Recreation
Question: Although the population of Pismo clams is seriously depleted in the Ventura/Oxnard area, I was blessed to dig this guy during the recent low tides. He is bulky and has many (growth) rings. Most are dark in color, but there are lighter ones as well.
To determine the age of the clam do you only count the dark rings or do you count all of the rings? The rings indicate this guy is between 25 and 50 years old. (Michael)
Answer: CDFW marine biologist Christy Juhasz tells us that CDFW staff who conduct fisheries-independent Pismo clam surveys count and measure clams encountered and do not utilize an aging method.
That said, Christy was able to find references to aging Pismo clams using their annual rings in CDFW's 2006 Status of the Fisheries report, as well as in an article in the California Fish Bulletin No. 7.
The article, entitled "The Life-History and Growth of the Pismo Clam," was published in 1923 and examines this method in detail.
According to these reports, the age of Pismo clams can be determined by the darker rings that are laid during the fall/winter, perhaps due to prolonged periods of exposure to colder water, reduced food abundance or spawning. These would be the annual rings that can be counted to age individual clams.
The yearly rate of shell growth varies from individual to individual and considerably slows down as the clam ages. You can observe this rate of growth when you compare the greater distance found between adjacent annual rings toward the older part of shell (closer to the hinge) than the closer rings nearer to the newer section of the shell, near the growing margin.
More information concerning the growth rate can be found in the Status of the Fisheries report:
"The Pismo clam grows continuously throughout its life. As it grows the shell not only becomes thicker but increases in diameter. Growth varies considerably from month to month, with the greatest increase taking place in the spring, summer, and early fall months. The Pismo clam is about 0.009 inches (0.23 millimeters) at metamorphosis, and grows at an average rate of 0.84 inches (21.4 millimeters) for the first three years. Growth slows considerably as the clam ages, with the increase in shell length not more than 0.2 inches (5 millimeters) per year at age 10. Growth rates are dependent on water temperature and vary among beaches. A 4.5-inch (11.4-centimeter) clam could be from 5 to 9 years old. Along the central coast of California, clams are estimated to reach 4.5 inches (11.4 centimeters) between ages 7 and 8."
As for unofficial records, the oldest Pismo clam was collected from Zuma Beach and was estimated to be 53 years old, measuring only 5.25 inches (13.3 centimeters) across. The largest Pismo clam in California came from Pismo Beach and was 7.37 inches across and estimated to be 26 years old.
CDFW's official sport caught records don't reflect sizes quite this large. It appears that 6.75 inches is the current record.
What's new in turkey hunting?
Question: It has been a few years since I have been hunting but I hunted turkeys this past weekend with a friend and I'm glad he was with me because he told me there were new regulation changes for turkey hunting. Most important one was the need to use nonlead ammunition. Am I missing anything else? (Anonymous)
Answer: First of all, we're happy you're back! It is incumbent upon all hunters to review the laws and regulations any time before they return to the field, but especially if it is after a few years' absence.
Consulting with a friend can help, but going to the source is the best way to bring yourself up to date. The 2017-2018 Waterfowl and Upland Game Hunting regulations book is the place to start (see page 20) or go online.
There have been two significant changes over the past few years that should be highlighted: First, shooting hours for spring turkeys are now from one-half hour before sunrise to 5 p.m.
Second, nonlead shot is required when taking wild turkeys with a shotgun anywhere in the state except when hunting on licensed game bird clubs.
These regulations apply to both public and private land, including all national forests, Bureau of Land Management properties and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) properties.
For more information on nonlead ammunition regulations, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Nonlead-Ammunition.
As of April 12, this column will publish biweekly. If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, please feel free to ask via email atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . While they cannot answer every question, they will answer a few in each column.
To determine the age of the clam do you only count the dark rings or do you count all of the rings? The rings indicate this guy is between 25 and 50 years old. (Michael)
Answer: CDFW marine biologist Christy Juhasz tells us that CDFW staff who conduct fisheries-independent Pismo clam surveys count and measure clams encountered and do not utilize an aging method.
That said, Christy was able to find references to aging Pismo clams using their annual rings in CDFW's 2006 Status of the Fisheries report, as well as in an article in the California Fish Bulletin No. 7.
The article, entitled "The Life-History and Growth of the Pismo Clam," was published in 1923 and examines this method in detail.
According to these reports, the age of Pismo clams can be determined by the darker rings that are laid during the fall/winter, perhaps due to prolonged periods of exposure to colder water, reduced food abundance or spawning. These would be the annual rings that can be counted to age individual clams.
The yearly rate of shell growth varies from individual to individual and considerably slows down as the clam ages. You can observe this rate of growth when you compare the greater distance found between adjacent annual rings toward the older part of shell (closer to the hinge) than the closer rings nearer to the newer section of the shell, near the growing margin.
More information concerning the growth rate can be found in the Status of the Fisheries report:
"The Pismo clam grows continuously throughout its life. As it grows the shell not only becomes thicker but increases in diameter. Growth varies considerably from month to month, with the greatest increase taking place in the spring, summer, and early fall months. The Pismo clam is about 0.009 inches (0.23 millimeters) at metamorphosis, and grows at an average rate of 0.84 inches (21.4 millimeters) for the first three years. Growth slows considerably as the clam ages, with the increase in shell length not more than 0.2 inches (5 millimeters) per year at age 10. Growth rates are dependent on water temperature and vary among beaches. A 4.5-inch (11.4-centimeter) clam could be from 5 to 9 years old. Along the central coast of California, clams are estimated to reach 4.5 inches (11.4 centimeters) between ages 7 and 8."
As for unofficial records, the oldest Pismo clam was collected from Zuma Beach and was estimated to be 53 years old, measuring only 5.25 inches (13.3 centimeters) across. The largest Pismo clam in California came from Pismo Beach and was 7.37 inches across and estimated to be 26 years old.
CDFW's official sport caught records don't reflect sizes quite this large. It appears that 6.75 inches is the current record.
What's new in turkey hunting?
Question: It has been a few years since I have been hunting but I hunted turkeys this past weekend with a friend and I'm glad he was with me because he told me there were new regulation changes for turkey hunting. Most important one was the need to use nonlead ammunition. Am I missing anything else? (Anonymous)
Answer: First of all, we're happy you're back! It is incumbent upon all hunters to review the laws and regulations any time before they return to the field, but especially if it is after a few years' absence.
Consulting with a friend can help, but going to the source is the best way to bring yourself up to date. The 2017-2018 Waterfowl and Upland Game Hunting regulations book is the place to start (see page 20) or go online.
There have been two significant changes over the past few years that should be highlighted: First, shooting hours for spring turkeys are now from one-half hour before sunrise to 5 p.m.
Second, nonlead shot is required when taking wild turkeys with a shotgun anywhere in the state except when hunting on licensed game bird clubs.
These regulations apply to both public and private land, including all national forests, Bureau of Land Management properties and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) properties.
For more information on nonlead ammunition regulations, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Nonlead-Ammunition.
As of April 12, this column will publish biweekly. If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, please feel free to ask via email at
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
The 2018 recreational Pacific halibut fishery will commence Tuesday, May 1, for the first of four open periods.
The season's dates will be May 1 to June 15, July 1 to 15, Aug. 1 to 15, and Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, or until the quota is reached, whichever is earlier.
The 2018 recreational Pacific halibut quota for the California subarea is 30,940 pounds – about 4,000 pounds less than the 2017 quota.
Since 2015, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has managed the Pacific halibut fishery to keep catches within the state's recreational fishery quota.
The open dates are not guaranteed days, and the fishery could be closed early if it is determined that projected catches will exceed the California quota.
Again this year, CDFW will monitor catches of Pacific halibut during the season and provide catch projection updates on the CDFW Pacific halibut Web page.
If the cumulative catch is expected to reach or exceed the quota prior to Oct. 31, a closure date will be determined and the public will be notified.
For the first time, state Pacific halibut regulations will automatically conform to federal regulations using the new process described in the California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 1.95.
Federal regulations for Pacific halibut were published in the Federal Register (83 FR 13090) on March 26, 2018, and are effective as of March 24, 2018.
Season dates were chosen based on input CDFW received from an online survey that was conducted in February 2018. The open dates are expected to meet the goal of providing as much opportunity to fish for Pacific halibut throughout the season while remaining within California's limit.
Public notification of any in-season change is made through the National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific halibut hotline. Before engaging in any fishing activity for Pacific halibut, please check one of the following resources for the most up-to-date information:
– CDFW Web site, www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Pacific-Halibut;
– National Marine Fisheries Service Halibut Hotline, 800-662-9825;
– CDFW Recreational Groundfish Regulations Hotline, 831-649-2801.
The season's dates will be May 1 to June 15, July 1 to 15, Aug. 1 to 15, and Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, or until the quota is reached, whichever is earlier.
The 2018 recreational Pacific halibut quota for the California subarea is 30,940 pounds – about 4,000 pounds less than the 2017 quota.
Since 2015, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has managed the Pacific halibut fishery to keep catches within the state's recreational fishery quota.
The open dates are not guaranteed days, and the fishery could be closed early if it is determined that projected catches will exceed the California quota.
Again this year, CDFW will monitor catches of Pacific halibut during the season and provide catch projection updates on the CDFW Pacific halibut Web page.
If the cumulative catch is expected to reach or exceed the quota prior to Oct. 31, a closure date will be determined and the public will be notified.
For the first time, state Pacific halibut regulations will automatically conform to federal regulations using the new process described in the California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 1.95.
Federal regulations for Pacific halibut were published in the Federal Register (83 FR 13090) on March 26, 2018, and are effective as of March 24, 2018.
Season dates were chosen based on input CDFW received from an online survey that was conducted in February 2018. The open dates are expected to meet the goal of providing as much opportunity to fish for Pacific halibut throughout the season while remaining within California's limit.
Public notification of any in-season change is made through the National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific halibut hotline. Before engaging in any fishing activity for Pacific halibut, please check one of the following resources for the most up-to-date information:
– CDFW Web site, www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Pacific-Halibut;
– National Marine Fisheries Service Halibut Hotline, 800-662-9825;
– CDFW Recreational Groundfish Regulations Hotline, 831-649-2801.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
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