Features: Identified by its prominent radiating ridges.

Habitat: Cockles are "hard shelled" clams. Because of the protection of their stout shells, they do not have to bury as deeply as other common bay clams. Good cockle beds will often have cockles right on top of the sand at a good tide. They prefer sandy areas with high salinity.

Technique: The best clamming is during low/minus tides. Because these clams are so near the surface, you rake, rather than dig, for them. A four prong gardening rake is perfect for raking the wet sand near the water line. You’ll feel a “clunk” when you hit one. In softer sediment, you may also feel them under your boot.