best place to go clammin (Old Town, Penobscot: home, live in, law)

[ekh32]

We live in Old Town and were looking for a place not too far away to dig for clams. Any suggestions?

[Maineah]

I suggest you contact the Coastal Wardens and look into a commercial clamming license which is $133.00. Unless your town issues peck licenses (which it may) a state commercial license is your only option. Even then you'll still have to pay a municipal commercial fee in the town you choose to dig (assuming they have any available). People sleep in cars in January to be first in line for these municipal licenses if that will tell you anything. The days of digging a peck of clams anywhere one chooses is long gone.

[ekh32]

Wow I had no idea. We often stop random places when we are driving around and dig for clams or pick mussels. I just assumed it was ok. Now it makes sense though, just like a fishing license is required. Would a commercial license be required even though we are just clamming for ourselves and not selling them? How strict are they?

[ElGreco]

Originally Posted by ekh32

Wow I had no idea. We often stop random places when we are driving around and dig for clams or pick mussels. I just assumed it was ok. Now it makes sense though, just like a fishing license is required. Would a commercial license be required even though we are just clamming for ourselves and not selling them? How strict are they?

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - Fishing Licenses

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by ekh32

Wow I had no idea. We often stop random places when we are driving around and dig for clams or pick mussels. I just assumed it was ok. Now it makes sense though, just like a fishing license is required. Would a commercial license be required even though we are just clamming for ourselves and not selling them? How strict are they?

If your town issues recreational licenses you're good to go. You can dig a peck a tide. I don't know where the cut off on the Penobscot is for clamming though it must be close to the bay.
Most coastal towns (if not all) issue a recreational clamming license to residents only. In order to dig in areas that do not issue recreational licenses to non residents (practically the whole coast) you would need a commercial clamming license regardless if you intend to sell them or not. Then on top of that each town can impose a fee to commercial diggers to limit the numbers of commercial diggers in their towns. It's quite restrictive and competitive between towns. Clam flats are a limited and finite resource and are controlled by a number of different law enforcement agencies depending on the locality. Some towns have a clam warden, some rely on the police, some the coastal wardens. All of them will inspect your clams to be sure they are over the 2 inch minimum length. If you get caught digging clams with no license, a closed area, or have clams under the 2 inch minimum they will make you dump them and write you a ticket. The fines are usually $100.00 or more.
I don't think there are any restrictions on taking mussels for personal use. Just make sure you pick mussels from beds that are only exposed on draining tides (or not at all) to avoid picking up tainted ones and NEVER take mussels from docks, pier pilings, buoys or any other exposed areas. You can get extremely ill from tainted mussels!

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by lumiwa

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - Fishing Licenses

Wrong Department! Coastal Wardens are not affiliated with INLAND Fisheries and Wildlife. They operate under the Department of Marine Resources. Totally separate entities.

[ElGreco]

Looks like that for personal use you don't need to have a license:

https://www5.informe.org/online/marinelicensing/faq/

[ElGreco]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Wrong Department! Coastal Wardens are not affiliated with INLAND Fisheries and Wildlife. They operate under the Department of Marine Resources. Totally seperate entities.

There is a link for the saltwater fishing...and "search" options where you coul find about clamming...

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by lumiwa

There is a link for the saltwater fishing...

That has nothing to do with clamming. That license is for salt water angling with rod and reel and is actually under the jurisdiction of NOAA.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by lumiwa

There is a link for the saltwater fishing...and "search" options where you coul find about clamming...

Why not just go to the correct department???

Maine Department of Marine Resources Home and News