Officials have seized more than 170 undersized clams that were illegally harvested at Pismo Beach on Oct. 15.
Officials have seized more than 170 undersized clams that were illegally harvested at Pismo Beach on Oct. 15. Credit: California Department of Fish and Wildlife photo

Four people were busted on suspicion of illegally harvesting 178 undersized Pismo clams in San Luis Obispo County this month.

A California Department of Fish and Wildlife law enforcement officer saw the group digging for clams on the north end of Pismo Beach on Oct. 15, according to Lt. Matt Gill.

The city had closed that area of the beach “to protect the recovering clams during their spawning period,” a Facebook post by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife stated.

The legal limit for harvesting Pismo clams is 10 per day per person, but the suspects were in possession of grocery bags and a camouflage backpack filled with more than 100 undersized clams, the agency said.

Two suspects had collected 120 clams, while two other suspects dug up 58 clams.

The suspects did not have the required clam gauges, and all 178 clams were smaller than 4.5 inches.

The clams were reburied to give them a chance to survive.

“These clams — and all California wildlife — belong to the people of this state, and illegally taking them deprives everyone the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from our shared natural resources,” the Facebook post stated.

Fish and Wildlife did not release the names of the four people. It’s unclear what fines they will face, if any. The case will be adjudicated early next year, Gil said.

SLO County Rules for Harvesting Clams

In San Luis Obispo County, a person can harvest only 10 Pismo clams a day, and they must be at least 4.5 inches wide.

Each clammer also must have a valid fishing license and an accurate measuring device, and they can harvest clams only from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. Clammers also must bring a clam fork, a caliper and a bucket of seawater per person.

If clammers dig up a clam that’s too small, they must rebury the mollusk immediately. The process involves digging a small, 2-inch deep hole in the wet sand where the water will reach it.

Then pick up the clam, and look at the hinge side to find its ligament, which is a small, fleshy bump.

Place the clam in the hole with the hinge side facing toward the ocean and the ligament facing up, and bury the clam 6 to 8 inches deep in the sand.

If you see someone poaching clams, call the CalTip line at 888.334.2258.