tide of the Summer, was the place to find Geoduck, Butter Clams - Oyster harvesting and Crab (that you could catch by hand just by going out wading using a small net tied on to a long Bamboo pole.)
This year it's open for Clams, Mussels, and Oysters for harvest April 1 through May 31 only, (too bad as the Lowest Tides are later in the Summer.)
 A Geoduck Gun makes digging a whole lot easier, as it holds the sand from falling back into the hole as you dig.   

Hey Al, where'd you find that top picture? It used to be in a article wdfw had on their site but I haven't been able to find it.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

"when it was open"
One of the major issues.
June, July, and August have the lowest daytime tides.
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The best beaches are only open Sept-may.
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[GWP]

As I stated in original post, it is more the challenge of finding and digging that is my "reward"
.
I can get one for eating without any problem...
.
However, the "hunt" and effort provides an excitement much like other big game.
.
Recreational harvest is limited to very few tides a year.
Access to productive beaches are limited.
Equipment is specialized..
(My Geoduck tube is family heirloom)
.
Yes, going a full arms deep in the mud for an ugly clam, after digging 3 feet down, is not what most people call "fun", but the sense of accomplishment is why I do it.
.

I was pretty much kidding. If I was younger I would be right there with you. Shoulders will not allow it these days. Probably knee's, back, neck, bla, bla, bla, as well.
I have done plenty of very lopsided 'reward vs. work' type stuff 'just because'.

[Flaming Antler Outdoors]

We boat in to public beaches, especially DNR beaches on Hood Canal.  You can find ducs pretty much anywhere from -2 tides but we favor the June -3 plus tides.  We were legal, both wifes and son were with us  

[GWP]

Dang! That’s a haul! Congrats on success!

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Yeah, I need a boat.
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That's even what the biologist told me...
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Public beaches get hammered.
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Great picture!
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[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Got one!

[Alchase]

Got one!

Nice one
Yum, Geoduck casserole!

[WAcoueshunter]

I got out today too…couldn’t remember a -4.5, so had to go see for myself! 

[Alchase]

You guys a making me  here in Oklahoma 

[dc]

Many yrs ago, when I was 8 ish my dad told me his friend had a few geoducks for us.  I asked whats a geoduck?  He told me it was a duck that lived in the mud.  Made sense to me.  He said I better bring my short handled smelt net to catch a couple.  I was all in.  When we arrived at his friends house he told me to wait in the car and he would go talk to his buddy.  A few minutes went by (long enough for him to tell his buddy I was waiting with my net)  They come out of the house and get me.  They position me in front of the garage door and explained that when the door opened i was to hustle inside and net as many as i could before they flew out of the garage.  I was primed and ready.  Door opens I run in with eyes wide.  I imagine that I looked like John Belushi in animal house as he is going up the stairs to take the horse into Dean Fabers office.  As I scanned around for several seconds I notice a box of big clams sitting at my feet.  It was then I knew I had been duped.  LOL!

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Cool looking critters.

[Alchase]

When I was young at our cabin on Hood Canal, we use to sneak up on them, and one person would stick their finger in the hole just after the squirted, and try to trap the neck against the hole.
Then the other would did like crazy around the hole until it was big enough to find the Geoduck.
We actually got pretty good at it.

But that was 40 years ago 

[253shotgunner]

Dang I want some geoduck chowder!

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Actually, 2 ducks and a gaper on Wednesday.
One Geoduck today.

[LongBomb]

Call me imature or not civilized or whatever but nope not eating that.

[Jpmiller]

I've never been after them but I do dig in the ground for a living. What's an average sized one yield for meat? One enough for a meal?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I've never been after them but I do dig in the ground for a living. What's an average sized one yield for meat? One enough for a meal?

They are the largest  clam,. One is enough for a meal for 2+

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Honestly, the measure of satisfaction from accomplishment is why I dig one a year.
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I could dig 3 a day.
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But I don't.
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It's almost work.
Feels like work.
I hurt afterwards like it was work.
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I feel satisfaction from completing it like work.
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And am just lazy enough to not really want to do more (because it is work)
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I just cannot help myself.
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Would rather take manilla clams, shuck oysters, and catch crab.
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Digging a Geoduck (to me) is like the difference between killing a deer, or an elk.
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I feel a sense of accomplishment just being able to dig one.
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[253shotgunner]

@Jpmiller
As a professional, what would you use to dig a hole three to four feet deep in various sandy and rocky conditions? I've seen people use shovels, post hole diggers, manual augurs, razor clam guns along with specialized geoduck tubes. What would you use? Thanks, 253sg

I've never been after them but I do dig in the ground for a living. What's an average sized one yield for meat? One enough for a meal?

[WAcoueshunter]

I've never been after them but I do dig in the ground for a living. What's an average sized one yield for meat? One enough for a meal?

The three I dug yielded 5.8 lbs of cleaned meat.  The yield is very high, mostly muscle and not a lot of guts. 

[storyteller]

Times have  really changed, 40 years ago on Dosewallips , you would never see even 100 people, the heirloom barrels were the  way to go, sit on it to shuffle in the  sand, then  stand on it  to finish  it to about 4 inches above the  mud.   You could even dig in the water with the barrel  as  it kept the water out of the hole.  Never a problem with limits, lots of ducks, the sheer population of Washington has impacted what we used to do like everything else.  Glad I did it back then

And yes, the thrill of the chase was the best part of the adventure.

[Jpmiller]

@Jpmiller
As a professional, what would you use to dig a hole three to four feet deep in various sandy and rocky conditions? I've seen people use shovels, post hole diggers, manual augurs, razor clam guns along with specialized geoduck tubes. What would you use? Thanks, 253sg

I've never been after them but I do dig in the ground for a living. What's an average sized one yield for meat? One enough for a meal?

Well my first choice would be an excavator 

Without having any experience my first choice would be a shovel. With any hole over a foot deep post hole diggers are a pain to do anything in, I like a bigger hole. I've never had to try to fish something out of a hole or find something in the ground and wished my hole was smaller but I've had lots of small holes I really wish I'd dug bigger. I assume the same is probably true for geoducks.

[Jpmiller]

Wouldn't an augur break the clam? If they're as deep as I hear they are a tube style clam gun doesn't seem really practical but I was wrong once and I'm open to it happening again sometime.

[Alchase]

When we were young and dumb, we use to use a clam shovel. Or any shovel if we forgot the clam shovel. If you can pinch the neck in the squirt hole. They can't dig as fast as normal.
Then your partner would just dig like crazy.
We actually go very good it.

I have not tried it in 25 years though. I do know three will make the best Geoduck casserole you have ever tasted.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Geoduck don't dig!
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They are locked in tight as a tooth.
They don't go nowhere.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

My cousins tube, a small shovel, a coffee can, and your hands.
Just dig deep!