SlotGaugeCheck a catchHard Clam regulations in Delaware
Shellfish · Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season
Hard Clam size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| State waters | Open year-round | 1.5 inch minimum | 100 resident / 50 non-resident |
Notes
- Fishing license required.
Exact DNREC wording
- Season
- Open Year-RoundA fishing license is required to harvest clams in waters of the State of Delaware.
- Size
- 1½ inch minimum
- Limit
- 100/resident50/non-resident
Source: DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, captured 2026-09-20 (2026 season).
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About the hard clam
Mollusc species native to the Americas
The hard clam, also known as the round clam, hard-shell clam, or the quahog, is an edible marine bivalve mollusk that is native to the eastern shores of North America and Central America from Prince Edward Island to the Yucatán Peninsula. It is one of many unrelated edible bivalves that in the United States are frequently referred to simply as clams. Older literature sources may use the systematic name Venus mercenaria; this species is in the family Veneridae, the venus clams.
Read more about Hard clam on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife, not Wikipedia.
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Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Hard Clam in Delaware?
1.5 inch minimum in Delaware state waters.
How many Hard Clam can you keep per day in Delaware?
100 resident / 50 non-resident.
When is Hard Clam season in Delaware?
Open year-round.
Is my Hard Clam a keeper today?
A hard clam is a keeper today if it measures at least 1.5 inches, with a daily limit of 100.