The Sad State of The American Clammer: The Dying Tradition of Clamming

The Author with a modest supply of Quahogs harvested in Massachusetts

A Dying Tradition

Pristine beaches, million-dollar waterfront real estate, and some dick head with a JBL speaker blasting divorced dad rock digging up those poor millionaire's waterfront property. No, I am not talking about a bunch of fun-loving gentlemen celebrating their day off by drinking a thirty rack and digging a hole at the beach. I am talking about clamming. Little necks, Quahogs, Razor clams, even Sea Clams for bait. All things said I Dig Clamming 

Growing up, a beach day meant that we were going clamming. It was a family affair. My cousins, my sister, and even my aunt was knee deep in the tidal flats of Cape Cod Bay in Massachusetts. Likely the same flats the Wampanoags had been clamming long before my Italian and Irish Ancestors even knew what America was. Clamming became one of my favorite activities and clams became one of my favorite foods! Fried little necks, stuffed quahogs, steamed clams with butter sauce, raw clams with a vinaigrette, and razor clams drizzled in butter and chives baked in an oven. I could eat them all and while they may not have the variety of shrimp, they are damn good. 

Which is why I am shocked that there are not more people clamming. Back in the days before light pollution plagued America the local Native Americans and our early settlers were dependent on it. The first thanksgiving without a shadow of a doubt was littered with shucked clam shells. Native American tribes would migrate to the coast when the hunting slowed down to forage for the defenseless clams and crustaceans that littered our coasts. Clamming is cheap and a great way to live off the land with a growing commodity in the grocery store. 

Current State of Affairs

When I show up to my favorite clamming spot on a warm summer day now, I am met with foreign stares and many questions from the local beach goers. “Like the ones in the grocery store” “Are they safe to eat”. A few times animosity was involved due to most of the public being unfamiliar with the laws that are in place for the humble clamming man. Massachusetts like many states have laws protecting your rights as a sportsman. One of my favorites is in Chapter 91 of the Massachusetts General Laws and is known as the Waterway Regulations. This law, a friend to surfcasters and shell fisherman, allows permit holding citizens to use any private beach between the high and low tide line. If you gain lawful entry through public land or permission from a landowner. I have on more than one occasion gained access through the promise of a share of my harvest. 

The bars for entry are extremely low for an industry that is becoming more and more commercialized. There are no new innovations that are changing the clamming game like live scope fish finders. You can go online and order a handheld clam rake from Japan for $10 on amazon. That said I would recommend checking out your local tackle store first. Their expertise and knowledge could help you find a great new spot. While clam rakes and baskets do help, I see plenty of people who use garden shovels and five-gallon buckets. Most people could probably get away with clamming with their bare hands and a bucket.  

That said clamming varies from traditional fishing and hunting permits. At least in my home state of Massachusetts, shellfish permits are regulated by the local municipalities and can be regulated differently by town. This does include out of town increases in permit price which I find out right ridiculous as someone who does not live in the town of my desired clamming spot. That said, every year I will gladly pay the town clerk to get my hands on some fresh mud-covered clams. You also have to be careful of pollution and other environmental concerns such as the dreaded red tide. 

Pollution and red tide aside, they are great sources of wildly harvested calories. When not fried up in a beer batter they are low in fat and calories and high in protein. A three-ounce serving contains anywhere from 70-80 calories and up to 20 grams of protein. A 20-gram protein bar or scoop of powder is at least triple that most of the time and full of unnecessary flavor enhancements. Which is why I am once again confused as to why less and less people are clamming. When it comes to who you see clamming now a days you usually run into three types of people. Old timers, Immigrants, and families. Old timers are always a great source of knowledge and know a good deal like clamming when they see one. Immigrants, like all our own ancestors, are looking for an easy and tasty meal. A few years ago, I acquired an amazing tempura battered razor clam recipe, paired with a ponzu and scallions' sauce, that I received from a young Japanese fella I was clamming next to and am eternally grateful. Lastly, the families are what is slowing the decay of this great tradition of putting food on the table. Overall, it is a great community, but sadly it is dying. 

Clamming is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to provide for yourself and family, yet fewer people are clamming. 

Epilogue

There are plenty of reasons for that like the urbanization of their habitat and the growing aquaculture industry that has been flourishing in the state. However, I think it goes deeper than that. The tradition is disappearing before us! More and more generations are content with shopping for their food and do not care where it comes from as long as it is organic. The average outdoorsman is now more likely to go kayaking without a fishing pole, on a hike in the woods during November without a gun or bow, or to the beach without a clam rake and basket. 

What am I getting at...go clamming!! Clamming can be done year-round if you are willing to bundle up in the cold. In the summer it is a perfect way to get your kids out of the house and harvest their own dinner. For the single sportsman it's not even the worst activity for a date or just after work or school activity. Get off work, grab a couple drinks, head down to the water, and enjoy yourself. Get your limit of shellfish, go home, offer some to the neighbors, rinse them off with saltwater, get another drink, and cook yourself a meal with the freshest local ingredients that all the money in the world could not buy!  

If you do decide to go clamming contact our outfitting team or free consultants to make sure you know what you need to fill your basket and the local regulations. 

For a 25 percent off credit* towards our outfitting services send in a picture of you enjoying your time outside! Winners are drawn weekly! 

*25 percent off on appraisals of 200 dollars or more and 25 dollars off anything less. 

Mentioned products and regulations: 

Amazon.com : Senkichi Ninja 4-tine Rake for clam digging (Japan Import) : Patio, Lawn & Garden 

Chapter 91, The Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act | Mass.gov