*Sharper Hooks*
*Tighter Lines*
Geoducks

 

 

 



Geoduck

geoduckTaxonomy
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Veneroida
Family: Hiatellidae

Distribution
Widespread, in sheltered to moderately exposed brackish or outer coastal areas.

Habitat
Fine mud through sand to gravel; may be abundant in eelgrass; burrows up to 1 m; planktonic larvae dispersed by currents; adults create semi-permanent burrow.

Tidal Elevation
Subtidal, from 8 to 120 m depth; may occur in lower intertidal; occurs higher in intertidal in north coast; most common between 9-18 m subtidal.

Growth Rate
Slow; sexually mature by 3 yr; reaches 16 cm in 10 yr, little change in length in remaining yr; may weigh up to 4.5 kg. Geoducks have been aged up to 146 years old.

How To Catch:

Natural beds of geoduck exist on many public beaches in BC, but are seldom exposed except at tides lower than about -2.0 feet. Geoduck clams are found buried two to three feet deep in mud, sand, or gravel. The gaping, oblong shell is white with concentric rings, and generally has thin patches of flaky brown covering at the edges. The siphon and mantle are so large that they cannot be withdrawn into the shell. Harvesting geoduck can be difficult, but rewarding. With the proper equipment, practice, and a willingness to get thoroughly wet and dirty, just about anyone can bring home this iconic and tasty "king clam."

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada