Sapelo Island Clams
The north end of Sapelo is a great place for claming.
J R Grovner is going to dig wild clams the same way his ancestors did for decades on Sapelo Island. If staying at the Sapleo island birdouses you can take a tour and gather the wild clams on the island thru Geechee Man Adventures.
Fresh cultured clams are available in the waters around Sapelo.
Sapelo farms seafoods grows cultured clams in the waters around Sapelo island. The clams pictured here are cherry stone in size and are great for eating as steamers or fixing in pasta.
The baby clams are sorted by size before being released.
The young clams are sorted for size and viability before they are taken to the rich clean growing beds in the waters around Sapelo island. The clams are placed in waters that are regularly tested by the state of Georgia.
The clams are gathered from the clams beds.
The clams covered in mud, are gathered from the beds. These clams then start a strict cleaning and sorting process to reach the final product.
The clams are washed and sorted from rocks and broken shells.
Once the live clams are brought from the boats, they are run through a mechanical washer and sorter. This machine initially washes the clams and removes large stones and broken shells.
The clams are washed again and are ready for sorting.
The clams go through an additional washing cycle where they are also inspected visually. Fred the manager of Sapelo Sea Farms is seen sorting and inspecting the clams. This one of many quality control measures.
The clams are sorted by size and ready for packaging.
Once inspected and throughly washed the clams are sorted mechanically into the various industry sizes. Fred is also overseeing this part of the operation.
Fresh live Sapelo clams waiting shipment to local markets or your Sapelo Island Birdhouse Cottage.
Fresh live Sapelo clams can be stored in the icebox for several days . Do not place in fresh water even if it is cold for this will kill the clams. If you are staying in on of the Birdhouses these live fresh clams can be waiting in your cottage refrigerator when you arrive. The clams come with a tag showing the time of harvest and the waters where they were gathered.