The clam diggers

To dig for clams, timing is of the utmost importance. When the moon is full, that is the time of the maximum high tide and the maximum low tide.

We waited for the maximum low tide but we were a little early when we set out in our inflatable dingy for the clam fields. We took another couple, Keith and Dina from Manteca, who had bought a place down here three years ago.

They had tried to clam on their own but hadn’t been shown how it was done and most importantly, where the clams hung out.

These are sweet steamers about an inch and a half to two inches across. They are found about a mile off shore near Pelican Reef in about knee deep water when the tide is at it’s lowest.

The trip to the reef took twenty minutes because there was a nice breeze starting to build, making small waves on the water. The wind kept rising as we neared the reef, but the weather was warm (over 80 degrees) and collecting the clams wouldn’t take that long.

We brought four short hand held garden rakes and orange sacks to put the clams into. The clams lay from two to four inches under the sand. The rake helps separate the keepers from the ones which are too small and fall right through.

Everyone was having fun and didn’t seem to notice that the wind had continued to rise and along with it the waves which had now grown to two and three feet high.
We called it quits when the orange sacks were about a quarter full. That would be plenty for a dinner for the four of us.

Everyone had goosebumps as they climbed back into the dingy. We attempted to keep the bow of the dingy up so the waves didn’t crash into the boat but that wasn’t working. The women who were in the front were getting soaked and the water was at times coming clear over the top of them and dumping into the back of the dingy.

When the water got over a half of foot in the back of the dinghy, Keith asked if there was anything to bail with, but there was nothing.

The only thing on board was the face mask of snorkel gear. He grabbed it and started bailing like his life depended on it (and if may well have).

Everyone was soaked , along with the six horsepower Yamaha motor. The gas can was floating in the water and we were praying that the motor wouldn’t quit before we made it back to shore.

We finally did and then jumped into the natural spring hot tub on the beach which was about 105 degrees. The chill slowly left our bodies and then everyone went home and showered.

Back together again at 6 p.m. we had a grand feast of home baked french bread, Bohemian salad and two kettles of steamed clams with hot melted butter to dip them in.

Wow, does it get any better than this?