Geoduck digging in north Hood Canal

[Fish-or-man?]

Here's the May addition of WA (Shell)fish Quest-- the mighty geoduck!

[Mordalphus]

Nice I caught these as a kid, but never ate them. I'd love to try them now. I'll have to keep my eye out for the next sub -2 tide.

Been waiting for a new episode! Thanks again

[Fish-or-man?]

Thanks a ton Mordalphus! They have a very mild flavor, and I got to take a meat tenderizer to the neck, or it's hard as heck. As much as geoducks cost nowadays though, it's fun to eat them and pretend I could afford them from a seafood market, ha ha! I'll probably try Nisqually or maybe Duckabush June 23-- that's a Sunday with a -3.8 or the like! There's a bunch of days of super low tides around that time this June.

[Augwen]

Another EPIC adventure. Your cooking shows should be interesting!!

[natetreat]

If you cook the neck too long it gets very chewy. I make sushi out of them, and it is soooooooooo much better. Trust me. They are very delicate in flavor and delicious. Here is a very good recipe video I found on the WDFW site -

[oneshot]

fun video, always entertaining!!
you put in some work on that gooooooduck!

[BentRod]

Nice video. Thanks for sharing!

Note to those processing Geoduck for the first time: When placing the live clam in the boiling water, make sure the siphon is pointing down into the pot, otherwise you might get a fire hose effect all over your kitchen. That's what happened to me on my first go around.

[Fish-or-man?]

Thanks Augwen, Oneshot, and BentRod! Nate-- I'll try it raw if I'm feeling brave the next time I get one. Currently I sautee the siphon for maybe a minute, so I'm working my way towards raw. Ha ha.

[BentRod]

I've not tried the Geoduck sushi, but heard it's amazingly mild and have seen it made. I've only dug two 'ducks and have run both the siphons through the food processor before dumping them into chowder, which was great (only add them to the chowder at the last minute though). I'd previously read of someone running them through a meat grinder, which gave me the food processor idea.

[Mike Carey]

OK, 3 1/2 x speed or regular speed, that looks like way too much work.

I'm curious, when you're digging, don't you hit the geoduck and smash the shell with the digger?

Thanks for the video!

[kzoo]

Awesome footage, thanks for sharing.

[natetreat]

Thanks Augwen, Oneshot, and BentRod! Nate-- I'll try it raw if I'm feeling brave the next time I get one. Currently I sautee the siphon for maybe a minute, so I'm working my way towards raw. Ha ha.

It's very good. And believe me, I felt the same as you when I tried it. I was like, what the hell? If it's gross, I'll just throw it in a pan and cook it. I was reticent to even eat one after digging it. It is VERY good, and cooking it ruins the flavor and texture, makes it chewy like octopus.

[sickbayer]

I'm with Mike too much work for my liking! Still an excellent video and thanks for sharing.

[The Quadfather]

Love these vids. always do...
I had to watch it without audio. Did I miss discussion or anything about the use of the hollowed out garbage can? I thought I saw a quick snippet of the can coming on to the beach, but then I didn't see the can being used?

I had heard about using the can to keep sand out of the hole being dug. So what exactly or WHEN exactly do you use the can?
And yes, please do some cooking vids.

[MotoBoat]

Love these vids. always do...
I had to watch it without audio. Did I miss discussion or anything about the use of the hollowed out garbage can? I thought I saw a quick snippet of the can coming on to the beach, but then I didn't see the can being used?

I had heard about using the can to keep sand out of the hole being dug. So what exactly or WHEN exactly do you use the can?
And yes, please do some cooking vids.

Quad, when the chance arises watch the vid with the sound dialed up. He talks about the beach he is on. Being firmer, and thus gives the digger 20+ minutes of digging time. Before the sides of the hole start collapsing. Sooooo, use the bottomless refuse can on beaches with cave in issues.

Fish-or-man, those vids are fun to watch. Fish facts, come on! That part is always informative, and the background music.....always a clue as to what is about to flash across the screen. Kids, get your chair, it is time for "fish facts" or in this case "shellfish facts".......LOL!

Personally, having never dug a duck. I found the hole filmed account of digging them, interesting and informative. I like that you did not edit out the part where MOM comes into view. Just long enough to helpfully "point" the direction in which you might focus your digging ...........LOL!

The geo's that you did not successfully extract from there watery environment. Is it likely that they were just beyond your reach? That would have been hilarious to see you break out a mask and snorkel. To effectively "extend" your reach a little deeper into the water filled hole. Can the neck of a goo be longer than your arm? I just took a measure from arm pit to the middle of my fingers. My max arm measurement/reach into the hole, would be 22". Since the duck cant dig, they must have been out of reach? Some of that 22" reach would be lost to not wanting my ear touching the beach!

I did see a short burst of video tape. Where you were laying down on the beach, for max reach into the hole, and a change in angle of attack. I see why a set of chest waders would be minimum coverage requirements for "digging ducks". No matter what, you bound to get wet.

Seems what would work best, is a "spotter", "digger" and a "diver". As the tide is working against you. Time is of the essence. At the beginning, all three participants spot for a duck. Once spotted, the digger kicks into digging mode. The other 2 continue the search for another duck. The "diver" breaks off the search for a duck to dig. When the "digger" has a hole, close to "big and deep enough". Digger, gets a breather as he or she walks the short distance to another spotted, and marked, duck. Although, at this point. It would be nice if the spotter went into rotation. Took the rains of the digging device, and let the digger spot.

It takes an hour to an hour and a half, to dig up 3 long nosed ducks? Wheew, it is hot in these waders!

Keep those vids coming. And, unlike in a normal cooking show. If the food is not good! I feel that will be transferred to the look on your face.......as it should be....Ha! or

[Fish-or-man?]

Thanks for hte positive comments everyone! I really appeciate it.

OK, 3 1/2 x speed or regular speed, that looks like way too much work.

I've probably dug a dozen geoduck in my life... and that was actually the easiest one ever. I've spent an hour on one duck. You definitely get your work-out for the day. It's like digging a ditch that keeps trying to fill itself back up!

I'm curious, when you're digging, don't you hit the geoduck and smash the shell with the digger?

Really good question Mike. I forgot to mention in the video that I dig 2-3 inches to the side of the siphon hole. I have mangled a neck before on accident (still got the duck though). Ideally, you dig beside them, and kind of breakthrough the sediment with your hand to grab the duck by the side.

It's very good. And believe me, I felt the same as you when I tried it. I was like, what the hell? If it's gross, I'll just throw it in a pan and cook it. I was reticent to even eat one after digging it.

Alright Nate, you've talked me into it. It's too late for that one. But the next one I get I'll give it a shot!

I had to watch it without audio. Did I miss discussion or anything about the use of the hollowed out garbage can? I thought I saw a quick snippet of the can coming on to the beach, but then I didn't see the can being used?

MotoBoat answered the question perfectly. The trash can is needed in most beaches for geoduck, otherwise the hole will fill in on itself. Northern Hood Canal is the only place I've seen the post holer method used effectively. It is a lot easier than the hollow tube/shovel method in my opinion.

The goo's that you did not successfully extract from there watery environment. Is it likely that they were just beyond your reach?

Yep. At least one of the two was out of reach. I could feel the top of it's siphon. The other one I basically ran out of time on. If the first one wouldn't have come up so easy I'd be underwater. I've had my entire torso in a geoduck hole before. The big ones are down deep! A funny aside, I was talking to a guy in the parking lot with a flask. He was getting a little buzzed in prep for dunking his face in the muddy salt water.

I see why a set of chest waders would be minimum coverage requirements for "digging ducks". No matter what, you bound to get wet.

Had it been nicer out I would of just been wearing shorts. You're right, getting wet is inevitable!

And regarding spotting MotoBoat, yep, it's nice to have a crew. I mark them all at the beggining because (1) sometimes they'll get disturbed and go back down. I've been geoducking before and haven't been able to find a single show. And (2) so other people stay off your duck. Of course when I haven't done it for a year I think I'm going to go 3/3. Ha ha.

Thanks again everyone!

[MotoBoat]

Yesterday evening Northwest Backroads did a show on gooeduck and clam harvesting, from a commercial beach. Of interest, was that the outside shells of ducks have growth rings on them. Much like a tree has growth rings, each ring equated to one year. Gooe's are quit old, ones in Washington have been found to be 140 years old!

That Sports fans, is interesting! Those gooey's your digging are likely much older than those doing the digging. And, will outlive you too!

This website claims the oldest duck found to date to be 168 birthdays old.

http://www.waquoitbayreserve.org/Projec ... tract2.pdf

[Mike Carey]

"Hey you! - Stay off my duck!"

[natetreat]

@Fishorman - Awesome! You won't regret it. Funny story, tonight we're having Geoduck chowder and razor clams for dinner. Next time I'm out I'll get a video showing you how I dig 'em. By hand, no shovel, no tube. Apparently the folks digging with us called it "extreme" geoducking. I had my three before they had one.

[Mordalphus]

@Fishorman - Awesome! You won't regret it. Funny story, tonight we're having Geoduck chowder and razor clams for dinner. Next time I'm out I'll get a video showing you how I dig 'em. By hand, no shovel, no tube. Apparently the folks digging with us called it "extreme" geoducking. I had my three before they had one.

That's how we did them as kids! Just dug them with our hands! That post holer looks like way more work!