Clam Digging

I only look annoyed because
I haven't caught any clams yet.

It wasn't difficult for my friend to talk me into a clamming license this year, even though I only used last year's license twice. Last year was butter clams and I have to say, although it was a new and exciting thing to do, not nearly as fun and exciting as digging for razor clams! Razor clams run! Or rather, attempt to dig themselves to safety so there is much more challenge and skill involved.

I haven't gone razor clam digging since I was very young. My grandmother was incredibly fast, strong and skilled at clam digging much more so than my grandfather so I have fond memories of gender pride. We used to help by identifying the "shows" so they knew where to dig, but we were too small to dig fast enough to catch one.

My friend has a clam "gun." It's not really a gun, but a tube that digs into the sand and can pull up massive amounts of sand out of a hole, hopefully along with the clam. So fun. There is a technique to it that I mastered in no time, but hauling wet sand out of a hole is exhausting. We've gone twice and both times shared his clam gun which gives my shoulders, knees and back a break. It takes some practice to get strong.

The first time I didn't even get my limit so I gave them all to my friend. The second time I didn't either, and he gave all his to me. My friend taught me how to clean them. I didn't like this part. It's like murdering small, helpless animals, even though they don't have eyes and sweet expressions. But they sure taste good! I hadn't eaten clams for years! Sorry to say, they aren't on the Hashimoto's diet as shellfish are considered toxic, but it's part of the local culture so I'm cheating. And these are as fresh as you can get rather than canned.

 

Today I bought my own clam gun! I'm so proud. I feel "official." Other tools and supplies are: clam digging license, bucket or clam net for carrying the catch, flashlight, headlight or lantern, really warm clothes and lots of layers, rain gear, gloves for warmth and plastic gloves to keep your hands dry, and water-proof boots.

Clamming equipment (left to right): lantern, bucket, net, license,
clam gun, gloves, rubber boots

This time of the year it can be very cold and wet so it pays to stay warm and dry. Low tide is often right at dusk and the best digging is after dark. When clam season opened a few weeks ago, I had never seen so many people on the beach at one time.

The first time we went I didn't have boots as my old ones were worn and no longer water proof. No boots means you don't have the luxury of wading in ice cold water and you constantly having to be aware of the waves unless you want to be soaked and freezing. This was a pain and made me not only ineffective, but not even helpful. Before the second dig, I bought some cheap boots at the local hardware store, but they were made with PVC so as soon as I got them in the car I couldn't breathe. I know PVC is deadly, but I figured I would get them home fast and let them offgas on the porch. I didn't even get out of the parking lot before I turned around and I returned them immediately all the while gasping for air. I know better! I got online and found 100% rubber boots at Cabela's, the store for all things outdoorsy or what I like to call the hunter's vortex complete with dead animal displays. Most of their products are made in the USA so I was very happy to spend twice as much for these boots in comparison to the cheap, toxic, Chinese-made boots. Good boots make all the difference and last twice as long. These boots still need to offgas out on the porch, but rubber isn't nearly as toxic as the PVC.

Third time, I went alone. I looked forward to it all week so when the rain started pouring and the wind blowing, did that stop me? No way! The great thing about bad weather is there aren't as many people. I finally got my limit of 15 and did it all before it got dark! Then this really cute Fish and Wildlife Officer pulled up beside me when I was walking back and asked how I did. He didn't want to count my clams, but I would have gladly showed them off. As we were talking I kept thinking, Oh Lord, I hope I counted right because if he counts and I'm over, I might be going to jail!"

Most of them nice and big, but the first couple I butchered
until I got the hang of it.

 

Ocean activities even during the cold of winter are not only invigorating, but also good for the respiratory tract. Any breathing difficulty or sinus congestion is quickly remedied with a good, clean ocean air activity. I look forward to these trips. I can breathe!



So fun! Excellent fragrance-free entertainment.

Ocean Adventures, Part Nine: I'm Official and Legal!!

I got my shellfish and seaweed recreational license! Along with it I bought a tide tables book and in order to figure out how to read it I went to the mud flats to compare the water levels. At 11:05am this morning the low tide was at its lowest at 2.7 feet. I was disappointed to find the oyster beds were totally covered. No indication at all that oyster beds were even there! I didn't attempt digging as I don't think the tide was out enough. Instead I strolled through the mud in the sun for some vitamin D therapy.

Unfortunately, my camera died this morning so I have no evidence.

 

The next low tide not in the middle of the night is Friday the 14th at 6:08pm at 0.8 feet. This is as low as it was when I discovered the beach so I am anticipating fun times and lots of clam digging excitement. I'll go again on Saturday at 6:30am when the tide will be at -0.2! NEGATIVE! I was told a negative reading is the best as the tide is REALLY, REALLY low. My neighbors who are from California plan to go with me that night when at 6:52pm the tide will be at 0.3.

Such an adventure! Hopefully my camera will be working. I think it's the battery.

Ocean Adventure, Part Eight: Mud Suck and Aphrodisiacs

Anytime I head to the ocean I always pass this beach that is less beach and more mud flats. When the tide is out, it's one long stretch of brown-gray sludge covered in flat ocean grass and seaweed.


I often see people out there with buckets and I've been told they are gathering seaweed. So, on my way to find an ocean adventure I thought it's time to discover what they are really doing once and for all.

 

When I arrived the tide was WAY, WAY out. After negotiating the rock wall that separates the highway from the beach,

I surveyed the area. I could see a small group of people with buckets to my left and another group to my right.

 

Since I'm normally driving down the highway unable to really look, I had never noticed just beyond the flats was something...? I decided to start there.

 

Hmmm...interesting. I had no idea what I was looking at but something was being cultivated in rows.

 

Lots of rows. A seaweed garden?

 

It went on for about two miles in both directions.

This close to the water the mud was so deep if I stood too long to study or take a picture I would get sucked down and the suction made it hard to remove my foot. I was a little worried I'd get stuck and the tide would roll in quickly. What would I do? Both groups of people were so far away I doubt if they could hear my screams. I guess someone would find my drown and dead body when the tide went out again. I really didn't look at the rows close enough since I was preoccupied with staying alive.

 

 

The group of people to my left looked closer so I started trudging through the mud toward them. It was slow going. Any time I leave footprints I always think of that story about Jesus carrying me and wonder: if he is really carrying me, why is this so difficult?  Have I been abandoned?

 

Along the way I saw all manner of seaweed from soft wispy kind,

to bulbous piles,

 

and also strange little mounds in the mud. I have no idea what I'm looking at, but I'm sure it's something fascinating.

As I got within fifty feet of the group, they started heading away from me!

"No, stop, don't run away! I'm trying so hard to catch up to you!"  I'm sure they thought I was crazy. Finally I did catch up to them and they were VERY informative.

They were gathering butter clams and oysters! I guess between two markers unbeknownst to me, this is a public beach. With a clamming license, one person can gather up to 18 oysters and 15 butter clams.

 

They also must be a certain size and the oysters must be shucked and their shells left on the beach for baby oysters to attach.

The seaweed rows are oyster beds! Ah ha! If you look closely at the above pictures you'll see the oyster shells attached to the rows, but the public can gather the oysters that are laying on the mud or under the mud. You need to bring a bucket, a shucking knife, and an oyster-raking tool.

 

(Oh! Is that what I have? All this time I was using it for gardening!)

 

Knowledge is power and this made me very aware of the crunching beneath my very thin beach boots as I walked. I was a little worried those sharp shells would cut into my feet.

 

The oysters are all over! On top of the mud, under the mud. Oysters are expensive and all this time I had an opportunity to gather them for free!

What was embarrassing to me is these people were from the Midwest and on vacation. They knew more about my area than I did! Of course, the man was a former marine biologist who used to work in the area. I have lived in the oyster capital of the world for the past seven years and this was the first time I had ever seen an oyster bed! How does this happen? Anyway, this new discovery inspired me! I felt the urge to run home, buy a license and come back outfitted for clamming and oystering, until I reminded myself I was Resting, Relaxing and Recuperating. Not a good idea to shuck oysters with bad arms and crippled hands. Next time!

After being educated on the advantages of living near the ocean, I thought I'd trudge back to the oyster fields for another look...by the time I got there it was nearly all under water! Tide was coming in...time to head back to land...fast!

 

 

What a lovely adventure!

 

Update: I drove by this beach today with the tide half way in and there is no sign of oyster beds. Everything is under water. I think I just lucked out at the right time to see the tide way out and the oyster beds showing.