Clams
The inshore wrecks are sometimes surrounded by the empty shells of Surf Clams Spisula solidissima, right, to 7" across. Large numbers of the white shells also wash up on beaches. Surf Clams are found subtidally down to 100 feet ( which makes you wonder why they are called surf clams. )
Tiny angel wing-shaped Coquina clams Donax variabilis less than 1 inch long do live in the surf, on wave-tossed sandy beaches.
Edible Quahogs Mercenaria mercenaria are smaller and darker than surf clams, usually 2-4" across. The tongue-like muscular foot is used to dig in the sand. This is the part that is used in chowders and other recipes. Quahogs are found in shallower water than Surf Clams, generally along beaches and bays.
The Razor Clam Ensis directus, to 10" (right) burrows deeply, and can also swim with its long muscular foot. Generally, only dead empty shells are found. Razor Clams are not usually eaten and are fast diggers that are not easy to catch. They live in sandy mud, subtidal down to 120 ft. There are many other types of clams.
- US Fish & Wildlife Service Species Profile
- US Fish & Wildlife Service Species Profile
- US Fish & Wildlife Service Species Profile
All of these bivalves are filter feeders. The other major group of mollusks is the Gastropods or snails. Squid and octopus ( cephalopods ) are mollusks too, but they don't behave like other mollusks, so I included them elsewhere. Teredos are bivalves that have evolved a worm-like wood-boring habit.
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A dredge is a vessel designed to remove sediment from the bottom, generally for the purpose of widening and deepening ship channels. However, the term is often applied to a specialized type of trawler. A clam dredge is a special type of trawler that takes clams from the sand. The device that actually does this is also called a dredge. Resembling a large steel cage, it is dragged across the sandy bottom, and rakes out the shellfish, along with rocks, debris, some bottom fish and lobsters, the occasional lost anchor, and anything else that is in its path.
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Fish
New Jersey now requires registration for saltwater fishing, including lobsters. Registration is free and can be done online at nj.gov/dep/saltwaterregistry.
This listing is for New Jersey waters only - if you cross into New York or Delaware, or Federal waters ( more than 3 miles offshore, ) you are subject to their regulations. Federal regulations supersede state regulations whenever stricter.
Lobster
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