My clamming hoe and wire basket
Here in New England, we take our shellfish rather seriously. Drive along the coast from Maine to Connecticut and chances are you'll find at least one lobster pound or clam shack in every town that has a harbor. While Maine lobster has its national following, we here in the Bay State are just as passionate about our Ipswich clams and Nantucket bay scallops, because these labels tell us much more than the mere geographic origin of these foods. They imply a history - one that involves a rather long and close relationship between the local people and a particular food item. They also exude the sense of pride and joy felt by the community for these foods, often considering them to be the best of their kind. And above all things, these geographical names are an indication of real food (something you won't find on a bottle of corn syrup, but you will find on a jug of 'Vermont maple syrup').
A house and dock on Duxbury Bay
To get to Duxbury Beach, you can cross the bay by way of Powder Point Bridge
One of the first things I did when we moved back to Masschusetts was to get a recreational shellfishing license from the town of Duxbury. Though I'd never done it before, clamming seemed like a great way to get some exercise while offering us an opportunity to take a little more responsibility for the food we eat. Out of this experience, I've become convinced that within all of us lies an innate desire to forage. Leaving the flats after a couple hours of light physical labor with a bucket of clams for dinner is deeply satisfying. My favorite time to go clamming is early in the morning when the sun is still rising and the ocean air is calm. And like most things in this natural world, this activity is often dictated by the seasons. Spring and fall offer the best times to go clamming, while the bitter cold of winter and sweltering heat of summer (not to mention the threat of red tide) can usually persuade one to forgo this activity and do something else.
Hard shell clams lie near the surface of the sand so you don't have do dig too deep.
Duxbury Bay is about a 25 minute drive from where we live and is home to a lively group of recreational clammers who come from all over the state. The water and beaches here are clean, and as a result, the clams are not only safe to eat, but also incredibly delicious. Scituate also has its own designated areas for shellfishing along the North and South rivers during certain times of the year. However, these areas are not easily assessable without a boat. As a result, Duxbury Bay offers a better opportunity for those who wish to clam on a regular basis. I try to go at least once or twice a month during the cooler months.
The incoming tide slowly fills the clam flats at Duxbury Bay.
There are several types of clams you can dig for in Duxbury Bay. I generally go for hard shell clams as they are more versatile to cook with and you are permitted to dig for them year round (excluding times when the temperature is below 32 degrees F and the flats are closed due to red tide). Several months of the year (April, May, September and October), you are also permitted to dig for soft shell clams - better known as 'steamers' in this part of the world. These clams have a pronounced neck and are generally either steamed or used to make fried whole clams. Unlike hard shell clams, which lie only an inch or two below the sand, soft shells can be 6 to 12 inches deep, making them much tougher to forage. Duxbury bay is also home to Atlantic razor clams, which are no where near as big or popular as their Pacific cousin. Finally, if you head off the flats and stroll along Duxbury Beach, you can hunt for sea clams, which can average 5 inches in length or more. These clams are often cut up and used for fishing bait, although Howard Johnson used them to create the world's first fried clam strips. I've tried making my own fried clam strips with these clams and the results were rather tough.
When clamming, you usually end up with a bucket of hard shells of varying sizes including little necks (left), cherry stones (middle) and quahogs (right).
After a couple hours of clamming, I usually end up with a nice bucket of hard shells of varying sizes. For the little necks and cherry stones, I like to make clams casino or linguine with whole clams. As for the larger quahogs, I usually remove the dark parts of the belly (which is not necessary) and cut up the flesh to make chowder, fried clam fritters or a simple pasta dish. Chopped clams also freeze well in their own juice. Just remember to defrost in the refrigerator overnight before using. Finally, hard shell clams can be particularly difficult to shuck; but the process is made much easier if you thoroughly chill the clams first either in the refrigerator overnight or freezer for 15 to 30 minutes.
After I get home, I usually rinse my clams outside before giving them a good scrubbing.
Finally here are some tips if you decide to go clamming in Duxbury Bay:
- Generally the best time to start clamming is about 2 hours before low tide. And depending upon the water level at low tide, which varies throughout the month, you usually have at least 2 to 3 hours of solid clamming time within this window.
- Make sure you wear the proper gear before you clam. Waders are the best, but rubber boots will usually suffice.
- If you intend to go clamming with young kids, do not wander too far into the flats. Generally the closer you get to the marsh, the muddier it tends to be, which can be extremely difficult for little feet to navigate. You can burn a lot of calories trying to walk back to the beach ankle deep in mud.
- Be mindful of where you are on the flats in case a heavy fog rolls in and visibility becomes an issue.
- Do not overstay your welcome. The tide comes in quicker than you think. If you are clamming with kids, move to a new location closer to the beach at low tide and be off the flats by 30 minutes past low tide.
- Remember that a bucket of clams weighs a lot, especially if you lose track of time and find yourself racing against the incoming tide to get off the flats. If you find yourself knee deep in rising water and ankle deep in mud, it can an exhausting experience, even terrifying if you have children in tow. You can possibly find yourself stuck in the mud, unable to move. If this happens, use your clamming hoe to pry your feet loose. If this remains a problem, take off your boots. It will still be difficult to wade through the mud with only socks on but not nearly as difficult with big rubber boots weighing you down.
- Keep a cellphone on you and have the harbor master's number on it. There have actually been times when people needed rescuing because they got stuck on the flats.
- Finally, make sure you are properly licensed and follow the rules, which are in place to protect the local shellfish population and ensure that the bay remains viable for recreational shellfishing.