Where to find clams in california

Never turn your back on the waves and be aware of your surrounding at all times while fishing. Sand bars are evershifting and strong ripcurrents are prevalent along this coastline. F or information on licensing, species, size, and take limits , please visit California Fish and Wildlife at www. There is an ADA accesible fishing platform.

Fishing and Clamming Regulations. A fragile and valuable resource, Pismo clams may be taken under the following regulations: Clammers must possess a valid fishing license and an accurate rigid measuring device.

The licenses are issued by the Department of Fish and Game. Clams may be taken only between a half-hour before sunrise and a half-hour after sunset. The limit for clamming is 10 clams per day per person. Those caught not adhering to any of these guidelines, will be subject to heavy fines. Event Venues. Media Gallery. Media Requests. My Plan. Places to Stay. Oceanfront Hotels. Vacation Rentals.

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Monarch Grove. Historical Counts. Getting Here. Contact Us. Oceano Dunes. ATV Rentals. However, species-specific restrictions exist and vary from one location to another. For instance, the state imposes a bag limit of 10 gaper clams, except when harvesting from Humboldt Bay, where the limit is 50 gaper clams. Always research local and species-specific restrictions before harvesting from any location. The state allows clam diggers to harvest from one hour before sunrise, until one hour after sunset.

Night harvesting is illegal throughout the state. Always check for health warnings before harvesting and eating clams. Each year, the California Department of Health quarantines mussels and advises the public to refrain from eating other types of invertebrates, including clams, harvested from certain areas along the coast. The annual mussel quarantine helps prevent domoic acid poisoning and paralytic shellfish poisoning.

Eating invertebrates that contain high levels of domoic acid can cause sickness or even death in humans. While the mussel quarantine typically occurs from May to October each year, Fish and Wildlife can close a fishery at any time due to health concerns. For example, at the time of this writing, Fish and Wildlife has banned harvesting Pacific razor clams due to elevated domoic acid levels.

Today, Southern California clam diggers can uncover a few Pismo and razor clams, but their numbers have diminished. However, from time to time California experiences an invasion of clams that attracts hordes of shovel-wielding diggers, hoping to bag their dinners.