Clams - good to eat from the Bay?

Hey all, wanted to check in on some shellfish stuff with y'all. 

I know that from May-October Mussels are not to be taken for eating due to the quarantine, but when I look on the Wildlife.gov website, it says clams are open season! On the San Mateo County Shellfish Safety page it says clams can be eaten but don't eat the dark parts if present.  Any other info I'm missing?

I have a few questions:
1. I'm having a hard time finding information on the eating safety of shellfish harvested from inside the bay (if they would even be there?)
2. Does anyone know of any good areas to go around digging for clams oceanside?
3. Any tips for someone who hasn't been clamming for 20 years since they were a kid?

Cheers!

Call the shellfish hotline and keep it on speed dial  1 (800) 553-4133

Edit: I wouldn’t eat any shellfish from the bay… but that’s just my opinion and not based on any empirical evidence or research. You are what you eat… especially if you’re a clam.

I don’t know anywhere in the South Bay Area but up north the bodega harbor and tomales bay offer good clamming opportunities. Just remember to always bury your holes and put the little guys back down deep enough and bury them too.

If you prefer your data geographically, try https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/394836318cfe4f7494e1c09097a43559/

Right now, mussels are closed statewide and razor clams are closed in Humboldt County. So, its happy clamming otherwise.

Maybe others can chime in, but knowing that clams are filter feeders and knowing the history of SF Bay, I'd opt for elsewhere personally. As far as places, find a mudflat(not sand) that's exposed at low tide and chances are there's a few clams nearby. Just remember to not disturb any more ground than is absolutely necessary and to fill your holes back in when you're through. Good luck !

As I understand it, you shouldn’t eat the guts of bivalves from May-Dec. mussels, and many clams are eaten whole, but scallops and bigger clams (horseneck, maybe Washington) can be eaten by only eating the meat and not the guts, so I would think those are fine. Is anyone else is under this impression?

I would probably also avoid the bay, but if you are only eating muscle I don’t think it would matter as much.