What To Do

Clamming in Oregon

Did you know clamming in Oregon is an activity that you can do all year round? Clamming is a fun family activity suited to all generations, and Tillamook County’s four bays provide ample opportunity for clamming success.

Five Different Species of Bay Clams

There are five different species of bay clams that can be obtained from these estuaries, including:

Gaper clams
Butter clams
Cockle clams
Littleneck clams
Soft-shell clams

Nehalem and Nestucca Bays provide the best opportunities for harvesting soft-shell clams, while Tillamook and Netarts Bays provide an excellent opportunity to extract all five of these common bay clams.

You can clam from a boat, dock or shore

Here’s how you do it. Many just use a rake or small shovel to harvest your own clams and shellfish. You could also try using a “scratch rake” while clamming in Oregon. A scratch rake is meant to be used in water that is waist high (or shallower). You simply scrape the mud on the bottom of the bay floor to uncover clams. Be sure to bring a floating bucket for your catch!