Finding and Preparing Cockles and Huge Gaper Clams in the Pacific Northwest

[@mrsw2923]

Hearing your children in the background just turned and informitive video into a giant smile. Thank you

[@Aliholic]

as someone on the PNW, I really appreciate your videos good sir. Been getting into foraging lately, and your channel has been a wealth of knowledge about the local species (both salties and freshies). Obsessively watching your back catalogue of videos, happy to see you are still uploading

[@Travelingman724]

This is the first video I’ve found that really shows cleaning them. Thank you

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Greg, glad it helped! Thanks for checking in.

[@Jennifer-gw4ww]

Makes my mouth watering, gaper clams are my favorite. Been 16 yrs I haven't had one.

[@oliviaharrington6700]

How you only have 3.1k subscribers baffles me, you have a natural ability to provide information to viewers without being condescending or preaching your own beliefs. In 30 seconds you'll have 3.1k plus 1 subscribers.x

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Olivia, thank you for the kind words and for your support. I remember being amazed when I first attained 500 subscribers, haha. I had no idea there would be so much interest in my videos. I hope to post some new ones as soon as I get some free time... Thanks again!

[@stephaniemaxwell5812]

Loved this video and the very good guide through finding, harvesting, and cleaning the clams. Demonstrations are very good, simple and well shot. Your advice is great. Keep your production techniques as simple and effective (!) as possible. So much information, great that you related your experiences, the clams' biology and methods for dealing with the clams. Thank you so much!

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Stephanie, thank you for your suggestions and kind words of support. Much appreciated!

[@scottcraig972]

Thank you. Never new the information you provided. Can't wait to go claming now my father and grandpa used to take me with them clamming for Pismo clams in Newport beach CA. Back in the 60's. Along time ago. !!

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Scott, glad to hear it helped. Good luck clamming!

[@joepodunk284]

Just seeing your video I won't say wasting but rather missing out! The foot as you call it is actually the digger and if you'll go up from where you cut to the gut ball, make a "V" cut or semi circle cut around it and remove, you can remove the gills also, then "butterfly" the whole digger and remove the rest of the guts while running under cold tap water. It's a really large piece of the clam that is great pan fried with egg wash and panko!! It is as tender and tasty as razor clam! Another trick to remove the neck skin is to just soak in hot tap water for awhile, we would remove all the necks first then soak while we cleaned the rest of the "diggers" by then the skin peeled right off, then you don't have to wait for them to freeze, hope this helps, enjoyed your vid!

[@WesternEclectic]

@@joepodunk284 This is great information! I want to make sure I don't waste anything, and from what you've described there is more to the "digger" than what I have been saving. I'll give your method a try next time. Thanks also for your tips on removing the skin from the necks, I'll try that too. Thanks again for taking the time to comment and share your knowledge on this. It's one of the things I really love about KZbin: I get to connect with other folks and learn from them. Take care, and happy new year!

[@joepodunk284]

@WesternEclectic Ya absolutely! I'm glad to help, I've seen others do the same cut on the "foot" with razor clams and I almost lose my mind, 😆 Plus there is what we call fat in the digger that the gut tubes run through, I always try to preserve as much of that as I can. I've seen some who will scrape it out because it is a lot easier to get the gut tubes out but the fat is flavor!! Basically it's like the way you cleaned the Cockle digger. I butterfly the whole digger all the way to the tip of the foot that way it stays the same thickness for even frying. We would always go for "Blue Necks"(as we call them)from August into the fall, they have the most fat Again I was simply pointing out what you were missing out on. And your welcome, Good luck to you.

[@jerlee620]

Cool video & rather appetizing. Thanks for the cooking advice. Cheers.

[@Juju-wk7yv]

Those are some big boys! Our clams in Massachusetts are much smaller.

[@4llyz.a]

I got horse clams for the first time yesterday and was looking for way to clean them. I have watched tons of videos on KZbin, but your method is the best. Thank you for posting your video.

[@WesternEclectic]

I'm glad it helped. Congratulations on getting some clams!

[@DoveGirl]

Thank you for returning the fish🙋🏾‍♀️🙏🏾🤗

[@WesternEclectic]

Haha of course. It's good ocean karma!

[@DoveGirl]

@@WesternEclectic 🤙🏾🤙🏾🤙🏾

[@lizafajardo]

🎉🎉🎉

[@gogan3429]

Great video. A pea crab. I was wondering what those were. Excellent

[@WesternEclectic]

Thanks for the kind words, and I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@jasonjones6428]

I randomly ran across your channel and I have to say that was a fantastic video. Probably the best clam cleaning video I’ve seen. I live in Fresno, CA, and make frequent trips to Half Moon Bay and the central / northern coast for fishing, clamming and foraging. Plus I’ve been metal detecting fir years. I have a Whites MXT and A Minelab Etrac. You have a new subscriber!

[@jasonjones6428]

Oh, and I see you are a follower of The Hunter GT’s channel. I’ve hunted with him a number of times. Good guy.

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Jason thank you for the kind words! Always nice to hear from someone with similar interests. Keep in touch!

[@WesternEclectic]

I've only communicated with The Hunter GT a bit via KZbin, but he has a great attitude and I've enjoyed his videos. It's very cool that you've had the opportunity to do some detecting with him!

[@gus473]

👍 Amazing clams! Especially appreciate the skin removal tip! Thanks for another great video! 😎

[@WesternEclectic]

Thanks Mike!

[@gus473]

@@WesternEclectic You're welcome! Also got a kick out of your child's audio at the end! 😄👏

[@321CatboxWA]

Nobody I know in WA calls Hoarse clams anything but ever . Where are you from that folks call them Gapers ? The Gaper clams I know of are found on dry land and the east coast . ty 4 posting

[@WesternEclectic]

Interesting! I'm in Oregon and the ODFW (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) calls them gapers, so I guess that's where I got it from. According to the ODFW they're also called empire, horseneck, and blue clams. (I once had a local lady tell with me that she had found empire clams, and she was convinced they're something totally different. I'm pretty sure they're not.) I think maybe the ones you're referring to on the East Coast are what I call softshell clams(?) Anyway thanks for checking in and letting me know.

[@321CatboxWA]

@@WesternEclectic Blue = Butter here , very good taste ,just ate some . Happy digging !

[@lyidacampbell7755]

The Gaper clams are huge!!🙂🧛‍♀️❤🦪🦪👍✌👋

[@westcoaster3763]

Great video. Thanks

[@themudbugjuggler9912]

Great clam video! I wish I lived a bit closer to the coast. I live on the Hudson River, and we can't eat our clams yet. The river is making a comeback, but it's still too polluted to eat the clams. It is fun to dig for them, even though they're very small. Just to know they're there for the future. What the heck with your finger?! That clam bit back. Yeesh. Keep a cheapo pair of gloves in the car, and stick 'em in your back pocket on future trips. $15 of prevention is worth more than the blood loss and annoying pain for several weeks to months. I did the same thing with my left big TOE. Had to see the local podiatrist. Bunch of mud, gunk, and algae got shoved under the nail when I slipped at the river, and it broke on a smooth surfaced rock. And then slid down it. I shudder at the memory. I think the treatment hurt worse than the initial injury, lol. No more open toed sandals for me. Keep an eye out for infection. Always great to see a post from you, and it was awesome to hear your youngster end the video. As always, thank you for sharing.

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Amanda thanks for checking in; it's always great to hear from you. Glad to hear the Hudson is improving and I agree that it's nice to at least see clams in the river. I assume that's a good sign as far as the water quality is concerned. And yeah, I hadn't planned to dig gaper clams so I didn't bother bringing a pair of gloves. Doh! From now on I'm going to follow your advice and just keep a pair in the car just in case. That toe story makes me shudder too just thinking about how painful an infection can be... Ouch. Anyhow, I hope all is well in NY. Take care. -Michael

[@cl4s624]

Enjoyed the video amazing catches keep up good work

[@WesternEclectic]

Thank you!

[@Exploer8591]

Great video. Very informative. Do you purge the clams before you clean them?

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Kevin, glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for checking in. Good question and no, I don't purge the clams. When I clean them, all of the other organs get removed anyway so it's not necessary to purge them like it might be for smaller clams where the entire thing is eaten.

[@tombreault1096]

Awesome video and definitely makes me want to get into clamming! New sub here!

[@WesternEclectic]

Thanks! Glad to have you onboard.

[@ScottCarpenter-o3o]

I soak my gapers in freshwater for 2-3 hours before cleaning them. You will be surprised how much the necks stretch out.

[@WesternEclectic]

I will give that a try next time. Thanks!

[@outdoors445]

Where is the footage on how to spot a gaper?

[@WesternEclectic]

Oh! You're right--I never showed in this video how to spot a gaper clam "show" to indicate where the clam is. Typically, you'll see a hole in the sand about the size of a nickel. I'll try to show this in a future video!

[@jim9990]

If you want a more mild taste for the cockles you should clean them before cooking. I like frying them for a few minutes per side. I also live by the ocean so I keep them submerged in salt water for 2-3 days. I change the water every 24-48 hours to keep it clean and oxygenated. They have gills so as long as the water is oxygenated they will open up and filter feed. This blows all the sand out of them.

[@WesternEclectic]

Hey Jim, thanks for the suggestions! I will give this a try next time I get some cockles. One issue I have with cockles is that the meat is tougher and chewier (at least compared to gaper clams). Maybe this is because they overcook when I steam them(?) I've never tried cleaning them before cooking as you suggested.

[@6stringgunner511]

GREAT video 👌😁!!! Good to see another video from you. Have a great week and be safe out there. BTW, Neosporin that thumb.😉

[@WesternEclectic]

Great to hear from you and thanks for checking in! Yep, before I left the coast I stopped to get Band-Aids, rubbing alcohol, and Neosporin. I didn't film the part where I dumped alcohol on my cut and screamed like a girl in an 80s horror movie... Probably for the best.

[@gurnblanstein9816]

Great video! So after you steam the cockles to get them open are they cooked or do you need to cook them further?

[@WesternEclectic]

Good question! At that point, they're cooked. It doesn't take much. If you overcook clams, they end up with the consistency of rubber bands and you can hardly chew them. Speaking from experience....

[@great-grandmakirk8828]

Awe I wanted to see the little crab.😩

[@Knutacious]

yeah, what happened to crabby?

[@FishKepr]

We frequently find them in razor clams. They look like tiny Dungeness crabs but pale in color. They’re kind of cute so we keep them for a while and toss them back into the water.

[@grancitodos7318]

Mussels often have those small crabs inside, they taste good.

[@WesternEclectic]

Seriously? I mean, I'll eat just about anything, especially from the ocean, but I've never eaten a pea crab. Another viewer commented that they taste good; I thought that person was just messing with me. How do you prepare them?

[@grancitodos7318]

@@WesternEclectic I steam open most shellfish, so I just pick them out cooked and eat them whole.

[@WesternEclectic]

@@grancitodos7318 Ah, OK, got it. They still don't look too appetizing, but then again neither do the gaper clams. I'll have to try them next time I steam clams!

[@ArmenAbdyl]

It’s fine

[@Sarah_707]

I want to do this so bad but the beach in Mississippi is empty

[@WesternEclectic]

Bummer! Come visit the West Coast sometime!

[@singwithmychannel1704]

I’m looking for cockles clam, but could not find it. Where is this beach ?

[@WesternEclectic]

This was the central Oregon coast. What types of clams did you find, if any? Best to ask around and get local advice depending on your location. Good luck!

[@ashleyyarbrough1333]

Can't wait to go on the beach soon I'm at my braking point

[@WesternEclectic]

I hear you! I really miss getting outdoors for clamming, crayfishing, metal detecting... I hope we can get back to it soon!

[@evanbarger5994]

Is this in Washington or Oregon?

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Evan, this was on the Oregon coast.

[@gurnblanstein9816]

Where are you digging these?

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Gurn, thanks for watching. This was on the central Oregon coast. I prefer not to post my exact locations publicly, but if you're in the area and thinking about going clamming, feel free to send me an email at [e-mail] and I can get you more details.

[@gurnblanstein9816]

@@WesternEclectic I understand that's good enough I'm actually on the Washington coast I'm hoping to find a good spot somewhere around grays harbor where I live. Great video by the way you sound very professional.

[@WesternEclectic]

@@gurnblanstein9816 Thanks and good luck!

[@turners_teefies]

Any location suggestions in Oregon?

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Andrea, there are lots of good places to go clamming along the Oregon coast. I'd suggest you start with the ODFW website as they have great information, including some maps. There is also a book entitled "Clam Digging & Crabbing in Oregon" that has maps and other good information. Don't forget your shellfish license. Good luck!

[@kazjakorotczuk9530]

New sub here great videos am enjoying watching it

[@WesternEclectic]

Thanks Kazja!

[@vladka22]

Can I keep gaper clams in the fridge for 1-2 days before cleaning?

[@WesternEclectic]

I believe it would be fine to keep them overnight or for at least a day. You'll want to keep them cold and damp, but not submerged in water. For transport in the cooler I keep them in a bucket with a damp cloth over it and I've never had a problem. Good luck!

[@vladka22]

@@WesternEclectic thank you for the reply. They still seem alive and I will clean them. In the future can I keep them in the sea water for overnight? Is it just fresh water that kills them?

[@WesternEclectic]

@@vladka22 That's great! I hope you enjoy your clams. And my understanding is that even seawater isn't great, since they can run out of oxygen fairly quickly when stored in water.

[@tvietnam7890]

Which location is this? I live in Seattle I would like to go to this beach please share!

[@WesternEclectic]

I usually don't share my spots publicly. I definitely don't mean to be rude by not specifying the exact locations, but I would rather just show the techniques and allow people to research and discover their own places to go clamming, crayfishing, mushroom hunting, etc. Having said that, I will mention that this was on the central Oregon coast, so quite a drive from Seattle. But from what I understand, gaper clams are fairly prevalent all along the coast so I assume there may be some good locations in your area too (and you may even have access to some species--like oysters--that we don't have here). Good luck and have fun clamming!

[@ZiggityPow]

Dash Point has gaper clams.

[@joannfinley1428]

what beach are you on?

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Joanne, this was on the central Oregon coast. I typically don't like to post the exact locations of my spots publicly, but if you are in the area and would like some more detail, just send me an email (you can find the address under the "about" tab on my KZbin channel).

[@carakintz3536]

Awesome video! Love eating clams, but cleaning them 🤢 grosses me out!

[@WesternEclectic]

Thanks Cara, and I agree about the cleaning part. The process of going from gaper clam to chowder isn't very appetizing. Then again, come to think of it, the process of going from cow to ribeye steak probably isn't either....

[@Redcon22]

The easiest way to get the skin off is to soak them in luke warm salt water for 30 minutes. It peels right off.

[@WesternEclectic]

Cool, thanks for the tip! I'll have to give it a try sometime.

[@1911geek]

Keep them in the fridge why? Purge them in their sea water get the sand out

[@WesternEclectic]

Good point. I just keep the in the fridge if I can't clean them right away so they stay fresh.

[@ajourejohnson]

Almost looks like goeyduck

[@asifurrahamannaem7077]

Sir i wanna need ur help

[@jessicahammond1368]

A scallop and the abductor muscle on a clam is COMPLETLY different! A scallop is a scallop.

[@WesternEclectic]

Hi Jessica. You're right: Gaper clams, cockles, and scallops are definitely different species, but the point I was trying to make is that it's the same muscle. From Wikipedia's entry for "scallop": "The word "scallop" is also applied to the meat of these bivalves, the adductor muscle, that is sold as seafood." Sorry for any confusion.

[@jessicahammond1368]

@@WesternEclectic ahh, i see. Thank you for the clarification! That muscle on a clam was my favorite to eat as a child! Lol love the videos! You have a new subscriber!

[@WesternEclectic]

@@jessicahammond1368 Cool! Thank you for the kind words, and I'm glad to have you as a subscriber. Keep in touch!

[@chelsefuentes6671]

I tried to watch this but the fact he had a cut and did this without gloves… no bueno

[@WesternEclectic]

Haha, it was totally bueno.... I didn't contract any clam-borne diseases, anyway.😁

[@hanmouse3275]

Inside the stomach is very delicious

[@WesternEclectic]

Wait... Really? Well, I suppose when you eat an oyster or small clam you do eat the whole thing. Or do you mean it's delicious when it's inside your stomach, in which case I agree! 😋

[@lanbui5196]

Bắt ốc đâu phải đi nói không xem chán quá, bớt nói lại đi

[@hanmouse3275]

Don't waste its

[@hanmouse3275]

Waste food