I went for a ride on Saturday night to check out the surf. When my wife first mentioned it, I thought she had gone crazy. Pam’s the kind of women that doesn’t take danger lightly. She learned how to whistle while hiking a trail in Yellowstone Park with me. I had told her "the more noise the better" to keep the Grizzlies away. She was whistling a storm by the end of that hike!

So…I agreed to go for a ride. Pam first mentioned going to Camp Ellis, but that area is notorious for loosing roads every time there is a storm. We settled on Biddeford Pool and Fortune’s Rocks. As I made my way across mile stretch, I could smell the ocean mist, and the clam flats of Biddeford Pool. Pam piped up “Smell those Maine Surf Clams!” “I though you were tired of Maine Surf Clams!” I replied. At that moment, I hit a large wash which covered the truck with water. Pam smirked “let’s not end up in the Maine Surf Clam flat Marco!”

As we made our way around the shores of Biddeford Pool, we could see the distant lights of Cabot Cove. The surf was crashing hard as I stopped for a look at the old Coast Guard Station and its associated ramps which were once used to launch small rescue skiffs. The station was sold over twenty years ago and is now a private residence. Again Pam exclaimed “Smell those clams!”

My mind drifted as I made my way around the point. I began to think of all the Maine Surf Clams that were being brought closer to shore by the rough seas. And with the seas being over twenty feet, I was getting excited about the prospects of them rolling onto shore during the next low tide. Hen clams and Quahogs acquired the nick name of Surf Clams for that very reason

When seas are rough, the large Maine Surf Clams are picked up by the crashing waves and rough seas. They are brought closer to shore as they roll around on the ocean floor after being dislodged from the sand. At times they are actually thrown onto shore after a northeaster. That's what I was dreaming for!

When I awoke the next morning, I was actually grumpy about having to turn the clock back. The low tide was at 9:30, which meant I had two hours to waste before making my way to the ocean. I farded around and waited until it was late enough to go. And what did I find?

I found out that a Clam that is a Clam is a Maine Surf Clam! And that they wash up when they want to!

If you are interested in clamming, I will be conducting a free Maine Surf Clamming seminar at 2:15 on Saturday, November 4th. We will be going out on the beach. You will learn how to locate, harvest and clean surf clams. Interested parties can e-mail me for directions by posting a comment below. All Maine residents can partake with out the need of a license; remember surf clams live in the sand, not in the mud, so it will be a nice walk on the beach anyways!

Be safe and have fun clamming!

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