How do I find clams?

Asked by: Laura Thompson

How to Find Clams. Start by looking in bays and estuaries that get plenty of tidal flow. Clams live in a variety of conditions, including sand, mud, and even rocky areas, though I favor locations that feature more of a muddy/sandy bottom. Drive around to likely areas at low tide and seek out other clammers.

Where are clams found?

Clams and mussels can be found in almost all types of freshwater habitats, but are very common in large rivers and streams. Most burrow into the soft substrate to varying depths, while some groups live free on the sea floor.

Where are most clams caught?

Availability: Hard clams are caught wild from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Florida, Texas, Cuba and Mexico. They are also harvested in five East and West Coast counties in Florida where they are farm raised. A few years ago, there were only about 70 clam farmers in Florida.

How are clams found?

Soft shell clams live in the intertidal zone, the wet area exposed between high and low tide. Clams are under the water during high tide and are uncovered on the tide flats during low tide. To protect themselves clams burrow down in the mud and sand using their foot. They can burrow more than 11 inches!

How do you find clams underwater?

Think about these clams they're very quick and they're very strong. So you have to spot them you have to look for them there's two little holes that you see in the sand.

Where can I dig for clams?

Pacific littleneck clams are found all along the coast of California. They are found in sandy mud and near rocks and reefs, about 6 inches below the surface. The best places to find Pacific littlenecks are Bodega and Tomales bays, in Los Angeles and southern Orange counties, and Malibu Point.

Where is the best place to go clamming?

Start by looking in bays and estuaries that get plenty of tidal flow. Clams live in a variety of conditions, including sand, mud, and even rocky areas, though I favor locations that feature more of a muddy/sandy bottom. Drive around to likely areas at low tide and seek out other clammers.

How do you go clamming?

So if you're finding that you're at the five to eight inch mark maybe just move along a little bit to the left to the right. Before. You give up on that site altogether.

Can I eat clams from the beach?

Always check for health warnings before harvesting and eating clams. Each year, the California Department of Health quarantines mussels and advises the public to refrain from eating other types of invertebrates, including clams, harvested from certain areas along the coast.

Where can I find clams with pearls?

In the United States, your main options are Kentucky Lake and Tennessee River in Tennessee and San Angelo for freshwater pearls. For saltwater pearls, your main option is Hawaii. While you can find mussels that produce pearls in other areas, these are the main states for commercially viable pearls.

How deep do clams burrow?

Harvesting Clams. Dig a hole about 7–8 inches (18–20 cm) into the ground. Most clams burrow into the ground around 4–8 inches (10–20 cm) inches into the sand.

How do you dig small clams?

You just get a rake and rake. Break for them. No you don't have to go dirt out on the surface. So i'm good on a soft shell i'm going to go dig for cockles.

How do you dig butter for clams?

Tap the neck of the clam. If it withdraws, or moves a little, it’s alive. Some folks like to cut off the dark tip of the siphon (neck). To eat raw, take a sharp knife and cut the clam right down the middle of the two shells.

What months are best to dig clams?

However, most digging occurs from April through September. The “table quality” of the clam is generally considered best in early summer, just prior to the July-August spawning.

What does a clam show look like?

Razor clam behavior



This is commonly called a “show.” When a clam eats, it loosens the sand above its neck creating a show. Depending on the size of the clam and how far it is from the surface, the show can look like an open hole in the sand (see picture below) or more like a soft indentation with no hole.

How deep are butter clams?

We're here digging for butter clams butter clams are identified by this dark color and these nice smooth concentric rings um they're a very long lived clam. And very sturdy they're usually found

Can you eat a raw clam?

The clam, sometimes seen as a poor cousin to the oyster, can also be enjoyed both raw and cooked. Best raw are tiny littlenecks or mid-sized cherrystones. Others, like quahogs or mahogany, are too chewy to be eaten raw, but are perfect for chowders and other cooked preparations.

Why is it called a butter clam?

The species Saxidomus gigantea is known as the “butter clam”. The term for saxitoxin (the neurotoxin found in paralytic shellfish poisoning) is derived from the genus name Saxidomus.

How big can butter clams get?

5 inches

Description: Butter clams have oval and oblong shaped shells with heavy, thick valves and hinge. Their shells have fine concentric rings. Size/Age: Average adult size is 3-4 inches but can range up to 5 inches. Butter clams can live more then 20 years.

What clams can you eat?

8 Types of Edible Clams

• Hard Clams.
• Mahogany Clams.
• Geoducks.
• Soft-Shell Clams.
• Razor Clams.
• Manila Clams.
• Surf Clams.
• Washington Clams.

How do you make steamer clams at home?

Cover the pot. Bring the water to a boil. Let the clams cook in the steam from the boiling water for about 5-10 minutes, until the steamer clam shells are wide open, then remove the pot from the heat. Any steamers that didn’t open should be discarded.

Is a clam a shell?

Like oysters and mussels, clams are bivalves, a kind of mollusk that’s encased in a shell made of two valves, or hinging parts. And that shell comes in all different sizes. There are small clams, like these, which are often used for cooking.

How long do clams stay alive out of water?

Raw clams must be kept alive before cooking. How long can raw clams be left at room temperature? Bacteria grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F; clams should be discarded if left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature and always discard if clams are no longer alive.

Can clams survive out of water?

In proper storage conditions, oysters can survive 2 to 3 weeks outside of the water, clams up to 5-6 days, and mussels up to 2-3 days, but we strongly recommend eating them as soon as possible.

Are clams alive when eaten?

Clams, mussels and oysters in the shell are alive and the shells close tightly when tapped and live crabs, lobsters and crayfish will move their legs. Shucked oysters are plump and have a mild odor, a natural creamy color and clear liquid or nectar. Do not cook or eat shellfish that have died during storage.

Do clams feel pain when you open them?

Yes. Scientists have proved beyond a doubt that fish, lobsters, crabs, and other sea dwellers feel pain. Lobsters’ bodies are covered with chemoreceptors so they are very sensitive to their environments.

Can clams bite?

Today the giant clam is considered neither aggressive nor particularly dangerous. While it is certainly capable of gripping a person, the shell’s closing action is defensive, not aggressive, and the shell valves close too slowly to pose a serious threat.