West Coast Clamming Rules and Regulations
Below are links for clamming and crabbing laws for each state. Please verify the information with your locality.
If you find a link that is out of date or wrong, please e-mail and let us know.
Alaska
Clamming is open year round in the salt waters of Cook Inlet. However, most digging occurs from April through September. The “table quality” of the clam is generally considered best in early summer, just prior to the July-August spawning. On the northern beaches, razor clam beds are exposed on any minus tide. However, tides of -2.0 feet or lower are suggested.
Cook Inlet Personal Use Clam Fishery
Southeast Alaska Personal Use Scallop/Clam/Abalone Fishery
Washington
Hardshell clams include Manila and Native littlenecks, Butter clams, Cockles, Macomas and a few others of little harvest interest. These clams are found on beaches of mixed sand, gravel, and mud. They are commonly harvested using shovels or rakes. Except for the larger butter clams, rakes are usually most effective, and are less damaging to the clams and the beach
Recreational Shellfishing – Shellfish and Seaweed Harvest Rules
Public Clam and Oyster Beaches
Oregon
All areas are open except Marine Gardens, Marine Reserves, Research Reserves, Habitat Refuges, and Shellfish Preserves. These areas have signs indicating their locations and are listed and mapped in the Sport Fishing Regulations book. See the link below for clamming/ shellfish restrictions.
Oregon Sport Regulations Summary for Marine Shellfish and Invertebrates
California
California Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations Map
Northern California Ocean Recreational Fishing Regulations
Canada/ British Columbia
You must have a tidal waters sport fishing license to harvest shellfish in salt water, including tidal water boundary areas in rivers. Know the location of area closures and find out what fishing activities are permitted – in many areas of British Columbia, fishing is not allowed or is restricted.