Digging Softshell Clams aka Steamers

I like seafood, do you? Here in Maine steamed clams are as popular as Lobster. These sweet little gems of the sea are so tasty. Come along with me to the clam flats in Southern Maine, we will dig a peck of soft-shell clams know as steamers in the Northeast. # Steamed clams #steamers# Maine seafood.
Please Subscribe! / @homesteadedman4784
If you'd like to help support, my channel here is the link. Thank you!
withkoji.com/@HomesteadEdman
++++ This is a disclaimer ++++ These are amazon affiliated links, by using any of these links you will be helping support my channel. It will not cost you any more money. I will receive a small commission from Amazon if you purchase using the links below. Thank you very much for your support. Edman.
2 x 2 Soil Block Maker: amzn.to/3H49tPi
1/2" x 1/2" Soil Block Maker: amzn.to/3JKoDv1
Mother Earth's Greensand: amzn.to/3H9QDpT
Organic Perlite: amzn.to/3s2AfmS
Mother Earth's Dried Blood: amzn.to/35br5vB
Mother Earth's Rock Phosphate: amzn.to/3JG4mXf
Organic Worm Castings: amzn.to/3Byxvkm
Organic Coco Coir: amzn.to/3sWtgLs
Plastic Gallon Measuring Container: amzn.to/35f1Et3
Potting Tray with Shelf: amzn.to/358X9jx
Subscribe to the channel: / @homesteadedman4784
Legal Info:
Edman owns and operates this channel. He is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising programme that allows websites to earn advertising fees by advertising on and linking to Amazon.com. This site also takes part in other affiliate marketing programs, and receives compensation for sending customers and business their way.

[@indianboy72]

I used to dig a bunch of these early morning in niantic, ct. I have great memories that will last me lifetime. There is something about harvesting with family and friends. They just taste better. Great content. Brought back a lot of memories. Thanks….

[@homesteadedman4784]

Hi indianboy welcome! Thanks for the nice words, if you'd like I'd love to have you subscribe and be a part of the community here. I love a good fresh steamer almost more than Lobster. I'm glad It brought back good memories for you. Thats the only thing in life you can take with you, memories!! cheers Edman

[@davestelling]

That's a nice mess of clams, friend! We used to dig with our hands as kids - could fill a large pail. This was mid-coast Maine area. Those were some good days...

[@homesteadedman4784]

Hola Dave Stelling! Those were the days my friend, I thought they’d never end…. Dave can I ask your location nowadays? Thanks for being here!!

[@samuelward6357]

I have great childhood memories clamming at the shores of Cobscook Bay State park. Delicious!!!! One of my favorite treats.

[@homesteadedman4784]

Hello Sam, good moaning to you. When growing up in Florida we used to dig for cherry stone clams. The Maine clams are much sweeter in taste I think.

[@imdatocosong759]

This video makes me hungry😂

[@homesteadedman4784]

Thanks for the support!

[@glennkrzeminski7539]

Wow, I’ve never seen them so dense!

[@homesteadedman4784]

Hi Glenn, thanks for checking out the video and the comment as well. This place has been closed to clamming for 30 plus years, It was well worth the wait, they are everywhere. Cheers

[@gloryandshinepk8974]

Very nice upload.Thank you for sharing🙋‍♂️stay connected 🌹

[@homesteadedman4784]

Thank you very much for the nice comment! Stay connected I like that!

[@WhiskeynSunshineOffGrid]

Great job digging those clams. I used to love fried clams until I worked at a lobster pound in Trenton for a few years. I saw what came out of their bellies and I was grossed out. But I was a teenager then, been a lot of years to forget. lol

[@homesteadedman4784]

Hi Guys thanks for stopping over here on my channel I appreciate it a lot!!. I don't want to think about what's inside those belly's haha

[@EastGrandWoodsman]

Good morning Edman, Hahaha I love steamers. Those ones looked great nice and white. You guys do have some of the best clams in the state and that area. When I was a kid 10 years old we used to be able to dig clams anywhere. The other thing I'm bringing up here is that muscles used to be laying all over the ground and no one would touch them. Big piles of muscles. Now when you go to the coast you can't find any muscles and when you go to the store they're in there for sale LOL. I love to eat mussels also. I wish I'd known that when I was 10 years old because you could have filled a pickup truck. Great video about Maine. Such a great state we live in. I hope you have a great day my friend! Tom

[@homesteadedman4784]

Tom, you couldn't be more right about the mussels, a little white wine and some butter yummo! When I was a kid down in Florida I lived on the Banana River, the oysters were everywhere free for the picking. I can honestly say I have eaten my fair share of oysters and saltine crackers. haha I love Maine Tom and thanks for the nice comment. The wife and I are in lockdown as she has tested positive and is not feeling so hot right now. Hopefully I get lucky and won't get it. Have a great day my friend!

[@davestelling]

Same here, Tom. My buddy & I would reach down below the water line and fill a 5 gallon pail with huge mussels in no time. (Down mid-coast area.) Many locals would make fun of us for eating them!

[@EastGrandWoodsman]

@@davestelling Hahahaha yes they did! :)

[@homesteadedman4784]

@@davestelling whodofthunk?

[@MySliceOfHeavenoutdoors]

It was nice watching you dig clams. I love them, but can't really find any good seafood here in Missouri.

[@homesteadedman4784]

Hello Joey, thanks for coming along brother. I grew up in Florida, fishing and eating shellfish. I would say that the seafood from the cold waters of the north taste better than seafood caught in the warmer waters in the south. Call me crazy but that my thoughts. Have a great day!

[@MySliceOfHeavenoutdoors]

@@homesteadedman4784 I grew up 8n Maryland, close to the Chesapeake Bay. Had lots of seafood there. Hace it here in Missouri, but most is not worth buying.

[@Blitz0203]

Great video! I definetly learned a free things watching your video. I live on long island and generally harvest little necks etc. Yesterday was the first day I went for steamers, but the area was extremely muddy. And the clams we're much farther down. But, I learned to look where the area is more like what you had, and to work slowly in slices, this most of the clams won't get broken. My wife as I write is steaming them open, and getting them ready for clams linguini ... I cannot tell you how good that meal will be! Thanks for a very nice video ... Laidback, but productive! Rick

[@homesteadedman4784]

Hello Blitz0203, Welcome Rick! Thanks for the nice comments on the video. I bet those little necks sure taste good! I'm not a fan of digging in the mud, but if it's the only area I had I'd do it. Clams linguini sounds excellent, what time is dinner? haha. Thanks again Rick cheers!

[@NAlice-cd4ki]

This is so cool! Very interesting to see how you collect steamers.

[@homesteadedman4784]

Thanks for watching! You should join me sometime!

[@brandondulle]

This is one thing I’ve yet to do. As a Mainer I can’t hold my head as high as I want to not knowing how to dig clams. I’ve got to change this! Soon!

[@homesteadedman4784]

Hello Brandon, I just checked the town of Wells site. Last year the clamming licenses went on sale November 15th. They have both resident and a few nonresident but be there when they open the doors they go quickly. Up here they open clamming in the summer Wells is winter. I know Wells got hammered hard so it's not as easy as it once was. I will show you a spot we used to go back some years ago if you manage to get a permit. I didn't get to dig this summer due to my shoulder replacement, but I will be in line at 5 am next April. haha Thans for watching have a great weekend!

[@brandondulle]

Just rewatching this. How did I just see this now! Looks like the ship has sailed for this year. I might try to get a permit for the summer as a non resident.

[@sophieauman4669]

Can you dig for clams all year long?

[@homesteadedman4784]

The harvest season for glams in my town is early spring till late summer but most towns around us are during the winter months. Each town can set there own season. The towns are all working with the state biologist to maintain a sustainable clamming future. Thanks for watching!!

[@eugene2225]

I've been looking for a good technique video for a while, my first time out I broke a ton of them with the rake by doing it the wrong way. Also a lot of the other videos are in mud and not sand so I appreciate you sharing this. When you purge them do you just leave them in the same water in the cooler for 2 full days? Any concern about them warming up if it's summer?

[@homesteadedman4784]

Hello Eugene, welcome bud! Thanks for the nice comments. When you dig that initial hole, you will break some and it's painful haha, but after you get that area deep enough that you can slice a little at a time you will damage less clams. I purge them in salt water, and I do try to keep as them as cool as possible. The more you change out the water the less sand they will have. I am less than two miles to the coast so for me it's no big deal. But yes so 2 days tops. Eat them or get fresh salt water. I have kept them up to a week by changing out the water every day or two. My buddy purges them for two days then keeps them in the veggie drawer in the frig for a few days while enjoying them. Hope that helps and happy digging!! Cheers!

[@reaper_6six6]

Another tip is when your digging don’t drive your rake as you can stick it only about 4 inch or so in the sand mud clay whatever your digging in. And when you do so you allow the clams to be exposed so you can work the rake as needed and not break them bc there heads and tips of the shells will be visible. Same idea your breaking little bits at and time away. And you don’t wanna stick the rake on top of the holes keep the rake at least 5 inches from the clam hole and make sure it’s between the tongs so if you do go to far you will likely miss the clam and not damage them. I dig commercial and I dig about 300-350 a week so I’m pretty good at it now. Just take your time and learn what it feels like with the rake hits a clam so you can stop pull the rake up a few inches so you can again expose it so you can work around it and get the clam out of the mud or clay sand clams are very easy to dig best for most novice diggers. More experienced diggers dig anywhere there are clam to be dug. Hope this helps you!