California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Resources Region
Abstract
A Pismo clam, Tivela stultorum, census was conducted
in January 1976 on selected southern California beaches.
Effort and catch information was collected through
clamer interviews. Estimates for January 17 on beaches
sampled were 3,296 clammer-hours, 2,170 clammers, and
10,739 legal clams (4.5 inches or larger) harvested.
Clams were collected for age and growth studies.
Samples of clams from the Long Beach to Newport Beach pier
area demonstrate the fastest growth rates of any Pismo
clams reported in the literature. Clams begin to be recruited to the fishery at age 40 months. (14pp.)
The 1974 year class was the largest on beaches
sampled. Recruitment to the fishery will be poor for the
1976-77 and 1977-78 seasons and clamming will be dependent
on large older clams
