Block Island Clamming Shutdown?!?!?!?!?!

R

rommer

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What are the dopes that run things in Block Island thinking?

A planned, ten day shut down of all clamming beds so they can reseed in the middle of the high point of the season starting tomorrow.

When asked why, "this is the way it worked out this year"

They could have at least done it mid week so only one not two weekends are lost.

The clamming is one of the main reasons we go to Block year after year and may have to rethink next years plan.

What a buffoon move IMO.

FWIW, the harbor masters phone number is 401-466-3204

On another note the squiding seems to be very good this year.
 
I have never been clamming so I wouldn't miss it. I really wish I could have made a trip to Block this year but it just doesn't fit into my schedule this year.

All I can say is if your in Block I'm sure you will have a good time with or without clamming! Sorry to hear you will miss out on something you enjoy! Have a safe trip home.
 
John I hate it when this sort of thing happens, but I have to wonder if they did it this way so that two weekends of harvest did not have a more pronounced affect on the bed. Who knows.
 
They usually do it in the spring Dan and for some reason they could not this year. Not sure why but it really sucks!
 
I know the fishermen that take out charters in the Bahamas are concerned over the reduction in Yellow Fin tuna. Over all, things are starting to take a toll. Hopefully up there it isn't something like Hepatitis. What was the old rule of thumb? No shell fish from a month without an R or something like that? Any algae blooms running now?
 
No idea about algae blooms. I know several people in Block this week that have harvested clams without any issues. Just seems real strange to do a 10 day moratorium in the middle of a busy season.
 
Would those that do this all the time give me a little clamming rb2@gr5t block 101? We'll be out there next week and have never done it. One of my crew has some experience. What kind of clams are we talking about? Steamers, little-necks, cherry-stones? What's the process and where do you go to do it? Can i dinghy over or do i have to take the boat?

Something different to do and we LOVE raw-bar!
 
You get a clam license at the Harbor Master's office at Block Island Boat Basin. They have a map that shows where the open beds are. There is a four quart limit (about 50 clams) per license per day.

We use a clam rake and get our limit in about an hour.
 
Isn't it less expensive to buy a bag of fresh clams and enjoy cooking & eating them on-board?
I'm just playing devil's advocate!
Didn't I read here in BE that a few (NON-BE) boaters were discharging feed for the clams from their waste tanks?
Bill
 
Sounds easy enough especially if the open beds are within dinghy range. What type of clams do you generally get? All kinds?

Bill, in the voice of my used-to-be teenage daughter "eewww"

Thanks
Tim
 
Yes, Bill, it's probably cheaper to buy them, but it's the thrill of the catch...

Most of the clams are quahogs. They are near the beach on both sides of the entrance channel.
 
Technically they are not clams but rather quahogs. http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/factsheets/fsquahog.html

There is a lower size limit, and they give you a gauge for that, and they grow up to 4+ inches in size. Oh and they taste much better than store bought. Maybe it's because they are fresher or maybe just the fact you harvested them your self but they are good!
 
Something worked, went clamming over the fourth this year and everyone was filling their bags with nice size, 2-3 inch clams, i was told they were littlenecks...all i know is they were delicious
 
I think you'll find quahogs are clams. In fact a quahog clam found off Iceland, I think it was, is credited with being the oldest living animal.

Sucks that you can't take them for a while. I like steamers better by far. Are there steamer beds on Block? If so I might have to buy a rake before we stop by there.
 
Is it spawning season? Don't they get mushy when all sexed out??
 
quote:
Originally posted by Capt. Bill1

I think you'll find quahogs are clams. In fact a quahog clam found off Iceland, I think it was, is credited with being the oldest living animal.

Sucks that you can't take them for a while. I like steamers better by far. Are there steamer beds on Block? If so I might have to buy a rake before we stop by there.

Click to expand...


I thought Hillary was the oldest living animal.
 
License to quahog? Has the world gone mad? There used to be tons of folks dotting the coastline of Potowomut, Rhode Island riding plungers to bring up that delicacy from the depths! Great memories!
 
Perfectly legal todig them now with permit I was replying to an older thread about the shutdown
 
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