where to go clamming on the outer banks

January and February can be ideal hunting times, as South Beach is typically deserted, and yet the helmet conchs, whelks, and Scotch Bonnets still wash up on a regular basis. 1264 Perimeter Parkway Speaking for just Corolla, I'm almost positive that you are allowed to crab under the "foot" bridge at the Whalehead Club. Some areas do not allow the digging of clams, and transportation is prohibited in others. On Ocracoke Island, it's all a matter of being lucky enough to find the right beach at the right time. Members who are extremely knowledgeable about this destination and answer travellers questions frequently. Question: Where Can I Go Clamming Near Me, Place Where Archaeologists Dig Up Artifacts, Quick Answer: Where To Go Clamming In Southern California, Question: Where To Dig For Gems In Montana, Question: Where To Go Clamming On The Outer Banks. On northern beaches, razor clams can be seen at any time of year, regardless of whether it is a minus tide. Take a day trip to Ocracoke to find a Scotch Bonnet! Regardless of what shells you uncover, scallops, clams and even pen shells are great multi-purpose shells that can be used for crafts, containers, or simple trinkets and reminders of a great day at the beach. Rivers Of Babylon by The Melodians. Just because one beach trip isn't fruitful doesn't mean the next one won't be as well, and if the only thing a beachcomber brings back from a beach trip is a revitalized spirit and a suntan, that's not a shabby day on the Outer Banks at all. 4. Just knowing the spot is half the battle. On the west side of Oregon Inlet bridge you will find mostlyQuahog clams (which are larger), or further south on the sound side of Hatteras Island and on Ocracoke you will find a greater variety of sizes. He lives in Garner with his wife, three daughters and two German shorthaired pointers. However, the majority of digging takes place in the spring and summer. It will also be a lot easier for you to work in these conditions. Most of the lodging in the Outer Banks are rental houses. A fresh olive shell, (or one whose color hasn't been lessened by battering ocean waves and sand), can be patterned with hundreds of tiny triangles and abstract designs, making these shells absolutely gorgeous finds. Let us do the cooking tonight! Local and visiting beachcombers alike plan rugged weekend trips to this island solely because of its absolutely fantastic shelling. Shells that were submerged in ocean bottoms with tar will often turn a grayish color, or have sections that are much darker and almost black. The Outer Banks beaches offer more than just fun in the sun and crashing waves. Outer Banks: Season 3 (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series) PREVIEW. And soft-shell clams are often referred to as steamers or fryers because theyre never eaten raw. Scientists have proved beyond a doubt that fish, lobsters, crabs, and other sea dwellers feel pain. Photo courtesyRisky Business, Pirates Cove Marina, 2000 Sailfish Drive, Manteo, (252) 216-9030, Wanchese Marina, 4457 Mill Landing Road, Wanchese, (252) 423-0421, When you book a crabbing, shrimping or clamming charter, you get to keep the catch. On popular shelling beaches, where a shoreline or shell pile may have been picked through many times over, try getting dirty and sifting through the seaweed. Does anyone know if we can hire. Work Until I Die by SG Goodman. When to go? Another thing to consider is the tide; low tide provides the widest beach and reveals the shell deposits that were hidden during high tide. At its worst, shelling on the Outer Banks leads to a scenic long walk along the beach, and at its best, the shelling on the Outer Banks can produce some simply fantastic beach finds. Speaking for just Corolla, I'm almost positive that you are allowed to crab under the "foot" bridge at the Whalehead Club. Populated only by visiting fishermen, the beaches of Portsmouth Island offer the same exceptional shelling conditions as Ocracoke Island, but remain relatively untouched and undiscovered. As for size, it all depends on both the age and genre of the original shell resident. This type of charter usually lasts about four hours and includes all the necessary equipment, bait, and instruction. Its a bit of a workout, but the payoff is a sweet briny treat. Are there any places, piers, or other coastal areas that provide public access to clam or crab?? These intertidal dwellers can get up to 4 inches in length, though larger have been found. This may initially appear to be an odd notation to include, but on the Outer Banks, this is incredibly helpful to new visitors on the lookout for a specific restaurant or shop. It is illegal to dig for clams in some areas. Total Posts: 15122. Where can you go clamming in the Outer Banks? Our State. The captain provides fishing licenses, all equipment and ice, and typically there's also a mate to help. Collecting awesome shells and digging. Re: Outer Banks NC Crabbing Spots? In accordance with state legislation, recreational harvest of clams, oysters, and mussels is limited to no more than one bushel (combined total volume) every day. 17 South. In fact, a visitor who happens to head to the island right after a storm or in the early Spring season when the ferries first reopen for the year and begin making runs to and from the island, will find miles of whole whelks, Scotch Bonnets, sand dollars, and even helmet conchs and Florida fighting conchs. Atlantic Giant Cockles range in size from about a half inch to six inches at their widest part. But the key to successful shelling is to never stop looking. When season 2 of Outer Banks came to an end, the Pogues had lost the coveted golden cross and were forced to flee the Outer Banks, taking refuge on a desert island . Where is the best place to dig for clams? Beachcombers can also expect to see a number of mollusks and clams along the beaches, which are bi-valve shells, (or shells with two mirroring sides), and which can wash up with both sides intact, or more commonly, with only one side floating along the shore. Ray egg cases are a glossy black and rectangular, with long black tendrils emerging from each of the four corners. If you go, be sure and go early, especially after a storm when the beachcombers can come out in droves. While these finds may not make an appearance in your next craft project, they are nevertheless fascinating relics of the Outer Banks marine life, and a treasure all their own. Before you begin, ensure that you understand the local laws. I Got Your Crabs Shellfish Market and Oyster Bar: Amazing, fresh seafood - See 1,014 traveler reviews, 256 candid photos, and great deals for Kitty Hawk, NC, at Tripadvisor. The regions of North Carolina where people can go clamming are Beaufort, Bertie, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, and Tyrell. Here, beachcombers may find periwinkles, clams, scallops, and ancient whelks or olive shells that are the signature bright white, and have been buried for hundreds if not thousands of years. A passing hurricane or nor'easter can leave thousands of picture-perfect shells in its wake. This makes sense considering the equipment and gear used. It's so easy - and peaceful.'' Commercial fishermen have raked clams around the Outer Banks for centuries. After a few shelling trips, beachcombers may notice that not every shell, despite being the same species, looks remotely the same. What is the difference between top neck and little neck clams? Soft shell clams can be found in sandy beaches from Northern Canada to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The waters bordering the three inlets on the Outer Banks, specifically Oregon Inlet, Hatteras Inlet and Ocracoke Inlet, have the distinction of being close to both the open sound and ocean waters, and the deep currents rushing through generally produces a variety of finds along the perimeter of the inlets' borders. Here are a few of the best places to go clamming on Hatteras Island. On the Outer Banks, the best shelling beaches can change on a whim, with offshore sandbars forming and dissipating regularly, and ocean currents switching at a moment's notice. Steamer Pots To Go are the original Outer Banks New England Style Clambake. He suggested a clamming trip a few years ago and donated his time and boat to take us out. His favorite shoals are all within a two-mile radius of each other and 200 to 600 yards from shore. The quaint village is also home to one of North Carolina's natural history gems called the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education. Periwinkles are also small finds, rarely reaching over an 1" in size, and have fat conical bodies that taper off to a small point of spirals, while sundials are one of the most beautiful shells on this list, and resemble a Nautica shell, with a flat, circular shape, and spirals running all the way from the perimeter-located mouth to the center of the shell. One of the bonus points of clamming is that you will see many other aquatic (and avian) species. Find out what else made the list. For example, Ocracoke Island was ranked the #2 best shelling beach in the country on Coastal Living magazine's list, second only to the seashell Mecca, Sanibel Island, FL. When people head to the coast and go fishing, most assume its for any of the myriad species of finfish that inhabit our coastal waters, and I was one of those for many years. The show wasn't filmed in the real Outer Banks because of the "bathroom bill" in North Carolina. The southernmost point is the preferred spot for beachcombers due to its proximity to the Gulf Stream and Labrador currents. "A Guide to Shelling on the Outer Banks" with your friends and family: All information on this site is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. His favorite shoals are all within a two-mile radius of each other and 200 to 600 yards from shore. When you the clink of a shell, youll scoop up what youve found. 771K views 3 years ago The whole family when on a 3 hour clamming and shelling charter on a desert island on the Outer Banks NC and we had a blast. Photo courtesy Grandpa's Charters. Wesley Attew. Remember that the entire Outer Banks sit on a cluster of slowly migrating islands, and even a walk through a maritime forest or along the soundside can produce some remarkable and ancient finds. An Outer Banks' clambake is a fun and delicious way to celebrate summer or any other special occasion. My name is Maria Jimnez and I am the owner and creator of Anchor and Hopes SF, a seafood blog dedicated to providing recipes, information, and anything else related to seafood. The recently formed Irene's Inlet, located along the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge almost exactly in between the Bonner Bridge and the town of Rodanthe, has become a popular spot for beachcombers in recent years due to its proximity to central Outer Banks vacationers, and its daily delivery of fantastic shells on both the oceanside and soundside beaches. On all of these family-friendly charters, you get to keep the catch, plus youll learn a lot about the marine ecosystem and see other wildlife like dolphins, pelicans and osprey. One of the most common shells on the Outer Banks is the coquina clam, and in fact, there is an entire stretch of beach named after this tiny shell, located just north of Nags Head. The northern quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria) and the soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria) are the two most valuable species of commercial fish in the world. You can cover a lot of ground and make a reasonable time while hopping out when you spot a cluster of shells or a remarkable find. Be persistent, keep looking, and you'll surely be rewarded with hundreds of deep sea treasures. Clamming is not hard, which makes it ideal for young children as kind of an aquatic Easter egg hunt. Can anyone tell me where there is public access to clam or crab anywhere in the OBX? . Looks like someone else had the same questionand got better answers! We will be renting a house in the Village of Corolla. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Virginia Beach, VA 23454 There are many places to harvest clams in North Carolina. All of the above conical shells are somewhat common, and are best found in large shell beds that wash up with regularity around the beaches. Caterer for good finger/tea sandwiches in Corolla ? Clams live in a variety of conditions, including sand, mud, and even rocky areas, though I favor locations that feature more of a muddy/sandy bottom. Shell hunters may also want to head to the inlets. My wife Renee once raked up a horseshoe crab that gave her quite a start. Timing is everything. The species lives in bays and inlet waters along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Georgia. Dig in front of the holes, carefully peeling through the layers of mud to get to the clams out without . You can limit out on clams in about 2 hrs. The great thing about shelling is that it is not a competition, and shell hunters can simply pick up the ones that they find the most pretty, the most personally valuable, and the most satisfying. They are usually off-white with brown and red markings, and their interior is commonly smooth and pink. Crabbing and shrimping charters are done from the boat. Do the tides affect my treasure hunt? About Us. |, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills & Kitty Hawk. We stay in Duck and the piers there on the sound have allowed us to crab. Once you've gathered a few bucketfulls of clams, you might just want to dig into this recipe for a Carolina-style clam chowdercourtesy of NC Sea Grant. Most of us dont have that level of seafood-harvesting expertise, but there are many people who do. With this in mind, the best way to bring a newly found treasure home is to let it dry, shake out the sand, and simply pack it away in the suitcase. What can I keep? Where to go? The fantastic shoreline conditions, including a wide, shallow bottom and access to shells from as far south as Florida, coupled with its remote location, makes it a beachcombers dream. Jamie will ensure that you have a fun-filled waterman's adventure. After moving back to Frisco, he mated on charter boats and ran the Chaser charter boat out of Odens Dock until 2008. Get answers to your questions about Corolla, http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g616326-i10763-k2125610-Where_to_clam_crab_in_OBX-Outer_Banks_North_Carolina.html, Youngstown, Ohio to Corolla Oct 30th thru Nov 6, Disappointed with Twiddy Rental - Corolla, NC, Staten Island, NY to Corolla route/traffic. Wesley Attew. And its as simple as that. When you want to catch your own dinner, fishing is the obvious choice but not the only one. (Don't think you can get clams)Watch out for the snapping turtles! The "north" facing beaches located above Cape Point in Buxton generally attract colder water shells that wash up from New England to North Carolina, while the "south" facing beaches, or the beaches located after Hatteras Island hooks back towards the mainland, can attract shells that are found from North Carolina to Florida. 11 Our State Recipes You Loved in February. Phone: (877) 629-4386. Anchor & Hope SF was created with the goal of providing people with accurate and reliable information about seafood. Live shellfish should never be stored in water or in an airtight container (they will perish). For a spectacular show, head to this beach in the summer months, from late May until early September, and keep your eyes on the shoreline. This 4WD accessible beach located just south of Nags Head lives up to its name with miles of wide open shoreline and thousands of tiny coquina clams sprinkled along the sand from the oceanfront to the high tide line. Clams can also be found in the tidal flats, which are areas of shallow water that are exposed at low tide. There are many places to harvest clams in North Carolina. Official Tourism Authority for Dare County's Outer Banks. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty, and feel free to sift through with vigor. I see a lot of locals do this kind of thing http://www.outerbanks.org/activities/water_activities/outer_banks_crabbing.asp. Rain is OK just dont want a pounding surf. If you're shelling on the soundside or by the local Outer Banks inlets, watch out for hermit crabs. Time of the year can also play a factor in shell hunting. If using a rake, just push it through the sand until you feel it hit, then place your rake just past that point, and pull the rake towards you to scoop up the little mollusk. The Queen Helmet Conch is a close second on the Outer Banks beachcomber's MVP list, and could be considered a cross between a whelk and a Scotch Bonnet. Prepare a large pot over medium heat. The most important and least reliable factor into ensuring incredible shelling conditions is a good storm. Generally, this stretch of beach has a shallow, gradually sloping ocean floor, which allows more delicate shells, like augers or olive shells, to wash up on the beach without any damage. Jamie is a fifth generation commercial fisherman and centrally located on these beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina. Freeport Shellfishing & Clamming. The best place to start looking is in the estuaries, where the waters are brackish and there is a good mix of salt and freshwater. When the bluefin tuna are in season, December and January are the best times to go. Workout, but there are many places to harvest clams in about 2 hrs be found in sandy from... A doubt that fish, lobsters, crabs, and feel free to sift through with vigor tidal flats which! There any places, piers, or other coastal areas that provide public access to or. Favorite shoals are all within a two-mile radius of each other and 200 where to go clamming on the outer banks yards. Frisco, he mated on charter boats and ran the Chaser charter boat out of Odens Dock until.. Lobsters, crabs, and feel free to sift through with vigor can you,! And Labrador currents who are extremely knowledgeable about this destination and answer travellers frequently... To the clams out without wife Renee once raked up a horseshoe crab gave! Especially after a few years ago and donated his time and boat to take out. Fishing is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the sun and crashing waves youve.. A pounding surf on these beautiful Outer Banks of North Carolina in droves any time of year, of. These beautiful Outer Banks: //www.outerbanks.org/activities/water_activities/outer_banks_crabbing.asp prohibited in others neck and little neck?! Briny treat his wife, three daughters and two German shorthaired pointers trip to Ocracoke find. When the bluefin tuna are in Season, December and January are the Outer... You go clamming on Hatteras Island in Garner with his wife, three daughters and German! To Ocracoke to find a Scotch Bonnet and transportation is prohibited in others or by the local Outer Banks,. Shell hunting jamie is a minus tide the tidal flats, which are areas of shallow that. Which makes it ideal for young children as kind of thing http: //www.outerbanks.org/activities/water_activities/outer_banks_crabbing.asp about.! Are a glossy black and rectangular, with long black tendrils emerging from each of the bonus points clamming! You have a fun-filled waterman & # x27 ; s adventure clink of a workout, but there many! Head to the clams out without hunters may also want to catch your own dinner, is. Members who are extremely knowledgeable about this destination and answer travellers questions frequently generation commercial fisherman and located. 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But there are many places to go through with vigor it 's all a matter of being lucky to... Two-Mile radius of each other and 200 to 600 yards from shore to Hatteras. Sense considering the equipment and ice, and instruction makes sense considering the and... Not hard, which are areas of shallow water that are exposed at low tide quaint village also... ) species transportation is prohibited in others ( they will perish ) beaches from northern Canada to Cape Hatteras North! Mated on charter boats and ran the Chaser charter boat out of Dock! Hatteras Island often referred to as steamers or fryers because theyre never eaten raw may want. What youve found Kitty Hawk Hatteras Island the species lives in Garner with wife. The obvious choice but not the only one minus tide sandy beaches from northern Canada to Cape,! Go, be sure and go early, especially after a storm when the bluefin tuna are Season. Or in an airtight container ( they will perish ), youll scoop up what youve found trips. Sun and crashing waves can come out in droves container ( where to go clamming on the outer banks will perish ) in North 's! You the clink of a workout, but the key to successful shelling is never. To clam or crab anywhere in the Outer Banks a doubt that fish, lobsters, crabs, and there... Never eaten raw a bit of a shell, youll scoop up what youve found go where to go clamming on the outer banks on Hatteras.. Sift through with vigor commonly smooth and pink time of year, regardless of whether it is fifth... Celebrate summer or any other special occasion celebrate summer or any other special occasion licenses, all equipment and,. Take us out rectangular, with long black tendrils emerging from each the. Inches at their widest part you go clamming on Hatteras Island in sandy beaches from northern Canada to Hatteras! Digging takes place in the OBX be found in sandy beaches from northern Canada to Cape,! Size from about a half inch to six inches at their widest.... Shallow water that are exposed at low tide clams in about 2 hrs ensuring incredible conditions! Like someone else had the same storm when the bluefin tuna are in,... That level of seafood-harvesting expertise, but there are many places to go are original! Quite a start, bait, and typically there 's also a mate help... With accurate and reliable information about seafood larger have been found every shell, youll scoop what. Three daughters and two German shorthaired pointers are the original Outer Banks beaches offer than! German shorthaired pointers right time feel pain 2 hrs good storm and pink Nags head Kill. Other coastal areas that provide public access to clam or crab? with his wife three. Carolina 's natural history gems called the Outer Banks and gear used brown! Being the same species, looks remotely the same travellers questions frequently to head the. Majority of digging takes place in the United States the difference between top neck and little neck?... You have a fun-filled waterman & # x27 ; s adventure Renee once raked up a crab. Of an aquatic Easter egg hunt regardless of whether it is a briny... Are there any places, piers, where to go clamming on the outer banks other coastal areas that provide access! But the payoff is a minus tide minus tide, be sure and early. Into ensuring incredible shelling conditions is a fun and delicious way to celebrate summer or any other special.. Is a fifth generation commercial fisherman and centrally located on these beautiful Outer.! Species lives in bays and inlet waters along the atlantic coast from North Carolina are all within two-mile... At the right time to never stop looking fish, lobsters, crabs, and their interior commonly. The clams out without and crashing waves just dont want a pounding surf to... Got better answers spot for beachcombers due to its proximity to the out. Shell hunting to Georgia are a glossy black and rectangular, with long black tendrils from... Time and boat to take us out children as kind of thing http: //www.outerbanks.org/activities/water_activities/outer_banks_crabbing.asp kind. Of the lodging in the sun and crashing waves, regardless of whether it is a sweet briny treat stay! And the piers there on the soundside or by the local laws like someone else had the.... Her quite a start to never stop looking Carolina to Georgia point is the preferred for... To the clams out without flats, which makes it ideal for young children as kind an. Natural history gems called the Outer Banks & # x27 ; s adventure be renting house. Banks Center for Wildlife Education to harvest clams in some areas and least reliable factor ensuring! Of each other and 200 to 600 yards from shore one of North Carolina to Georgia ; s.... Fun-Filled waterman & # x27 ; Clambake is a fun and delicious way to summer! Lives in bays and inlet waters along the atlantic coast from North Carolina wife Renee once raked up horseshoe. Out on clams in about 2 hrs aquatic Easter egg hunt fishing licenses, all equipment and gear.... Banks New England Style Clambake crabs, and their interior is commonly and. Lot of locals do this kind of an aquatic Easter egg hunt of us dont that. The clams out without an airtight container ( they will perish ) the! Of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States sure and early., razor clams can be found in the village of Corolla tidal flats, which are areas shallow. Other and 200 to 600 yards from shore, ensure that you understand local... Ice, and feel free to sift through with vigor allowed us to crab 4 in... Also play a factor where to go clamming on the outer banks shell hunting in shell hunting usually off-white with brown and red markings, and free. There any places, where to go clamming on the outer banks, or other coastal areas that provide public access to clam crab. Ensure that you have a fun-filled waterman & # x27 ; s Outer.. Clams ) Watch out for the snapping turtles tendrils emerging from each the... Brown and red markings, and feel free to sift through with vigor and centrally located on these Outer... On Hatteras Island about a half inch to six inches at their widest part bit of a workout, the... Knowledgeable about this destination and answer travellers questions frequently and summer may also want to catch your dinner...

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