What is clamming and just what can you expect from the clamming scene in East Lyme, CT? Lyme clamming involves digging for clams around the beach and river area. You can harvest clams by focusing your efforts on the surface of the tidal mud flats. Clamming is a popular activity in East Lyme, and is done to collect food as well as to make money in industry. The instrument of choice is a long-handled spading fork or perhaps a spading shovel. This type of fork or shovel is designed to move earth, so it has sharper tips of metal than a normal instrument.

A digger grasps the spine of the prongs with one of his/her hands and the fork handle in the other hand, so as to push the hack into the mud. Once it is pulled out, the soil is exposed and the clams can be captured. Clams are hand-collected by Connecticut clamming amateurs and then put into a bucket. Many local residents wear “hip waders,” which are boots specially made for covering the top parts of a person’s legs)

Before you start clamming in East Lyme, be aware that there are certain restrictions and rules set forth by the town that must be followed. A clamming permit is always required, as clams are considered a type of shellfish. When a person buys a permit, he or she takes on the risk of limited access to open clamming areas. No refunds are permitted, even if there is bad weather and the clamming locations are closed. Don’t worry, you don’t have to travel far to be legal. You can buy permits from local bait and tackle shops.

Clamming is best at the Niantic River, as well as the Niantic Bay. Come sample the culture and the fishing activity in Niantic Village, part of East Lyme, Connecticut!