I got a non-resident shellfishing license (Dartmouth MA) and went quahoging for the first time.
Did pretty well but now have some questions that I could not find answers to in the regulations they gave to me.
I could call the town hall and ask for some clarifications, I know, but I would like to hear from others with more experience have to say.
My wife would like to go on her days off, but the license is in my name, do I have to be present, or is it a family or household permit?.
Likewise, can we as a family all gather quohogs working as a team.
I know with a fishing license it is each individual, but what about shellfishing?

Thanks

I would imagine that the licinse is just for you. That's from my experience with the block island license.
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Locally, it is for license holder and needs be displayed. She would need her own in this town, but local shellfish constable lets kids help out as a family activity as long as licensee is there.

Bob, my town it's one rake working per permit but nothing said about the rest of the family walarin around in the mud to fill the 10 qt. basket on Sunday only.

Google "clambers itch" and how to prevent it...

Bob, my town it's one rake working per permit but nothing said about the rest of the family walarin around in the mud to fill the 10 qt. basket on Sunday only.

That's funny Gup because I got zilch using the rake and my wife filled most of the basket digging with her hands, so i put down the rake, and got some right away.

She is of Portuguese decent so that gives her a head start, no?... before we left to go digging my 96 year old mother in law, who saw me with a rake, told my wife "just use your hands" so she was happy to see us come home with a nearly full basket and about being right. :rollem:

She would have gone to watch but we felt it would be too hot for her......she enjoyed the clams casino(quohog), along with the stuffed quohogs, then spanish style with broth and finally some good chowder.

Permit for this town says no Sundays for shellfishing:fury:
wardens day off maybe?

Talk about over regulation and over taxation......the cost of the permit was more than I would ever imagine a fair price would be.
I will find out about the towns specific regs just to be sure.

I still would like to hear what other people do in their towns

Thanks

I have shellfish permits for my boat, both to possess & sell.
Pretty sure individual permits are for a single person.
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I am going to assume the local permit is just for one person.

However the state 10 pot lobster license made out to the individual is actually a family license. So any sibling can haul. And prevents more than one license per household.

Go back and add her name. I remember adding names to mine in Westport and there was no extra charge as you are still limited to the daily quota regardless. But they do need to see the names associated with the license number given. Pretty sure non resident worked the same. But all towns have their own rules when it comes to shellfish permits.
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And if Dartmouth doesn't do a family permit then anyone digging needs their own license.
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Thanks Jay.....I'll see if I can add her name.

Went again yesterday.... did pretty good ....told my helpers to find them and alert me and I will put them in the basket..Cant be any laws against that. If there is it's total bullspit anyway.

We would like to dig for softshell or steamer clams, just not sure where to find them.


Next year I'm going to try Westport.

Thanks Jay.....I'll see if I can add her name.

Went again yesterday.... did pretty good ....told my helpers to find them and alert me and I will put them in the basket..Cant be any laws against that. If there is it's total bullspit anyway.

We would like to dig for softshell or steamer clams, just not sure where to find them.


Next year I'm going to try Westport.
I'll show you where to get them in the river
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WEST ,going way back . in Swansea we got a family permit for like $5 ,,,,,,can,t remember what commercial was.But I remember having a bed permit .assigned number which had to be on all bags & it was only good in Swansea .

In RI you don,t need a permit to dig in RI just be a resident & obey the rec. requirements ,if checked /your license is your proof ..............that is for anywhere in the state / Not sure on Block Island . they have their own rules.
Commercial license you can dig in any open area in RI . Except Block island .......... what grows in B/I is for B/islandsers.........But I do remember many years ago that they had it dredge because there were too many & dieing off .yet when diggers ran from the point in 16' wooden skiffs they were thrown out :wall:

In Bourne, a member of your household or a guest can fish under your permit, as long as you are present. You can't lend them your permit, but they can dig or rake along with you, legally. Regs vary from town to town, tho. Check with your issuing authority.

In Swansea,,,$50 "Resident-Family" covers anyone living in same house. Head of house-hold must apply AND list all names of people living with him/her before doing any digging.

Non-Resident-Family, $150....same rules apply, entire family etc./

I find it pretty steep myself....I just wait until Stop&Shop throws out their aged and opened ones.....once they're cooked, all the bacteria dies
:fart2: