Finally a nice morning for some clamming

[Defiant]

My boat is in the lake for trout season so we grabbed my buddies boat, a 1968 Lightning named "Native Dancer" and hit the grounds for some good eats. Water was very clear, last photo shows the bottom in 2' of water. Tonights treat, raw on the 1/2 shell and oven fried cod & clams.

 

[ScotO]

Looks like a good time. Your last picture isn't showing up though, Defiant........

Dammit that's the one that I wanna see, too!

Maybe a pic of the 'eats', eh?

 

[Defiant]

Scotty I see it, there are only 3 photos, I will try to post the eats later.

 

[fishingpol]

Great way to spend a morning. My friend went to the Cape this morning for oysters as he mentioned the season is closing soon.

 

[Defiant]

mentioned the season is closing soon.

Our area closes April 30, gonna make another run tomorrow

 

[GAMMA RAY]

It does look like a good time. I love being out on the water..and I love fishing, my new hobby. Who would a thunk it? Lol

 

[Scols]

Looks like you got a couple of oysters too.Does anything taste better than something you harvested with your own two hands? I dont think so.Tonight im gonna fry up some flounder from yesterdays fishing trip. By the way,a friend had a couple of bluefin in his monkfish nets in 60 fathoms south of block island .They were both around 150lbs so get your gear ready theres alot of sand eels inshore and alot of herring south of the 700 line. Its shaping up to be a good bluewater season !

 

[Defiant]

Things are warming up. Heard about some fisherman reports, we are waiting for the temps at the Vineyard to go up a little and load up on fresh squid.

 

[Scols]

Things are warming up. Heard about some fisherman reports, we are waiting for the temps at the Vineyard to go up a little and load up on fresh squid.

My skipper spoke to a draggeman friend from Pt Judith who went to Nantucket a couple of days ago to try for squid. LOL, they caught just enough to cover the bottom of a bucket after making 3 or 4 tows. Like your temp chart shows water is still pretty nippy. There is still alot of fluke and scup in 40 to 50 fathoms and our monks are hanging back as well. We seem to be about 10 days behind this year.Once the water warms up squidding should be good. The offshore dragger fleet sucked wind this winter because the dogfish stopped the squid from bunching up to where they could be easily caught,so maybe that will mean easier pickins inshore this spring and summer.

 

[Defiant]

Maybe a pic of the 'eats', eh?

 

[fossil]

Dang, does that ever look absolutely d-e-e-e-e-licious.

 

[Defiant]

Went out again this morning for another limit, going tomorrow for another, last day open for our spot. Next on the agenda will be fluke and then when the temp/weather are there tuna

 

[Jags]

Went out again this morning for another limit, going tomorrow for another, last day open for our spot. Next on the agenda will be fluke and then when the temp/weather are there tuna

I hate you. (but in a good way)

 

[Defiant]

I hate you. (but in a good way)

They are so good, stocking the freezer for future stuffies/chowder Maybe tomorrow I will take some pics

 

[nsfd95]

Weakfish in the traps and first keeper striped bass taken the other day down here.

 

[certified106]

View attachment 100812

That is some mighty fine looking grub! I would scarf it down in a heartbeat!

 

[Defiant]

Well hit the grounds for the last day, they will reopen in November, the coffers are filled

 

[Jags]

Man - you are making me jealous.

If you eat those right now, you could go back and get more.

 

[Defiant]

If you eat those right now, you could go back and get more.

Done that a couple of times

 

[fishingpol]

I have to ask. I've had only softshell "steamers". Are the ones you have hardshell, and do you call them quahogs?

Fine eats there by the way.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

GAWD! i love some clams jealous! looks to be quite the bounty, enjoy my friend

 

[h2ochild]

I'm often amazed when folks enjoy as recreation,what I do for a living. Lucky, I am. 'course nowadays, I farm those animals and have no time to go off "wild" harvesting, and I truly miss my younger days working the bays. Nice haul, Defiant, looks like they have already started growing. Do you usually have that much Ulva(the green sea weed) at this time of year?

 

[Defiant]

Do you usually have that much Ulva(the green sea weed) at this time of year?

Not through the winter months, once the waters start warming up in early spring, they come alive with weed, horseshoe crabs, spider & green crabs along with sandworms. The area we go is flat surrounded by channels which involves a boat to get there hence it is never crowded out there during the winter.

Are the ones you have hardshell, and do you call them quahogs?

They are all the same clam, the name changes depending on the size, depending on where you are from, some call the small ones littlenecks next size up would be cherrystones with the large chowder clams call quahogs.
I found this sizing for an area, hope you get the idea
SMALL CLAMS
-Pasta clam: 22 per pound
-Littleneck: At least 7/8 inch thick, measured across the hinge; 16 per pound
-Middleneck: At least 1 inch thick, measured across the hinge; 10 per pound
-Greatneck: At least 11/4 inches thick, measured across the hinge; 6 per pound
LARGE CLAMS
-Topneck: 4 per pound; 21/2 inches wide
-Cherrystone: 3 per pound; 3 inches wide
-Chowder: 2 per pound; 4 inches wide

 

[fishingpol]

Thank you, very good info.

 

[Lousyweather]

Not through the winter months, once the waters start warming up in early spring, they come alive with weed, horseshoe crabs, spider & green crabs along with sandworms. The area we go is flat surrounded by channels which involves a boat to get there hence it is never crowded out there during the winter.


They are all the same clam, the name changes depending on the size, depending on where you are from, some call the small ones littlenecks next size up would be cherrystones with the large chowder clams call quahogs.
I found this sizing for an area, hope you get the idea
SMALL CLAMS
-Pasta clam: 22 per pound
-Littleneck: At least 7/8 inch thick, measured across the hinge; 16 per pound
-Middleneck: At least 1 inch thick, measured across the hinge; 10 per pound
-Greatneck: At least 11/4 inches thick, measured across the hinge; 6 per pound
LARGE CLAMS
-Topneck: 4 per pound; 21/2 inches wide
-Cherrystone: 3 per pound; 3 inches wide
-Chowder: 2 per pound; 4 inches wide

but steamers are different critters altogether! steamers are more rare, often "secret" or owned beds......I know of one out near Plum Island, but otherwise, its usually littlenecks, quahogs, etc round these parts. Steamers are darn near worth their weight in gold........yum!