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Digging Clams at the Columbia Beach House                                             (Click on photos to enlarge)

If the tides are into negative numbers, you can try to find a few clams.  At the higher tides, you will get mostly cockles, but at the lower tides you will find find butter clams and horse clams.  There is a shovel under the deck.  Our neighbors will appreciate it if you stay DIRECTLY in front of the house when you go digging.  The beach is private property and people care about the borders of their clam beds.  Line yourself up with the fences on the edges of the yard.  Clams are delicious steamed until they open.  Add a little salt, pepper and butter and enjoy! 

A small hint:  Clams tend to be sandy inside when you first dig them, which is hard on the teeth.  Put them in a bucket of salt water for a night or two (out of the sun) and they will clean themselves out.

Click here to check on tide levels

Click here to check on Red Tide.  This is serious business - be careful!

Click here for shellfish license and rules

Please fill in your holes when you're done.  Digging a small deep hole will yield more clams than large shallow holes.

Yes, that is a clam in her hand.	Note Hat Island in the background.
The whole family gets to be involved. It just looks like hard work.	Cockles and butter clams.
Seagulls dig clams also and put on quite a show

E-mail: columbia@whidbeybeach.com        Phone: 206-353-4813