SlotGaugeCheck a catchHard Clam regulations in Maryland
Clams & oysters · Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season
Hard Clam size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland tidal waters (open areas) | Open year-round | 1 inch minimum | 250 clams per person per day |
Notes
- Maryland residents only, except nonresidents may harvest clams in Worcester County.
Exact Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services wording
- Season
- Open year-round from open areas
- Size
- 1 inch transverse measurement
- Limit
- 250 clams per person per day
- Maryland tidal waters (open areas) — as printed
- “Hard Clams — 250 clams/person/day. Limited to hand-operated gear only, including hand rakes. Minimum Size Limits: One inch transverse measurement. No license required for recreational clam harvest.”
Source: Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services, captured 2026-10-04 (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 Maryland DNR Fishing & Boating Services, not Wikipedia.
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Hard Clam in Maryland?
1 inch minimum in Maryland state waters.
How many Hard Clam can you keep per day in Maryland?
250 clams per person per day.
When is Hard Clam season in Maryland?
Open year-round.
Is my Hard Clam a keeper today?
A hard clam is a keeper today if it measures at least 1 inches, with a daily limit of 250.