Features: Identified by its prominent radiating ridges.

Habitat: Cockles are "hard shelled" clams. Their protective, stout shells and short siphons mean that 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 on a good tide. They prefer sandy areas with high salinity, but can be found at many types of tideflats.

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. Feeling adventurous? Pull on your waders and rake in shallow pools or channels to find cockles.

Learn more here before getting started clamming. ‌

See Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for information on the daily catch limits for bay clams.

How to rake for cockles (video)