Northern Quahog

Source: Species facts, status language, and imagery adapted from the NOAA Fisheries species profile (last updated 05/22/2025). Ocean City charter and Maryland record notes are editorial orientation for OCEANCITY.MD readers. Always confirm current seasons, sizes, and bag limits before you fish—rules change.

About the species

The Northern quahog (pronounced coe-hog) is a species of hard-shelled clam. They are found in intertidal and subtidal areas from Nova Scotia, Canada to Florida. Hard clams support extensive commercial aquaculture farming and recreational harvest activities, as well as a commercial wild-capture fishery.

Maryland record catch

Confirm whether Maryland DNR publishes an Atlantic state-record category for Northern Quahog on the current sport-fish record board.

Verify on Maryland DNR — Sport Fish State Records . Record boards change when DNR accepts a new fish.

Maryland size & bag limits

Maryland’s Atlantic recreational seasons/sizes/creel summary does not publish a dedicated line for Northern Quahog. Verify COMAR, DNR public notices, and federal rules for your exact waters before you keep fish.

Editorial only — verify before you keep a fish. Confirm current seasons, sizes, and creel on Maryland eRegulations — Atlantic seasons, sizes & limits . Rules change; this page is orientation, not the legal digest. Also see verify regulations.

Population & fishing rate

See the NOAA species profile for current stock status language for this entry.

Appearance

• Clams are part of the shellfish family.
• Like oysters, mussels, and scallops they are bivalve mollusks, and have a hinged shell.
• Clams have slow growth rates and can live 12 to 20 years on average and up to 40 years.
• Adults are sessile—they stay in one place—and inhabit both intertidal and subtidal areas.
• Clams burrow into the sediment, leaving only their siphons exposed to feed.
• Quahogs prefer saline water and cannot survive if the salt content is too low.
• Each female can produce between 1 and 5 million eggs during a spawning event.
• Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Mollusca Class Bivalvia Order Venerida Family Veneridae Genus Mercenaria Species mercenaria Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 05/22/2025

Biology

• Are Northern Quahogs Sustainable? U.S. farmed quahogs are a smart seafood choice because they are sustainably grown and harvested under U.S. state and federal regulations.

Where they live

Range

• Are Northern Quahogs Sustainable? U.S. farmed quahogs are a smart seafood choice because they are sustainably grown and harvested under U.S. state and federal regulations.

Habitat

• See the NOAA species profile for habitat detail for this entry.

Ocean City & Mid-Atlantic context

From Ocean City, Maryland, use this Northern Quahog profile as NOAA Mid-Atlantic directory context—not a promise you will meet the species on every charter.

Always verify current Maryland and federal size, season, and bag rules for your exact date and coordinates before you keep any catch.

Source facts and imagery are adapted from the NOAA Fisheries species profile for Northern Quahog.

What charter to book from Ocean City

Northern Quahog is more of a bay, inshore, or specialty harvest story than a typical OC six-pack trolling day—match the trip type to the animal.

Possible / related

• Bay guide — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
• Inshore charter — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
• Nearshore wreck / bottom — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.
• Head / party boat — Possible overlap depending on season, water, and boat program.

Not typical from OC

• Casting / light tackle — Not a typical Ocean City casting / light tackle target for Northern Quahog.
• Trolling charter — Not a typical Ocean City trolling charter target for Northern Quahog.
• Offshore charter — Not a typical Ocean City offshore charter target for Northern Quahog.

Start with the charter directory trip-type picker so you compare boats inside the right archetype—not a bay-guide quote against a canyon invoice.

Related reading

• Plan a fishing day in Ocean City — Pick the trip archetype before you chase a species story.
• Charter directory stubs & trip-type picker — Compare boats inside the right archetype.
• Verify Maryland fishing regulations — DNR + NOAA steps before you keep any fish from an OC trip.
• Nearshore wreck fishing hub — Structure days from West Ocean City.
• Offshore sport fishing hub — Canyon and bluewater context from Ocean City.

Fishery management

• NOAA Fisheries and regional fishery management councils manage this species where applicable—see the NOAA profile for plan details.

Harvest

• See the NOAA wild-caught fishery section for landings and gear notes when published for this species.

Landings and management details matter most for the waters where Northern Quahog is actually fished—see the NOAA species profile .

Seafood facts

After a real OC boat day or market stop for Northern Quahog, Seafood after boat days covers dock buffer and cook-your-catch pacing.

Scientific classification

Plan the rest of the trip