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Clamming

Kgryfon - 2-7-2014 at 06:06 PM

So, I was surprised to read here that clamming was illegal. I have bought clams from the guys on the beach, and I have dug up a few clams to use as bait, but that's about it.

Is it really illegal to dug up a few clams for personal consumption?
Is it illegal to buy clams from a citizen on the beach that just (presumably) dug them up illegally?
Or is it just illegal for non-citizens to dig them up?
Should I just clam up?

David K - 2-7-2014 at 06:09 PM

You can buy clams from a Mexican, but if you are not a Mexican than it is illegal to take ANY shellfish.

It is also illegal to drive over 80 kph where it is posted. :biggrin:

woody with a view - 2-7-2014 at 06:23 PM

let your consience (kan't spell it cuz i ain't got one....) guide you, grasshopper!

willardguy - 2-7-2014 at 06:27 PM

they aint lobster! just eat em

DJL - 2-7-2014 at 06:33 PM

We love Clams . Haven't had the huevos to harvest any in Baja , though .... the law is the law .

Related question - while wading 'round in Estero Coyote , my Wife found two HUGE Clams in a few feet of water .... just sitting on the sand . These were not Pismos , however (not White or triangle-shaped) , they were a dark Amber-Tan color , and were 3/4 of the size of my Head (no joke) , and a thick as my Hand is wide !

Any idea what species they are ?? Sorry for the hijack -

D.~

Bob H - 2-7-2014 at 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DJL
We love Clams . Haven't had the huevos to harvest any in Baja , though .... the law is the law .

Related question - while wading 'round in Estero Coyote , my Wife found two HUGE Clams in a few feet of water .... just sitting on the sand . These were not Pismos , however (not White or triangle-shaped) , they were a dark Amber-Tan color , and were 3/4 of the size of my Head (no joke) , and a thick as my Hand is wide !

Any idea what species they are ?? Sorry for the hijack -

D.~

Possibly a Chocolate Clam... they can get up to 6" wide.

http://www.mexfish.com/fish/cclam/cclam.htm

willardguy - 2-7-2014 at 06:45 PM

now thats a clam!

DJL - 2-7-2014 at 06:50 PM

"The Mexican Chocolate Clam is also the topic of some scientific publications noting the presence of paralytic shellfish toxins."

Damn , that takes the fun out of the Clambake thoughts ! Looks correct , though - ours were a tiny bit darker .

D.~

MMc - 2-7-2014 at 06:53 PM

Depends where you are, talk to the co-op first. The law is the law, but some places do not enforce, others will make you walk home. The middle of baja seams to enforce more then places.

5" to 7' clams chopped, mixed with with peppers, onion, tomato, cilantro, garlic, mixed together, put back in the shell add butter and cheese , pull them as the start to boil. Eat from shell.

Green salsa bring to boil ad chopped clams cook for 2 mins max. Serve over pasta whit dipping bread.

DJL, Could they be scallops? That area is not big gringos taking any shell fish if you do not know anybody. With permission I have taken steamers and pismos in that area.

DJL - 2-7-2014 at 07:00 PM

No , these are Clams . We did see a Scallop that also was huge , maybe in the 12-inch range . Wife was foolin' with it while it was half-buried .

I have heard that the local Co-op frowns on gringos harvesting this and that . We got on well during our visit , and we have little desire to change that ! They're nice folks , and I'm happy to buy some Seafood next trip down .

D.~

Marc - 2-7-2014 at 07:05 PM

Oops!

[Edited on 2-8-2014 by Marc]

bajagrouper - 2-7-2014 at 07:22 PM

Kind of funny story, I was sitting at a small restaurant on the coast of Nayarit and a truck pulled up and unloaded a big crate of Pismo Clams, knowing no Pismos around here I asked where they were from and the cook said they are flown in from San Quintin,Baja.......delicious

woody with a view - 2-7-2014 at 09:23 PM

you'll know it when you got 'em...

woody with a view - 2-7-2014 at 09:47 PM

Gotta know some Canucks first. Then you can be reasonably assured that the long paddle of the law won't beat you down.

Once the boundaries are established, the world is your oyster....

Silver dollar sized pismos make the BEST tequila infused saute'd pasta!

And in a pinch, ask about the best place in town....

There's a sign post ahead! It means you have to decide where you wanna end up, and why you wanna be there! Chingon!!!

[Edited on 2-8-2014 by woody with a view]

clams and scallops

captkw - 2-7-2014 at 09:53 PM

Back in the day..we dig them up at el Requeson (scallops) and the chacalatas where damn near everwhere...mumm good !! my self never ate steak till the sornora beef was coming across on the ferry...but,then seafood was the norm,,big bugs and BIG shrimp and loads of fish...ahh,,the good ol days !!

willardguy - 2-7-2014 at 09:59 PM

yup! and I think a lot of folks don't realize the bigger pismos can be a real challenge on light tackle!

woody with a view - 2-7-2014 at 10:07 PM

Yep! 'specially in neck deep water when the tide is filling in....

CortezBlue - 2-8-2014 at 08:30 AM

If I get busted, I will whip out my Residence card, and pound my chest.

Oh and also

Give the agent $20 when he asks for it

Bajajorge - 2-8-2014 at 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kgryfon
So, I was surprised to read here that clamming was illegal.

The Clam Cops would have a field day on the beach in front of El Dorado Ranch. Frequently there are mucho gringos out there scratching for clams.

MitchMan - 2-8-2014 at 11:10 AM

During the summer in La Paz, Soriana supermarket sometimes sells fresh live large chocolate clams in a big vat of cool sea water on the floor in the seafood department; about $3.50 pesos each. Worth it.

Boil about six of those babies, keep that rich intense clam juice thusly produced and you can make the best clam chowder in the freakin' world, just add some diced Yukon gold potatoes, celery, pasilla chili, onions, carrots and serano chili. Consume with two bottles of Pacifico prechilled in the freezer and you will be incentivized to get your Residente Permanente card if you haven't already.

In San Quintin, there used to be or hopefully there still is a place on the beach where they sell Pismo clams; it's near the Old Mill motel. Anybody know exactly how to get to those Pismo clams? Lat and Lon would be great.

Back in the early 80s it cost $20 USD for a full gunny sack of Pismos. What a feast that was.

[Edited on 2-8-2014 by MitchMan]

jimgrms - 2-8-2014 at 11:25 AM

Use to trade small bags of hard candy to the Clam Man in San Felipe for clams ,he would get the kids to gather the clams and pay them in candy.

vandenberg - 2-8-2014 at 11:48 AM

Lots of chocolate clams of the beaches around Loreto/Nopolo.

Also, if you drive across to San Carlos on Mag Bay you can fill up a 44 quart cooler in a matter of a few hours with Manilla and Butter clams at very low tides. Used to be an Aussie in the back bay who raised oysters. 10 cents a piece. Yumm, yumm!

In the 70's we used to get the Pismos at San Quintin, camping with MH on the beach. Just go in the surf a little over knee deep, feel with your feet for bumps in the sand and get the clam. They were abundant. Natives used to get them with pitchforks by the gunny sack.

[Edited on 2-8-2014 by vandenberg]

Pompano - 2-8-2014 at 12:08 PM

Clamming is illegal. We do not clam.

Gotta love those Chocolates given to us by Poseidon ....fresh from the bay. Best quick picnic idea for the islands.

Foods - chocolates.. (Custom).jpg - 49kB

Foods - chocolates.. (Custom).jpg - 49kB

vandenberg - 2-8-2014 at 02:17 PM

My better half makes them Rockefeller style, with spinach, bacon and gouda cheese.

UnoMas - 2-8-2014 at 06:51 PM

Vandy,
Have made many trips to San Carlos clamming and your right. Always time my trips at low tide on arrival. Before entering S.C. If you turn left where the power lines cross the road from the C.F.E. plant on the right side of the road.
Follow down to the water, there is a guy with an oyster farm where you can buy them, I think I paid 3 pesos each for them the last time. Drive a long the waters edge, find a nice spot to clam and go for it.
I have brought back a cooler full of clams and through check points, never a problem. Can't say this is the case through out Baja but my feeling on the shellfish law is if it is for your consumption and you don't have a truck load no one cares. The gringos in S.C. will also point you to good places to dig clams as they do it all the time. :cool:

Pompano - 2-8-2014 at 07:11 PM

So it's officially ...possibly...maybe ....okay to clam?

Whew...dodged that bullet.

Now about those delicious bay scallops. Gone the way of the Dodo?

Wind chimes anyone?

[Edited on 2-9-2014 by Pompano]

jimgrms - 2-9-2014 at 01:12 PM

Roger most of the good thing have gone ,

Pompano - 2-9-2014 at 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jimgrms
Roger most of the good thing have gone ,

Sad, but true, Jim. I'm just damn glad I got to Baja Sur when I did.

KurtG - 2-9-2014 at 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano

Quote:

Originally posted by jimgrms
Roger most of the good thing have gone ,

Sad, but true, Jim. I'm just damn glad I got to Baja Sur when I did.

Same here. I'm not sure people believe me when I tell them that my then 3 year old daughter could fill a bucket with clams in about 15 minutes at Santispac in 1974-75.

Roger, do you remember the man who lived over at Punta Arena back then. The only resident. He was a tall athletic looking guy who was a conch diver there. I seem to remember his name was either Raul or Saul. We would go there clamming and always took him a sixer of Tecate. Usually went home to Mulege with some Conch meat as well as our clams. Life was good.

Pompano - 2-9-2014 at 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KurtG

Same here. I'm not sure people believe me when I tell them that my then 3 year old daughter could fill a bucket with clams in about 15 minutes at Santispac in 1974-75.

Roger, do you remember the man who lived over at Punta Arena back then. The only resident. He was a tall athletic looking guy who was a conch diver there. I seem to remember his name was either Raul or Saul. We would go there clamming and always took him a sixer of Tecate. Usually went home to Mulege with some Conch meat as well as our clams. Life was good.

I recall visiting there a few times by boat...way back in the day. Another rather famous person living there was...a gal alone with a couple of goats and who was called...Low Tide. And that's all I better say about that.....
The palms have ears!

BigOly - 2-9-2014 at 05:26 PM

Sometimes we might pause and listen to ourselves. "Dug them by the bucket load, etc". Now please don't get me wrong, I have my views but I am also not an extremist and I'll probably get all kinds of krp for saying what I think.
I used to work with a man named Cliff. (Oregon) At 96 he was still mowing greens at the golf course. He new I liked to fish and he'ed tell me stories about the salmon, steelhead an cutthroat searuns being so plentiful you could " walk across the river on their backs" back then. We'ed blow a gully in the sand with dynamite to let the river water breach the beach before the rains came. We'ed have pitchforks and "get every one of them"! Had a horse and trailer loaded to the top so we buried what we couldn't haul that day to keep the gulls off 'em. Usually never returned to get what we had buried.
Then he would get this far-away look on his face and say "things just aren't the way they were, where did all those fish go"?

[Edited on 2-10-2014 by BigOly]

KurtG - 2-9-2014 at 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BigOly
Sometimes we might pause and listen to ourselves. "Dug them by the bucket load, etc". Now please don't get me wrong, I have my views but I am also not an extremist and I'll probably get all kinds of krp for saying what I think.
I used to work with a man named Cliff. (Oregon) At 96 he was still mowing greens at the golf course. He new I liked to fish and he'ed tell me stories about the salmon, steelhead an cutthroat searuns being so plentiful you could " walk across the river on their backs" back then. We'ed blow a gully in the sand with dynamite to let the river water breach the beach before the rains came. We'ed have pitchforks and "get every one of them"! Had a horse and trailer loaded to the top so we buried what we couldn't haul that day to keep the gulls off 'em. Usually never returned to get what we had buried.
Then he would get this far-away look on his face and say "things just aren't the way they were, where did all those fish go"?

[Edited on 2-10-2014 by BigOly]

If you are referring to my 3-year old's bucket of clams I will respond that we went clamming usually once a week and took just enough for two pre-schoolers and myself. It was a favorite outing for the kids and I don't believe we depleted the clam population. The bucket was pretty small. Those two children are now in their 40's and have grand memories of those adventures. BTW, the historical society here has photos of local farmers using horse drawn hay rakes at low tide to harvest Pismo clams to feed to their pigs! It is popular to blame the sea otter for the lack of clams here but I think humans may have played a role.

Bubba - 2-9-2014 at 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KurtG

Quote:

I've seen the pictures also and would say man is as much to blame as anything...

Pompano - 2-9-2014 at 08:07 PM

3000 persons living in ramshackle huts along the shores of Conception Bay destroyed the bay scallop population. At the peak of this rape, there were over 1000 pangas heaped to almost sinking with scallops making their trips from the diving grounds to the shore camps. These were Mexicans from places other than Mulege.

The stink from these camps permeated the entire atmosphere of the Bay. Being downwind of one of these camps would make you gag. The shells were thrown away carelessly...literally the whole shoreline was covered with those piles.

The Bay is now dead and it's national shame. Gone are the rock & bay scallops, shrimp, big fish, rays, and even the sea cucumbers. The greed is relentless. Whatever they can find to take they do....and it disappears within a very short time.

Nobody seemed to give a hoot, except concerned people that lived here and witnessed it. Many of us sent complaint after complaint to La Paz. Brought officials out to see the shrimpers breaking the law in person. Never stopped them at all. Even went to La Paz in a large contingent and complained in person to the governors office. Nada...all fell on deaf ears.

These were mobs of 'people' eliminating nature's resource...kaput! Not some seals or otters or kids with buckets. Damn pillagers, I say. Enough ranting...now I need a double martini!

KurtG - 2-9-2014 at 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano
3000 persons living in ramshackle huts along the shores of Conception Bay destroyed the bay scallop population. At the peak of this rape, there were over 1000 pangas heaped to almost sinking with scallops making their trips from the diving grounds to the shore camps. These were Mexicans from places other than Mulege.

The stink from these camps permeated the entire atmosphere of the Bay. Being downwind of one of these camps would make you gag. The shells were thrown away carelessly...literally the whole shoreline was covered with those piles.

The Bay is now dead and it's national shame. Gone are the rock & bay scallops, shrimp, big fish, rays, and even the sea cucumbers. The greed is relentless. Whatever they can find to take they do....and it disappears within a very short time.

Nobody seemed to give a hoot, except concerned people that lived here and witnessed it. Many of us sent complaint after complaint to La Paz. Brought officials out to see the shrimpers breaking the law in person. Never stopped them at all. Even went to La Paz in a large contingent and complained in person to the governors office. Nada...all fell on deaf ears.

These were mobs of 'people' eliminating nature's resource...kaput! Not some seals or otters or kids with buckets. Damn pillagers, I say. Enough ranting...now I need a double martini!

I remember the scallop camps well and they were as large and disgusting as you say.

vandenberg - 2-10-2014 at 08:30 AM

One reason we should admire the coops on the Pacific side, which protect their livelyhood by restricting catches and setting seasons and enforcing them.

DJL - 2-10-2014 at 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg
One reason we should admire the coops on the Pacific side, which protect their livelyhood by restricting catches and setting seasons and enforcing them.

My thoughts exactly .

D.~

Bajamatic - 2-10-2014 at 10:23 AM

I always wondered how you would might purge the sand out if I were to somehow come across some fresh clams harvested from the beach, legally of course.

willardguy - 2-10-2014 at 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajamatic
I always wondered how you would might purge the sand out if I were to somehow come across some fresh clams harvested from the beach, legally of course.

I'd accidentally drop some cornmeal in the bucket of clams you accidentally came across :yes:

David K - 2-10-2014 at 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajamatic
I always wondered how you would might purge the sand out if I were to somehow come across some fresh clams harvested from the beach, legally of course.

Set them in a bucket of clean sea water (overnight) and they will purge out much of their sand. A couple of rinses if possible.

woody with a view - 2-10-2014 at 11:33 AM

agree with DK. once before bed, once when you wake up and maybe on last time at noon. the ring the dinner bell. cornmeal never worked for me. a little sand and trace elements are just what your body needs, anyway!

Pompano - 2-10-2014 at 12:44 PM

Good ideas for cleaning clams....you can't go too far wrong just soaking them in saltwater for a few hours, then having a great lunch.

For sparkly clean restaurant quality steamers, give your amigos a couple wire brushes and ...presto.. Shiny steamers!

scrubbing steamers at casa.jpg - 44kB

Bajamatic - 2-10-2014 at 01:06 PM

I am constantly amazed at Pomano's ability to include 2 things in almost EVERY photo he posts: A beer, and an attractive female.

Well done.

Pompano - 2-10-2014 at 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajamatic
I am constantly amazed at Pomano's ability to include 2 things in almost EVERY photo he posts: A beer, and an attractive female.

Well done.

Send me your photo...I'll supply the beer.

Kgryfon - 2-10-2014 at 06:55 PM

Wow! So much info about clams! You guys are making me really hungry with the great recipes and such!

Marc - 2-10-2014 at 07:39 PM

Got 200 in 45 minutes. Traded 100 for a two for fat Sierras. So arrest me! A secret place in BOLA known only to my bud and myself and maybe 15,000 others.

woody with a view - 2-10-2014 at 08:27 PM

we were there in Nov and all 15000 must have just left cuz we didn't get more than a handful, AT EITHER SPOT......

Marc - 2-10-2014 at 09:05 PM

We were there in October. Guess we got 'em all. :lol:

55steve - 2-10-2014 at 09:07 PM

A boat is required to get to the best spot(s). You can get them at the estuary but not the same quality. The estuary is a real fun place to crab - have a few drinks, wade in with a landing net and chase them down!

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
we were there in Nov and all 15000 must have just left cuz we didn't get more than a handful, AT EITHER SPOT......

[Edited on 2-11-2014 by 55steve]

woody with a view - 2-11-2014 at 05:42 AM

yeah, we didn't go to the cove.

Marc - 2-11-2014 at 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
yeah, we didn't go to the cove.

Hey....it's supposed to be a secret! :mad:

bajadogs - 2-11-2014 at 09:38 AM

I can honestly say I have never taken a clam. I've been tempted because 20 years ago in some areas it seemed so easy and everyone else was doing it by the buckets. Now my daughter gives them names. If you find Melvin please don't eat him.

Melvin.jpg - 44kB

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 2-11-2014 at 02:34 PM

Hola,

about 15 or so years ago, my son and i and another family went to san quintin taking used clothing to my friends families and also do some surf fishing for barred surf perch.

while surf fishing, a panga pulls up and what is now called hookah fishing, two guys fire up a compressor, one guy puts the end of a garden hose in his mouth and jumps over with a five gallon bucket.

very quickly, the other guy pulls the rope with the bucket attached and dumps out a full bucket of pismos on the deck and does this several times.

i said to my friend, i don't think the resource can survive with this type of carnage. he told me don't worry, they'll never run out.

about five years ago and on the same beach of the old presidente hotel and at low tide, lots of the mexicans were digging for the pismos and i didn't see any clamming success. a couple of guys were using about a four foot piece of thin rebar and poking into the sand in search of the clams. i didn't see them find any.

didn't catch any perch either.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

very sad !

on another note, we did some clamming on the beach near malibu in so. cal. and we turned a big boulder over and dug and hit the mother load.

we brought them home in a big ice chest with sea water and we put a metal crowbar in with them and after a while, the clams were squirting like crazy.

tokk them to a chinese restaurant we always frequente and had them cooked up.

yum !

Kgryfon - 2-11-2014 at 03:02 PM

So, why the ban on non-citizens clamming (shell fishing), but not fishing? I can get a license to fish but not to clam? Wondering if anyone knows the back-story on this.

DJL - 2-11-2014 at 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kgryfon
So, why the ban on non-citizens clamming (shell fishing), but not fishing? I can get a license to fish but not to clam? Wondering if anyone knows the back-story on this.

It makes little sense , if they had a reasonable bag limit .... pretty much the same as Fishing .

D.~

woody with a view - 2-12-2014 at 07:04 AM

the thing about baja clams are there is no runoff from the big city to be filtered and the contaminates build up in the big city clams.

face it, nothing is as good as you remember it to be but if you put in the effort......

David K - 2-12-2014 at 12:16 PM

Quote:

Could it have anything to do with the belief by Mexicans that the Japanese pearl industry killed off Baja's pearl oysters?

mtgoat666 - 2-12-2014 at 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

Could it have anything to do with the belief by Mexicans that the Japanese pearl industry killed off Baja's pearl oysters?

or the japanese and chinese eating almost every last abalone?

Kgryfon - 2-12-2014 at 02:17 PM

Quote:

Could it have anything to do with the belief by Mexicans that the Japanese pearl industry killed off Baja's pearl oysters?

Ah, David K. you have probably hit the nail on the head there. Makes a lot of sense.

David K - 2-12-2014 at 02:59 PM

It was just a guess based on some history... It may be something entirely different, however.

While searching for the data on this, I came across some cool abalone history and a photo of the abalone farm at Bahia Tortugas in the 1920's.

DJL - 2-12-2014 at 03:29 PM

I always assumed that the Oyster loss was due to Hoover Dam cutting-off the freshwater supply to the Northern SOC - the two events happened around the same time .

Speaking of interesting history -

http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/77summer/kondo.htm

A great read about the old days !

D.~

David K - 2-12-2014 at 04:00 PM

The pearl oysters were in La Paz (and elsewhere in the south Cortez), and well part of the Pacific Ocean. I don't think the Colorado had a a lot of influence so many hundreds of miles away? Now the totuava and other north end gulf creatures were probably affected... specially if they went up the river at all to spawn.

Bahia de La Paz

captkw - 2-12-2014 at 07:36 PM

I've heard many folks say that when the Japanese pull out they left a infection in the bay as to wipe out any competition...I don't know it as fact !! but have heard,read this story many times ?? I know when I was a younger guy I bought a lot of black pearls from la paz for girlfriends and I don't see them for sale any more !! K&T :cool:

Pompano - 2-13-2014 at 10:00 AM

Photo from 1974 at Playa Requeson, Bahia de Concepcion.

I can't say for sure, but maybe these people are 'seeding' steamers....like those black pearl oyster farms.... :rolleyes: