Clamming....never done it
 

So this is kind of a dumb question, and I'm sure it's not rocket science, but I've never dug for clams and was wondering where to go? I know you need a permit, but is this issued by individual town or by the state? What am I looking for at low tide? Are there bubbles under the sand or a hole? Like I said, I can't believe I've never done this, but I don't want to look like an idiot when I go to do this....well, no more than I usually do...lol. Any info would help. Thanks guys.

Permits are issued by towns. What to look for depends on which clams you are looking for. For soft shell clams, look for the holes they leave in the mud from when they extend their siphons to feed. For hard clams, I look for sandy bottom with a mix of small stone.
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Town/City hall in MA. you need one per town.

Low tide, holes and squirts lol...

not rocket science...

pitchfork, clam gauge, quahog gauge, basket, permit and time.

You will see the holes. Sometimes they will squirt water out of the hole. Find a decent group of holes together and dig. If its muddy or sandy just use your hands. If its rocky use a pitch fork
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Also dig carefully so you don't impale them
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Be careful with me :uhuh::uhuh:

Yes, you and they are very delicate creatures. :hihi:

push rack in ground, the pry or fold up rack, then use hands to feel around. the soft shell will break easy if not careful!
Areas on the Cape, Orleans, Chatham, ect...ect... are just opening after the red tide, I have been hearing it ok this year but not as good as others?
Good Luck!!

What!

right?!

anyone wanna go clamming?

River finally opened back up today. Heading home now for a clam boil. Good luck!
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Keep your head to sand and your butt up in the air.......:) :)

I was extremely lucky as a child in that my father used a meager inheritance from his step-mothers estate to buy a cottage in Eastham, on the bay side, in Sunset Village. Of course many people here know the tide goes out ther sometimes 1 1/2 miles, all fertile clam flats, those sandbars used to be. Because other than having money to buy the cottage my parents didn't have much for anything else. So, consequently, I first and then my brother, methodically pillaged those sandbars, and eel grass beds for every clam they had hidden there to suplement the weekly budget. If you were willing to walk out further, or as far as you could go at low tide you could actually pick up quahogs in the same area at high tide where the draggers would be dredging the bottom. From the third sandbar to the 10th or 12th bar if one dared you could dig for razor clams, which were good for bait. Sticking your index and middle finger into the sand about two inches away from the little football shaped hole at a forty five degree angle, the angle was necessary so your fingers would hit the razor clam as it went down on its hole to escape your fingers. If you weren't fast enough the slice at the top of those didgits could be serious.
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Swimmer ,

when my kids were young & I,d make a supper size clamboil . my kids would fight over the one or two razorclams that were in with the steamer I dug .

I,ve been told they are really good

I have a friend that,s a diver / when he,s was diving for steamers, he would get enough of them that the dealer actually bought them /@ a different price .

We got two yesterday / they have probably been eaten all ready .

Nice read ....Love those days :uhuh:

Razor clams are killer. Goose fish and I target them in the winter. I made a clam gun out of PVC. Google it. I lightly steam them open, then coat in corn meal and pan fry them in butter. They are to die for.
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you forgot beer

Never heard of that. I googled it. Looks pretty awesome. Does it work for soft shells? Also have you ever used a plunger?
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