After catching the manila clam limit , it ’ s time for dinner .
Because digging for razor clams is determined by the tide , it ’ s not uncommon to harvesting to happen at night — making headlamps and lanterns an essential tool .
rachel blomker photo about your quarry are as important to the shellfish harvester as fungus knowledge is to mushroom hunters . You also need to know what you ’ re gathering to be in compliance with state harvest quotas . “ I dunno . I have 11 shell thingies of some kind ,” won ’ t please a fish and wildlife officer during an inspection . The broad-brush categories of note are scallops , clams , mussels , and oysters .
Scallops : Local scallops include the pink scallop , spiny scallop , and purple-hinged rock scallop . Both pink and spiny scallops are relatively small at around 2 inches across . Substantially larger , the purple-hinged rock scallop often spans 6 inches across . Scallops do not burrow , rather filter feed on the seafloor and are surprisingly capable swimmers .
A favorite of many , properly cooked scallops have a buttery and delicate flavor , often compared to lobster but with a firmer texture . But one generally has to dive in deeper waters to find them . Harvesting scallops merits a different conversation than the beach-based harvesting topic at-hand .
Clams : Pacific Northwest clams are a large family , ranging from the smaller ( 1- to 2 ½-inch across ) Manila or Japanese littleneck clam , native littleneck clam , and bent-nose clam to the larger ( 5- or 6-inch across ) butter clam , softshell clam , and razor clam . A heavyweight is the horse clam at a beefy 8 inches across .
They all have their unique characteristics and quirks . For example , razor clams often expose their siphons above the sand as the surf recedes ( a practice called necking ) and have relatively brittle shells that make them vulnerable to harvesting tools like rakes . The razor clam ’ s especially sweet and delicate taste is a crowd favorite . Of course , the most iconic of our clams is the yellow-orange foot colored , undeniably phallic geoduck — the world ’ s largest burrowing clam and mascot of Evergreen College .
The difference in tastes between the clams can be bantered about by foodies for a lifetime , but generally clams have an unapologetically , but not overbearing , briny taste with chewy texture . Notable for the hunter is that clams live a burrowing life and can be surprisingly quick to escape attack , not unlike how a mole can glide through soil to easily evade an excited pooch . Underestimate at your expense .
Mussels : The most common mussels are the bay / blue mussel ( around 3 inches across ) and the California mussel ( around 8 inches across ). Unlike burrowing clams , mussels affix themselves to tidal surfaces like rocks or piers with their strong byssal threads . They will not make a hasty retreat as you go to harvest them , but you ’ ll need a tool like a flat-edged knife to carefully but firmly
34 explore : NW | The Official Magazine for kenmore air