Fishing can work hand in hand with clamming. And, clamming can work hand in hand with conservation.

The Maine Department of Marine Resources goes to great lenghts to insure that the clams people harvest are healthy for huma consumption. Water quality and "red tide blooms" are monitored on a constant basis to protect people from the harmful effects of infected clams. But, the surf clams from Saco Bay make great striper bait; they can also make great bait to catch a few of your friends with by throwing a clam cake party. But, it takes a clean river to make safe clams. The Saco River happens to be one of the cleanest rivers in the State of Maine. And, we can thank The Saco River Corridor for that.

The Saco River Corridor has been in existence since my youth. When I was a child, my uncle happened to buy a piece of property on the Saco River. It was actually a farm; he had visions of being a farmer and he began haying, raising horses and cattle. His days as a farmer were short lived, but his relationship with the property was not. That’s when I first heard of the Saco River Corridor.

My uncle use to grumble about all the regulations set forth by the Corridor to protect the river. Regulations prohibited people from building structures or cutting trees too close to the shore. You even had to get approval for an outhouse. Imagine that!

As I grew older, I heard less and less about the Corridor; but every now and then I’m exposed to its work when involved with river front property. The Saco River Corridor still has a major impact in how the river is managed. I thank God for that.

Have you ever heard the saying “As Maine goes, so goes the nation”? I wish that saying held true today. It seems that I grew up on a water shed that was far ahead of its time. People living in the Saco River Valley made early conservation efforts so that future generations could enjoy the benefits of a clean river. I happen to be part of that future generation, and am enjoying those benefits now!

Last weekend I stumbled down to the shores of Saco Bay with my good friend Richard Bartlette. Richard and I wanted to take advantage of the extremely low tides that the harvest moon was providing. And yes, we wanted to harvest something other than vegetables. We wanted to harvest the white meat of the Maine Hen Clam.

Hen Clams have a sweet white meat. They are sweeter than Ocean Quahogs. Quahogs have a darker colored meat that isn’t as sweet as the Hen. And, due to Hen Clam's size, which is usually larger than my opened hand, they are ideal for grinding into clam meat. This meat is used for clam cakes, chowders, fritters and dips. My aunt’s clam cake recipe calls for heaping amounts of Hen Clam meat; I always indulge with a tip of my hat to her!

I introduced Richard Bartlette to claming several years ago. He has developed into a true clam watcher and harvester. He checks the tides, the storm forecast, and the state's clam safety hot line, to see when clamming will be the best. The lower tides expand the flats for harvesting, the storm forecast enable us to predict where clams might wash up, and the hot line makes sure the clams are safe to eat. At times, clamming is closed due to heavy rains, red tide or other reasons. The state's hot line (1-800-232-4733) is instrumental in insuring the clams are safe to harvest. Richard is a true friend and clamoholic.

So when Diane, Richard’s wife, approached me in Shaw’s saying Richard was in dire need of a clamming partner, I knew the clamming was going to be good.

The harvest moon was causing extremely low tides which enabled us to dig for clams in areas that are usually well under water. The lower the tide, the better the harvest. The better the harvest, the more clam meat. The more clam meat, the more clam cakes. And, the more clam cakes, the more smiles I see on peoples' faces. It is a truly festive time when the cakes are rolling out of the pan and into my mouth…..I mean my friends mouths, or my relative’s mouths, or my neighbor’s mouths. Who ever has the mouth to hold them, a smile is sure to follow.

Clamming for Hen Clams is different than flats clamming for little necks. First, as with all clamming, you have to locate an area that will hold them. Secondly, you need a good stiff hay/pitch fork. I prefer a fork with five to six prongs spaced one and a half inches to two inches apart. My fork has a long straight handle; you can stand straight while probing the sand at your feet. Third you will need a bucket and boots. The boots are optional, but even if you try to stay out of the water to harvest, a good patch of clams may lure you into the sea. I recommend some kind of boots.

If you really want to get serious about it, you can purchase a pair of chest waders and dig for clams in the surf. I prefer harvesting from the beach and just on the edge of the water.

Once you’ve decided on a low tide from a good tide chart, head down to the beach and start walking backwards on the beach probing with your fork. The top of the clams are less than an inch and a half down. Just take in the sights and slowly walk backward on the edge on the water probing all the while. When you feel something hard, back your fork and gently push it into the sand. If you feel the clam again, back your fork again an inch at a time. Then, slowly sink the fork to a depth of six inches and begin prying the clam to the surface.

If the clamming is good, you can fill a five gallon bucket in less than an hour. If you are a little unsure, send me an e-mail by posting a comment below. I will be taking a group of friends out on November 4th. You can tag along and see how it is done. If your a Maine resident, you shouldn't need a license to clam at this location, but regulations are always changing. Make sure to check with the Maine Department of Marine Resources (207-624-6550) before you harvest.

Be safe and have fun clamming!

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