How to Rebury a Pismo Clam

CDFW Environmental Scientist Claudia Makeyev at Pismo Beach demonstrates how to rebury a clam. It is harmful and often fatal to the clams to leave them exposed on top of the sand because it leaves them vulnerable to the elements, sun exposure and to predators like birds. These iconic clams are not good at reburying themselves and may need your help to get back under the sand where they belong. Reburying clams helps their survival and promotes population growth.
Every individual 16 years old or older must have a valid California fishing license to pick up a live clam from the beach. To retain Pismo clams, they must be 5 inches in greatest shell diameter north of the boundary between San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties; 4.5 inches in greatest shell diameter south of the boundary, between San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties. Minimum sizes are current as of Oct. 2023.
For more information on Pismo clams, check out the Pismo clam status report: marinespecies....
For recreational fishing regulations: wildlife.ca.go...
For a fishing license: wildlife.ca.go...
Video produced by Jarrett Seiler