CLAM HARVESTING: 101

[John Pierce]

CLAMMING 101

TOOLS

• Rake: For shallow sandy butter and cockle clams. Best is standard metal long-handled garden rake ideally with thin (so less labour) and long tines to get down.
• Shovel: Different sizes depending on clam type. Best is full length wooden handle with half sized head (as less labour), ideally with rounded head vs sharp which cuts clams.
• Hand Trowel: Plastic is nice as less likely to cut clam. Stainless with double pointed tongue for prying rocks.
• Mesh Bag or Plastic Bucket: For storing clams.
• Rubber Boots.
• Gun: Used for deep sandy clams like razor & geoduck.

METHOD - SAND OR SMALL ROCK SURFACE

• Rake for shallow sandy butter and cockle clams. Walk with rake down (like trolling), will feel clam (easier when sandy), reach down pickup. Once find one then rake clam rich area vs trolling.

METHOD - BIG ROCK SURFACE

• Find low area (less rocks to dig out) or listen for clam "park" sound. Clear surface rocks away by hand or with shovel.
• Dig with shovel and by hand to find clams.
• Wash clams in water to clean.
• Fill hole back in.
• Put in mesh bag or bucket.

HANDLING

• Culling Dead: Never consume, if remain open when handled, toss.
• Purging: To prevent grittiness, you'll want to "purge" the sand from your catch by submerging them in water for a few hours, use the water they came from to keep them cool in the process.
• Storing: After purge, store in an open container in an ice chest or a refrigerator and drape a moist cloth or wet paper towels over the shellfish to keep them alive. Never seal them in a plastic bag or plastic containers — they need to breathe to live. Stored properly, they can be kept for several days.

SUMMER CLAMMING

• TIDES: In summer low tides occur during the day, in winter they are at night. Thus for summer clamming, daytime is best.
• MOON: The most extreme tides are during new moon and full moon, thus optimal time during summer is daylight when close to a new or full moon.

WINTER CLAMMING

• TIDES: In winter low tides occur at night, in summer they during the day. Thus for clamming in winter, beach access is best at night.
• MOON: The most extreme tides are during new moon and full moon, thus if clamming in winter, optimal evenings are when at full moon, when you have good light - provided the clouds are not too thick, also at new moon but then will need a headlight.

REFERENCE

• Video - Pacific NW Clam Tools
• Video - Catch & Cook Butter Clams in San Juans
• Video - Digging for Horse Clams in San Juans

[John Pierce]

COOKING CLAMS

PREPARATION

• Scrub shells with brush.

CLAMS IN SHELL

• Butter in pan, melt, add crushed garlic, add white wine.
• Place clams in sauce, cover to steam, will open wide, not open chuck, add little lemon, sprinkle with diced parsley, and optional hot sauce.
• If large cut muscle, scoop out clam meat, dip in sauce, eat, or scoop half shell with meat in sauce, eat straight from shell.

CLAMS OUT OF SHELL

• Steam, when fully open, remove and shuck with butter knife. Easier than opening and shucking raw.
• If frying, drain and paper towel dry.