Mercenaria mercenaria, quahaug, quahog, hard clam, round clam

Quahogs are found just below the sand or mud surface between the high and low tidal zone and beyond, in sheltered waters.  A quahog with a shell thickness or hinge width of less than 1 inch is seed and below legal harvest size.  These should not be taken.  A 1 inch thick to 2 1/2 inch long quahog is known as a littleneck, a 2 1/2 to 3 inch quahog is a cherrystone, and a 3 inch or larger quahog is a chowder. The chowders are often used to make chowder, clam pie, and fritters.

Go to the Recreational Shellfishing Section