clams - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

beachin3 · 08-01-2002, 10:50 PM

I FISH A LOT WITH CLAMS AND DO GOOD BUT LATELY IVE BEEN GETTING SOME PRETTY FUNKY ONES SMELL BAD EVEN FROZEN THESE ARE THE PURPLE CLAMS THE BAIT STORE GUYS SAY THIS IS NORMAL THE STRIPERS NATURALLY LOVE THAT. ITS A GOOD THING .BUT IVE NOTICED A DRAMATIC DROP IN BASS AND A LOT OF SKATE IS THIS ODOR NORMAL I TRYED A LOT OF BAIT STORES IN THE AREA AND PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING OR BETTER YET IS THERE A BAIT STORE AROUND THAT SELLS THE NATIVE SEA CLAM A FRIEND OF MINE GAVE ME A 10 POUND BAG OF THEM HE WAS GOING TO MAKE CHOWDER WITH BUT HAD NO ROOM IN THE FREEZER SO I GLADLY TOOK THEM OF HIS HANDS I HAD 100 PERCENT GREATER LUCK WITH THOSE I DONT CARE HOW FAR I HAVE TO TRAVEL TO GET THEM THANKS RON{BEACHIN3}

TheSpecialist · 08-01-2002, 10:52 PM

Try Ron at the Sportsmans Den in Quincy. I don't think he gets the purple ones.

beachin3 · 08-01-2002, 11:02 PM

HEY THANKS TOO BAD I MISSED YOU IN HULL I WILL HEAD OVER THERE TOMMOROW BY THE WAY I FOUND THAT BOCCA GRIP IN THE HINGHAM BAIT STORE FOR 23 BUCKS NICE IT HAS A SCALE ON IT AND THE HANDLE SWIVELS FOR THOSE WRIST BREAKERS GOOD DEAL

Mr. Sandman · 08-02-2002, 06:16 AM

Have not fished much with clams lately but there was a blurb in this weeks "fisherman" pg -10-11 talking about the "deadly purple Stimpson clam..."so good it's almost unfair" and also a bit called "Reinventing the clam" and the "amazing Stimpson clam"
These are frm NY I think. I was a commerical clam digger for about 10 years in the late 70's saw them from time to time but I think they come from the really soft black mud areas and are old. The black mud I think stains the calm purple. They are really not suitable for eating, just bait. I never really used them but I sound like they stink to high hell.
You're finding they don't work as well as the sea-calm? I think a bass will eat anything but I would not be surprise to see a smelly clam attract more "trash" fish.

STRIPER77 · 08-02-2002, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by beachin3
BY THE WAY I FOUND THAT BOCCA GRIP IN THE HINGHAM BAIT STORE FOR 23 BUCKS NICE IT HAS A SCALE ON IT AND THE HANDLE SWIVELS FOR THOSE WRIST BREAKERS GOOD DEAL

Where do we get the bus to this bait store?

shore manic · 08-02-2002, 02:11 PM

striper, we could have taken the train if they didn't put a stop to it!!!! what do they get for clams up north of here? cherry's bait on ply. harbor get's $6 a pint. fished south river in humarock and got a quart or larger i think for $7.50 the regular sea clams.

TheSpecialist · 08-02-2002, 02:50 PM

I have'nt bought them since the spring. I think 4 or 5 for the small and 12 for a gallon.

I think the purple ones would work better also. They do stink to high heavens though. You can firm up regular clams by sprinkling them with kosher salt. I heard they will stay on the hook alot better.

dragnfly14 · 08-02-2002, 03:57 PM

Hi beachin3,

I don't know about there is MA. but here in Maine the color dye is added to the clams. Bait shop here can not sell clams unless they are colored. DMR says it keeps humans from going to bait shops to purchase clams to eat

As for the smell the clams I've used had no bad smell (only smelled like a clam).

If you get a chance tell me how you fish them there. I have a friend that only uses clams after a sea storm (or the seas just turned up in good shape). He claims that's the best time because clams & co hogs have been turned loose by the seas so using clams works best. He catches some pretty good fish so i guess there is some truth to it. He just casts the clams with as light a weight as he can and lets it roll in with the waves.

STRIPER77 · 08-02-2002, 05:34 PM

Maybe I wasn't clear. I don't give a damn about the price of clams, my point was the Boga Grip for $23. Am I the only one who can't find one for this price???

shore manic · 08-02-2002, 06:07 PM

striper, understand about finding that boca grip for that price. i was just seeing how overpriced cherry's bait was. i have a friend in marshfield who drags for sea clams off rexham .i've gone out with him a few times. probably shucked 100 totes he sells his in boston.but now i'm out so got to buy e'm

STRIPER77 · 08-02-2002, 06:42 PM

beachin 3--Do they have some more of those Boca Grips for $23 at that bait shop????

beachin3 · 08-02-2002, 07:29 PM

ment to type 123 bucks for bocca

shore manic · 08-02-2002, 07:57 PM

OUCH!!!!!!! THAT HURTS

TheSpecialist · 08-02-2002, 09:29 PM

Dragonfly during the spring I used them every night I fished. That was when I was'nt plugging, and I always caught fish. Some places around here they won't touch anything but clams. I fish mine on a fishfinder rig. I use a Gamakatsu 5/0 or 6/0 Octopus hook, and about 24"-30" of mono leader. My brother was out the other night fishing pogie chunks. He did'nt get a bump. The guy next to him was fishing clams, and nailing fish all night long.

dragnfly14 · 08-03-2002, 03:33 AM

Hi Specialist,

Thanks for the info. Always looking for alternate ways to fish. I mostly slow troll a tube rig baited with clam worm (seaworm) but on a windy day I get pushed around. On windy days I try to jig some Mackrel or Pollick and fish them live or chunk & dunk but when the Bluefish are here the mackrel are hard to find. I will give clams a try. Thanks again for the info.