Species profile
Pismo Clam
Tivela stultorum
At a glance
Pismo Clam (Tivela stultorum) is a bivalve mollusk with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 2,849 research-grade iNaturalist observations, concentrated in California.
Notable details
- Pismo clams can grow up to 7 inches wide and live for approximately 25 years.
- Named for Pismo Beach, California, where they were once so abundant they were hauled away by the truckload.
- Sea otter recovery along the California coast has significantly reduced Pismo clam populations.
- They live buried in the sandy surf zone just below the waterline along Pacific beaches.
- California limits recreational harvest to 10 clams per day with a minimum size of 4.5 inches.
Where Pismo Clam are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Pismo Clam
Background
Tivela stultorum, also known as the Pismo clam, is a species of large, edible, saltwater clam, a marine bivalve mollusk in the family Veneridae, the Venus clams. This species is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. As the name implies, the Pismo clam lives in Pismo Beach, California. It has been found at least as far south as 300 miles (480 km) south of the US–Mexico border in Baja California on…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Pismo Clam article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other clams/oysters/mussels on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.