Thursday, July 21, 2016

Digging Clams and Eating Goose Tongues

Three Generations on the Clam Flats and having Fun!
Last summer I relived with my family, the simple childhood memory of digging Mya Arenaria, soft shell clams. As a child, my family would spend hours in the intertidal zone, digging up these delicious delicacies but over the years, these fond memories had been largely forgotten. What fun, we all had, excavating buried treasure from the acrid smelling mud flats! With each person able to harvest a peck (2 gallons) of clams, in no time, we had more steamers then we would have dreamed and, given summertime prices for this decadent treat, we truly ate like kings!

While clamming isn’t inherently difficult, there are several things potential “clammers” should know about digging clams. Of most importance, is that individuals secure the necessary license. Clam licenses can be obtained at local town offices, as well information on where to dig and if certain flats are closed due to “Red Tide”, an algal bloom, which causes sickness and even death if stricken shellfish are consumed. Clams are dug on a falling tide, during low tide or at the early stages of the incoming tide. “Clammers” should use care not to overextend their digging as the tide rises fast and can quickly overwhelm those not paying attention. Flats are best explored with rubber boots and clothing that one doesn’t mind getting covered in mud. Many find thick rubber gloves also helpful, to avoid cuts from broken clam shells. Finding clams is simply a matter of slowly walking the flats, looking for holes. Once a hole is located, they become easier and easier to find as one teachers their eyes what to look for. To extract the clam, slide a four-tined spading fork down into the mud about a foot and 5-6 inches in back of the hole. Gently tip back on the fork, prying up the mud and clam. Often, the clam will squirt out seawater from the hole as it tries to escape. Expert clammers use a specialty designed clam rake that makes harvesting much easier, so if planning to make clamming a regular activity, a rake is well worth the investment.

Legally, clams must be 2 inches long to keep and any with broken shells should be thrown away. Collected clams should be thoroughly rinsed in saltwater to eliminate as much grit as possible. Cook clams by steaming in a large pot till their shell pop open. Once cooled, clams can be easily separated from their shells, rinsed in broth, dipped in REAL butter and devoured! While Down East has many fine spots to dig for clams, one of my favorite is Cobscook Bay State Park (DeLorme’s The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer (MAG), Map 37, B-2).

Access to the mudflats is easy and no clam license is required there OR in any of Maine’s state parks! Also, check in at the park office as they frequently have a few clam rakes and baskets available for borrowing.

Goose Tongue
Known by the names wild goose tongues, seaside plantains, or Plantago maritima this seaside wild edible exists as the perfect accompaniment to steamed clams. Goose tongues posses a rich salty flavor, reminiscent of spinach and can be eaten raw in salads or boiled and enjoyed with butter and a drizzle of apple cider vinegar. Once identified, large patches of this herbaceous perennial can be easily found growing at the top of the intertidal zone. While some prefer to harvest Goose Tongues using a knife or scissors, they can also easily be harvested by hand, and are yet another fun and educational summer seaside activity to be readily enjoyed by young and old alike. Goose tongue grows practically everywhere in coastal Washington County and is rarely if ever harvested, something that particularly shocks me given their sublime flavor.

Huge patches of this edible can therefore be found growing wild all along the Down East shoreline from Lubec (Map 27, A-4) to Culter (Map 27, D-1). A Short Hike with Impressive Views Trimble Mountain (DeLorme’s The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer (MAG), Map 37, D-2) boasts impressive views of the St. Croix River Valley and is a great spot for hikers. Travel Route 1 South past the Calais/Robinston line. In approximately 1.5 miles, turn right onto the Number 3 (Brewer Road) road (if you pass the Redcliff Restaurant on the left, you have gone too far). Take a right at the fork and go about half a mile and then turn right onto the McNeil road. Drive straight ahead till you reach a sizeable parking lot. The last quarter mile to the summit is barely passable with a four-wheel drive vehicle and should be hiked. Trimble Mountain is privately owned and maintained, so visitors are asked to be extremely respectful and pack out all garbage, this will ensure continued access so the area and continued enjoyment by future generations.

Sportsman Alliance of Maine Newsletter July/August - Black Bass

 As water temperatures begin to slowly rise, bass become increasingly active. This leads to great fishing, with activity remaining steady up to the end of the summer. The combination of abundant forage and jacked metabolisms, make bass exceedingly voracious and they attack lures with contempt and struggle against lines with every ounce of their being. Angling excitement runs high, as aggressive strikes create watery explosions and hooked fish fly high into the air, in displays of astounding acrobatics.

While a certain contingent of anglers believe strongly in a strict policy of catch and release that does not match my ideals. Fishing without keeping a few of these delectable trophies to me is a lot like chewing and not being allowed to swallow . . . there is simply an enjoyable component of the fishing experience that is inherently missing. If planning to try hauling in a few hogs for the deep fat fryer, the perfect size bass is in the 2-3 pound range. This size makes for a good-sized filet for the exerted effort and also provides a younger fish less likely to be loaded with copious amounts of mercury. Though many will brag about their award winning frying batters, I prefer an easy to prepare whole milk, egg, flour dip. Simply put each of the three ingredients in separate bowls and dip the filets into each bowl, completely covering them with each of the ingredients. Once the pieces are completely covered with batter they can be lightly dropped into the deep fat fryer where they sputter in the hot oil till they reach a golden brown color. Once removed pat dry with a paper towel, salt heavily and drop on a plate with a side of garlic smashed potatoes and a couple ears of corn on the cob, lightly sprinkled with chili powder. DELICIOUS!

Fishing for bass is all about location, find underwater structure and the bass will be there. While many waters may be fished from shore with success, reaching the best fishing spots requires breaking free from the crowded boat launches and accessing areas that see limited fishing pressure. All manner of large and small watercraft can be used to bass fish effectively, as long as care is taken to respect the anticipated weather conditions. Maine lakes are notoriously fickle and a beautiful day on the water can quickly turn life threatening. Depth maps and fish finders help anglers study bottom structure and locate fish but nothing quite compares to general firsthand knowledge of a lake or pond. Bright sunshine, calm water and polarized sunglasses, greatly facilitate the process of finding areas containing ambush cover for hungry bass. Locating beaver lodges, underwater weed beds, sunken logs and stumps, rocks, shoals, ledges, drop offs and submerged islands, will put you leaps ahead of other fishermen. Mark these areas with a GPS or write down locations and you will be served for years to come with fishing hotspots.

Fishing with friends, vastly increases the chance of finding that magic color and lure combination and allows the opportunity to locate bass faster by effectively covering more area with more lines in the water. Using a variety of different lures can assist anglers in finding combinations that strike gold so never be afraid to experiment and try something new. For the bass fisherman looking for a unique experience, try using live red fin shiners (3-4 inches), 2/0 hooks and large bobbers. This set-up is effective on both small and large mouth bass. For many, pitching a bobber and staring at it all day long is not going to prove to be the most exciting of fishing endeavors. For the search and destroy crowd, who like to cast, sluggos, blue foxes and terminator spin baits are all capable of eliciting brutal early spring reaction strikes. Fishing two poles, one for bobbing and one for casting, greatly maximizes your presentation by keeping two baits in the water at all times. This set-up allows you to fish live bait while a second line is cast and used to locate fish. This system is very effective anytime during the fishing season.

*Please note that you are not allowed to keep bass in the state of Maine caught on live bait until after July 1st. Also until July 1, you are only allowed to catch and keep one bass, over 10 inches. One way to stay updated on the latest bass fishing action is to check out: http://www.themainebladerunners.net. This local bass fishing club was establishedwith the goal of improving the sport of bass fishing through such endeavors as introducing more youth to bass fishing, promoting catch and release and helping to improve the quality of fishing in Maine. Club members enjoy promoting the sport, answering questions and assisting other anglers in finding that magic selection of lures, time and habitat that will lead to a successful day on the water!
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