Look for them anywhere from Canada to the southern states, but keep in mind that warm water temperatures limit their range. Start by looking in bays and estuaries that get plenty of tidal flow. As their name suggests, their shell is soft and brittle, so youll need to be a bit more careful when digging them up. Depending on how deep the clams youre looking for are, you might want to size up or down. Many people are intimidated when it comes to preparing clams and other shellfish but they really shouldnt be its no more difficult than prepping most fish. Horse clams are limited to the first seven dug per day, no matter what condition you find them in. You can find them fried up in seaside fish shacks, alive in local fish markets, and even in the form of "steaks" at local groceries. I find fewer razors than steamers, so perhaps there is something in their scarcity that makes them taste better, too. Look for areas where the waves have created ripples in the sand, as this is often a good indicator of where clams are buried. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Adult clams hatch after eating the eggs that they eat. Each person digging must have their own container for collecting shellfish and their own permit. Luckily, learning how to spot them is fairly easy. Clam guns are a recent invention, originally developed to remove razor clams from West Coast beaches. This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Each clam species is slightly different and will have its preferred area of the beach as well as depth in the sand. They are often found in areas with sand or mud, as they use their siphons to filter food from the water. I think just about any of the sounds behind the Outer Banks or barrier islands would be a good source. While a beach might be open to manila-clam harvesting, it may be closed for butter or other clams. Simply soak them in a bucket of cold water for about 24 hours. The sizes of clams, from smallest to largest, are generally defined by countnecks, littlenecks, topsnecks, cherrystone, and chowders; however, the word chowder itself is sometimes used to describe clams. The cattail swamp is a place we look out upon but rarely venture into, like the highest mountains or the deepest sea. Arriving about an hour before the lowest tide will give you the most time. Clams are both a food source and a way of life for clams diggers. But just under a foot beneath the surface are some of the most delicious bivalves youll find anywhere. These holes are made by the clams as they burrow into the sand. Next, look at the color of the clam. Taking your finger off the vent breaks the vacuum, and the column falls out. Razor clams stand up straight in the sand and may require some effort to remove the grit from them. Move the clams to a large bowl and serve. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. While clam types vary from place to place, there are a few major species youre likely to encounter on either the Pacific or Atlantic coasts. You can also drop crab traps in the water or if youre lucky you might find one concealed in the sand or mud. Myrtle Beach Seashell Guide: When To Look and What You Can Find! But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Its as simple as getting a little luck and knowing a little bit about the subject. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f3\/Dig-for-Clams-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Dig-for-Clams-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f3\/Dig-for-Clams-Step-1.jpg\/aid5562787-v4-728px-Dig-for-Clams-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"