Take It To The Limit - Clam Digging on the Oregon Coast
One of my first and favorite vacations was spent digging razor clams with my grandparents when I was five years old. I remember the shells and all the fun we had as a family at the beach. Today, I still love the beach. My girls love it as much as I do and we spend a few weekends a year, during minus tides at the bay digging for horseneck (gaper clam) and picking up cockles.
The early low tide is usually best and we can be out on the bay before 6:00 am in most cases. We park at the Mark Hatfield Marine Science Center and walk approximately half a mile or so in to bay. Look for a small quarter size hole in the sand that may or may not have sand in it. Poke your finger down the hole; if there is a clam there, it will spit water back up the hole and you can feel the neck retract into the hole. Clams can be down in the sand any where from 6" to 30" inches down in the sand. It is best to dig near the hole and not right on top of the clam. You will have a better chance of getting the clam without crushing the shell. In Oregon, the limit is 20 total clams including a maximum of 12 gaper clams.
The first gaper clam I dug was at Netarts Bay. It was 8 inches across the shell and 3 inches thick. This clam had the longest neck of any clam I had EVER seen. I haven't dug its rival since. In the last two months, we have taken 7 of our friends out and taught them to clam. Believe it or not most of them are still friends. Sandy still exclaims "I cannot imagine why anyone would like to go out and roll in the mud, digging for these foul looking creatures." Bay clamming is dirty and smelly but it is lots of fun. Cleaning the clams, however, is not so much fun. Plan on spending as much time cleaning your catch as you do digging them. I usually fry a few clamstrips and freeze the rest for clam chowder or clam dip in the winter months.
On next outing I will be razor clamming on the North Jetty of Yaquina Bay. Razor clams are quick and I think, harder to dig. There is definately a technique involved. Clamming is a fun family activity your kids will especially love. Remember, a Shellfish license is required to harvest clams, crab and other crusty critters. Licences can be purchased for $6.50 at most sporting good stores. They are valid for one calendar year.
For more information visit the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
I love Oregon and the Oregon Coast, let me show you why!
Leslie Stewart
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Those things are huge, how deep did you have to dig to get the big ones?