“CDFW officers patrol throughout the day and night to enforce wildlife and fishing laws, deter poaching and illegal activity.  This law enforcement work helps to protect California’s natural resources.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – On June 15, 2025, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that its officers were recently patrolling the Oceano Dunes recreation area in San Luis Obispo County when they saw three subjects taking Pismo clams from the beach. While conducting surveillance, officers saw the subjects placing multiple clams into a grocery bag without measuring any of them. They also watched as one of the subjects left the area and put the grocery bag in the trunk of a vehicle. The subject then returned to the surf and continued taking clams.

Officers also watched as the other two subjects left the area carrying clams and placing them in the trunk of the same vehicle. The officers ultimately contacted the subjects and found 107 Pismo clams – 99 of which were undersized – inside of the vehicle. All three subjects were issued citations for fishing without a valid sport fishing license, for not having a measuring device in possession, for exceeding the 10 Pismo clam daily bag limit, and for taking Pismo clams smaller than the legal size. All 107 clams were seized as evidence, photographed and returned to the wild alive.

Size limits help ensure our natural resources have the opportunity to reproduce before they can be legally harvested. This helps support not only a healthy ecosystem – as clams filter thousands of gallons of water each year and provide food for marine life – but also sustainable populations that can be harvested recreationally and enjoyed.