Shell: Brittle, thin shells with rough irregular surface and uneven concentric rings. Essentially, they are a hollow pipe with a handle that you press into the ground around the clam and then pull upward. The discovery of golden clams in Briggs Lake is significant because it is an inland lake with no supplemental heat source. The third method of clamming is called wading or treading. These beaches may produce good oyster beds since oysters attach to submerged rocks, piers and other hard surfaces. These tubes leave holes or dimples known as “clam shows.”  It seems simple enough. Nowhere else in the country can you find the abundance and variety of shellfish that we enjoy. Above, we discussed four beach types and separately, they all host clams. Oval to square, to somewhat triangular. Most abundant near freshwater inputs. Shell: Concentric rings. Cook clams to 145°F for at least 15 seconds to kill Vibrio bacteria. This white paper focuses on geoduck clams, Dungeness crabs, hard-shell clams, and Olympia oysters. Doing so can re-contaminate your meal with bacteria. Biology. Best Clams in Washington DC, District of Columbia: Find 35,481 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of THE BEST Clams and search by price, location, and more. 6. Intertidal coastal zone (ocean beaches). For more information, please visit the Washington State Department of Health website. As their name implies, their shells look like a barber’s straight-edged razor. If clams are not showing and presenting a chance for digging, you can simply rake the surface with a clam rake or clam pick. Habitat: Rocky beaches in the intertidal zone. Water shoes or other soft soled shoes provide the best sensitivity and protection. You can see portions of sandy areas between the rocks and the dimple holes of the clams. Clams want a substrate that they can easily dig through. For current clam, oyster, and mussel beach seasons you can check: Razor clam seasons on the Pacific coast occur only after clam samples have been tested by the DOH and are found to be safe for human consumption. It takes some practice to expertly differentiate between a clam show and a worm hole. Most clams live their entire lives within a few square meters of where you find them. 1. Oval, flat. Before digging for clams, it’s important to always check for beach closures due to pollution, Vibrio bacteria and biotoxin/red tide warnings. Shell flares around siphon. Nothing beats a seafood feast of your own freshly gathered clams. These closures are designed to protect intertidal shellfish populations. Where one clam is, there will likely be more. Waders or hip boots allow you to kneel on the beach without getting wet which is a plus when you have to reach inside a deep hole to pull out that escaping clam. Never bypass a beach closure warning of biotoxins and red tides! Don’t confuse Atlantic Jackknife Clams with Pacific Razor Clams! Most of the US species live in the southeast, which is home to the richest collection of mussels in the world. You will either get wet or need rubber boots or waders to enter the subtidal waters. Clam chowder is especially tasty when served with a sprinkle of fresh thyme, bacon crumbles and crispy oyster crackers on top. Razor clam tides usually begin in the early fall and occur sporadically through May with summer considered the clam digging off-season. Clam shovels are specifically made with a long, narrow, curved blade designed to slide easily into the sand. Dirty water with lots of silt and debris clogs their siphons and insides. Not all are easily accessible though. May through September poses the highest risk as temperatures are warmest during this time. These toxins cannot be removed from shellfish by cooking. Habitat: Sand, gravel, cobble. Each type of clam required slightly different tools and is regulated a bit differently. Oblong (similar to Native Littlenecks but more oval). Siphon is too large to withdraw into shell. Before pulling up, place your finger over the hole on the handle to create a vacuum which keeps the sand and clam inside. The most commonly encountered clams on King County's marine beaches are the manila clam, native littleneck, butter clam, cockle, horse clam, eastern softshell and macoma clams. Find a hole and you’ll find a clam. The toxins are slowly flushed from their bodies after the algae die but it can take up to 4 – 6 weeks and even as long as 2 years for butter clams. size, 40 clams or 10 lbs max in shell, Min. Searching for clams in the right region of the beach is imperative to success which is why we’ll start with a quick discussion on tidal zones. There are 10 types of clams available for harvest in Washington state: manila, native littleneck, butter, varnish, cockle, macoma, horse, eastern softshell, razor clams and geoduck. Shellfish license:  Residents and non-residents, 15 years or older, must have a valid license to collect shellfish in Washington State. Color can vary – typically grey, brown, or mottled. Razor clams do not require purging because you always open them up and thoroughly clean. Other smaller shovels, like foldable army shovels, also work but they may require you to dig faster as the blades are not as long. Pull the shovel blade up and toward you to remove the sand. Daily limits for clams and oysters are defined per species. The low intertidal zone contains the most abundant and diverse marine life. Vibriosis is an intestinal disease caused by vibrio bacteria. 5. Adding cornmeal or pepper to the water isn’t necessary. The western pearlshell is pictured above. To purge clams of any remaining sand, place them in a bowl of cold seawater. Shellfish/Seaweed license:Allows you to harvest razor clams, red rock crab, coastal Dungeness crab (but not Puget Sound Dungeness crab), goose barnacles, mussels, octopus, oysters, scallops, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, shrimp, softshell and hardshell clams, … There are several important steps to insure your clams remain safe to eat. A license, shovel, and bucket are the only necessities. The vibrations from pounding cause the clams to shrink away, causing a slight dimple. Razor clams are highly sensitive to vibrations. You can’t dig for clams when rock after rock is in the way. Shell: Concentric rings and shiny brown coating. Each is found at different depths and locations on the beach which is why we’ve created any easy reference table to get you started in the right direction. Different types of clams each have their own flavor profile and distinct texture, which makes them ideal for their own specific cooking applications. It is also important that you confirm that you are not digging for clams or oysters on a commercial farm. Yellow to grey/white colored. Depending on the specific location, mudflats can be extremely dangerous. Use the rake or your hands to pick up the clams. Keyholes are large and well defined, usually round and occasionally with two holes close together. There are many types of tasty shellfish you might encounter when you go Washington state clam digging. The clams found here are well adapted to surviving the pounding surf and low tide exposures. Hobbs, P. V. "Summary of Flights and Types of Data Collected Aboard the University of Washington's Convair-580 Research Aircraft in the CLAMS Field Study on the United States East Coast From 10 … size, first 7 clams dug, regardless of size or condition (broken), Native littleneck clam, Pacific littleneck, Nuttall’s cockle, Heart cockle, Basket cockle, 2.5″ long, 18 oysters, includes any eaten on beach, leave shells where harvested, First 15 razor clams regardless of size or condition (broken), Shellfish Emergency Rule Change Hotline, 866-880-5431. Several clam species are present across several tidal zones. Purple inside the shell. Bivalve Shellfish Identification Handout (PDF), Contact Us If you order a dozen steamed clams in a … If you like your chowder on the thick side, add another tablespoon of flour after it is done in the pressure cooker.