Saliqua Patula AKA: Pacific Razor Clam: I’ve never seen anyone post photos or stories about what we left coasters refer to as simply “clamming” I’ve posted before on collecting Oysters...

Fishinmaniac Loc: SW Washington

I’ve never seen anyone post photos or stories about what we left coasters refer to as simply “clamming”
I’ve posted before on collecting Oysters and Manila/Little Neck clams on Hood Canal. While I love those, Razors are my favorite. They are a bit of work to clean compared to the others, but it is so worth it! They are found along about 60 miles of Pacific Ocean Sandy beaches all along the coast here in Washington State.
This is a great, fun family activity. We started taking our kids as soon as they could push a clam gun into the sand, and they now are taking their kids
We’re having fresh clam chowder tonight, clamming again tomorrow, then frying up the diggers, or “foot” on Monday. The foot is fatty, flavorful and tender. Egg wash with Panko in butter on a quick hot skillet is the ticket.
I know how much you guys love pictures so I’ve attached a few.
The first is of my wife all geared up as we headed down to the surf line. It was a bluebird afternoon.
The others are just clams and some pics of cleaning.
I hope you enjoy.

Jeremy Loc: America

Fishinmaniac wrote:

I’ve never seen anyone post photos or stories abou... (show quote)

Excellent. Oh yeah. I love them like most seafood. I usually went to long beach/ocean park or Seaside . Yummy.

charlykilo Loc: Garden Valley Ca

I just saw a you tube on razors and they were using salt to catch them. How do you do it?

Jeremy Loc: America

charlykilo wrote:

I just saw a you tube on razors and they were using salt to catch them. How do you do it?

Salt? They dump a bunch to burn them out of sand? Like bleach or 120VAC on night crawlers?

Fishinmaniac Loc: SW Washington

charlykilo wrote:

I just saw a you tube on razors and they were using salt to catch them. How do you do it?

I believe those on you tube harvested using salt are the Atlantic version. They are very thin, thus the similarity to an old fashioned straight razor. Our Pacific Razors are much larger. 6-8 inches and 1 1/2 -2 inches wide.
We use an aluminum tube called a clam gun. Some people prefer to use the tried but true clam shovel. I learned with the shovel, but prefer the gun now in my senior seasons.
If you look closely at the pic of my wife she is holding her blue clam gun.

Fishinmaniac Loc: SW Washington

Jeremy wrote:

Excellent. Oh yeah. I love them like most seafood. I usually went to long beach/ocean park or Seaside . Yummy.

Yep, Long Beach was open yesterday.

Jeremy Loc: America

👍🏻

Foodfisher Loc: SO. Cal coast

Fishinmaniac wrote:

I’ve never seen anyone post photos or stories abou... (show quote)

Next time, use the tips of the necks, one tuff bait, to get your limit of perch on the incoming tide. All I had time to do was unhook fish for my fellow/family of diggers. 😀👌my favorite clam also.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Fishinmaniac wrote:

I’ve never seen anyone post photos or stories abou... (show quote)

Interesting. Never heard of them before. We have them on the east coast from Canada to South Carolina. After looking it up I have seen some of the shells on the beach but never seen a live one. Good post.

Fishinmaniac Loc: SW Washington

Foodfisher wrote:

Next time, use the tips of the necks, one tuff bait, to get your limit of perch on the incoming tide. All I had time to do was unhook fish for my fellow/family of diggers. 😀👌my favorite clam also.

👍 they are saved in the freezer for my next surf fishing trip!
I agree…they are the best!

Fishinmaniac Loc: SW Washington

Gordon wrote:

Interesting. Never heard of them before. We have them on the east coast from Canada to South Carolina. After looking it up I have seen some of the shells on the beach but never seen a live one. Good post.

Thanks for taking the time to read the post Gordon.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Fishinmaniac wrote:

Thanks for taking the time to read the post Gordon.

Jeremy Loc: America

Gordon wrote:

Interesting. Never heard of them before. We have them on the east coast from Canada to South Carolina. After looking it up I have seen some of the shells on the beach but never seen a live one. Good post.

If you know where they are go get some Gordon. Most excellent fried or chowder big chunks of meat to dice up. Little different flavor than Manila ( steamers) . I have never done the salt thing. Starting to wonder if it will work on the Pacific type razors here. Guns and shovels are all I have ever used. Commercial guys usually go out in the surf further where water is few to several inches thick to harvest them. A lot of lantern hunting at night when tide is minus. If nice day like FManiac is getting in daylight minus tides is the ultimate best

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Jeremy wrote:

If you know where they are go get some Gordon. Mo... (show quote)

I get the Cherrystone Clams here. Get a 5 gal bucket in about 30 min,s Put it in the freezer and take put what I want to eat. Clam fritters, Clam chowder or just strip them for frying.

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

Cherrystones' little brothers topnecks and littlenecks are half shell raw delights in NJ.