SlotGaugeCheck a catchHard Clam regulations in North Carolina
· Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season
Hard Clam size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC coastal and joint waters (to 3 mi) | Open year-round | 1 inch minimum | 100 per day, max 200 per vessel |
Exact NC Division of Marine Fisheries wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- 1" Thick
- Limit
- 100 Clams/Day not to exceed 200 Clams/Vessel/Day
- statewide — as printed
- “Hard Clam (I) | 1" Thick | 100 Clams/Day not to exceed 200 Clams/Vessel/Day”
Source: NC Division of Marine Fisheries, captured 2026-09-29 (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 NC Division of Marine Fisheries, not Wikipedia.
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Frequently asked
What is the size limit for Hard Clam in North Carolina?
1 inch minimum in North Carolina state waters.
How many Hard Clam can you keep per day in North Carolina?
100 per day, max 200 per vessel.
When is Hard Clam season in North Carolina?
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 100.