Eric,
It is fun and we will get you out when you come up for your NE hunt (someday in the future)!
It is pretty regulated, the only beds open are those not leased by the town commercially. Many towns have recreational beds that are off limits to commercials. Most towns charge for a permit (more for out of towners, in Ct often $50 per year). Beds are in areas that are free of sewage (i.e., clamming is closed in harbors where people you be more likely to discharge sewage. The beds I work also close if we get a lot of rain in a short period, to protect against any contaminated runooff into the sewers. Then there are the implements, rakes must have at least 1" between tines (so you don't get the little ones). Limits for us is 1/2 bushel for each permitted person (which is really liberal, many areas are 1/4 bushel or less). Our limit is a combined limit of oysters, hard clams, steamers and mussels. Then there are size limits on the shellfish, oysters have to be 3" long, hard clams 1" thick (and/or 1 1/2" long) and steamers have to be 1 1/2" long. You have a gauge with cutouts of appropriate sized slots to measure.
Outside any regulations, you have to play the tide. You need a low tide during the day (can only clam during daylight) . In my spots to dig hard shells you need a new moon or full moon tide; the 2 or three days around the full or new has the greatest amplitude. Amazingly if you do have 12 new moons and 12 full moons a year plus the couple days around, that doesn't give you all that many options to get out, especially in winter when it is dark lots of the time.
Clamming is pretty new for me, having ony been at it for a couple years. I don't clam in the summer. I really enjoy the mix of cold water, strenous work, being the only one on the water. Getting Jen to go makes it all the more fun! This past trip may be her last trip for a while, seeing that we have a kid due in May!
T
