Clam digging 101: Your guide to this classic P.E.I. activity
Clam digging in P.E.I. is a free, family-friendly activity that anyone can try, with no license required and up to 100 clams allowed per Canadian, per day.
"I got one," said Nathan Coleman, a video journalist at The Weather Network. "I finally found my first clam and it's just big enough."
Clam digging is a beloved pastime in Prince Edward Island and for many, a rewarding one.
A soft-shell clam is checked for size using a shellfish gauge in P.E.I. The minimum legal size is 50 millimetres. (The Weather Network/Nathan Coleman)
Perry Gotell, owner of Tranquility Cove Adventures in Georgetown, P.E.I., runs deep sea fishing trips and seal watches. He says clam digging is something you can do for free.
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"If you're visiting P.E.I., you can do this on the cheap. The whole family's going to love it," said Gotell.
No license is required, and the season for soft-shell clams runs from May 1 until the end of October.
"Anybody that's Canadian, you're allowed 100 clams per person, each day," Gotell added.
The best time to go digging is during a full moon when the tides are at their lowest, known as spring tides, which happen once a month.
These tides allow you to walk out farther to access more digging areas.
The minimum size requirements are 50 millimetres for soft-shell clams and 102 millimetres for bar clams.
A freshly dug softshell clam is held up during low tide in Georgetown, P.E.I. (Nathan Coleman/The Weather Network)
Sheltered bays are ideal for digging as they don't get as much wave action, and clams there tend to burrow into soft sand.
When searching, Gotell says to look for a small hole––"just like if you took something smaller than a pencil and put it down in the sand."
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Before heading out, you can check Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)'s shellfish harvesting map online to make sure there are no closures due to bacteria, contaminants or marine biotoxins.
And if you're unsure where to go, just ask.
"Islanders are very friendly. They'll tell you where to go," said Gotell. "If you're staying at a cottage or a campground, ask where the best clam digging close to you is and they'll tell you."
Copy edited by Fredrick Reyes, a digital journalist at The Weather Network.