 Currently, Clamming on the Kenai Peninsula may be a little poor due to over harvesting of the clams. Fish and Game have closed down several of the most popular clamming sites, be sure to check with F&G to find out which ones may be open. When available the quality of razor clams on the beaches of the Kenai Peninsula brings a special treat and great food to our visitors and our Alaskan residents. Each summer there are two low tides each month which offer the opportunity to harvest these wonderful treats. The waters of the Cook Inlet provide plenty of food to build plump, juicy clams and the cold temperatures of the waters assure that they remain tender. The tide charts on the above indicate the dates, times and the low tide level that will be obtained on the beach of Ninilchik in 2016. Alaska razor clams are available on the eastern shore of the Cook Inlet from the mouth of the Kasilof River to Anchor Point. The low tide times are earlier the further south you go. In order to get out to the sand beds where the clams are abundant, it is necessary to have negative tide levels below -2.0 feet and the lower the better.
It should still provide many opportunities for gathering your limit of clams (check your State Fishing Guide for the 2015 limit) from 4 to 6 inches in length. Note that the limits of clams taken change from year to year. | 2018 Clamming Low Tides
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Also you must take and count any clam you dig regardless of the size or condition. Do not hesitate to go clamming during those periods where the negative tides are not as great (-2 to -4 feet) as some sand beds are still available. Clams are there also, but may be more scarce and may be deeper below the surface.
You can normally dig for clams up to a couple of hours before the low tide and an hour or so after the low tide. However, be very careful as the tide changes and begins to return. It comes in very quickly and can leave you stranded if you are too far away from the beach. There is a free handout guide available for you at the Kasilof RV Park which will identify the major locations for clamming and methods for cleaning them. We also rent all the gear for clamming, including clam shovels, clam tubes, rubber boots and buckets. If you need help cleaning them, we will give you lessons and advice.
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| Raking the surface sand for steamer clams |
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Digging clams |
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| Clamming at Cook Inlet |
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| Reaching for a clam |
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| Starting the clam search |
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| Clamming at low tide |
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| Cleaning the large clam batch |
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| Shelling clams |
Kasilof RV Park is just a few miles away from some of the best razor clam beds in Alaska. Twice a month during the summer, tides are lower than normal and the beaches fill with eager diggers looking for the tell-tail dimple in the sand that indicates a delicious razor clam is in residence several inches to feet below the surface. Yes, these elusive clams can pull themselves down into the sand as you are digging for them. They can’t go sideways, but they can sure go deep!
The tried and true method is a clam shovel and long arms! After finding a dimple, you have to dig a trench between it and the ocean down to where the clam is located and then pull it out of the sand by the neck. Sometimes this turns into a problem as the deeper you dig, the surface water wants to run into the trench and cave in the walls. It’s not unusual to be up above your elbows in the sand or higher.
Cleaning begins after the clams have set for about an hour in the salt water to help clean them. Then they are dipped in boiling water to loosen the shell, then in cold water to clean any additional sand off them. Then they have to be cut up for eating. We discard the belly and keep the neck, sides and foot. The neck is chopped up for chowder, the sides chopped for fritters and the foot is stripped for fried clam strips. When all that is accomplished, all that is left is a delicious meal.