Gaper clams?

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Gaper clams?

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Northern Boy

Joined: 04 Oct 2010
Posts: 976

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 12 8:03 pm Post subject: Gaper clams?
Anyone had any luck finding these? Apparently they're common in the UK but I haven't heard of or seen anyone diggin for them?

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35090
Location: Devon

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 12 8:14 pm Post subject:
Never heard of them. Is it a regional name for something else?

crofter

Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 2252

Posted: Mon Nov 12, 12 10:31 pm Post subject:
I think I would just call them clams? If so, they are very common, easy to dig and lovely to eat. Similar habitat to cockles, but usually need a lower tide and to dig a bit deeper. Often see them squirt as the siphon disappears.

Northern Boy

Joined: 04 Oct 2010
Posts: 976

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 12 11:03 am Post subject:
Yes, they're the biggest 'clams' we have, complete with siphon etc. Mya arenia apparently. Roughly how deep Crofter? Thinking about it now I have seen people digging at low tide when I've been out collecting razor clams. I always assumed they were just making hard work for themselves (or digging lugworm for bait) but there are gaper shells all over that beach.

crofter

Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 2252

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 12 6:36 pm Post subject:
I am thinking about smaller clams, Venerupis pullastra or Venerupis senegalensis (I think) but the Gaper clams are not much deeper - siphon is about 4 inches long and the shell another 4 inches approx so 8 - 10 inches below the surface. It's very easy to misjudge the angle and spear the shell, but practice makes perfect...

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