Knife presentation
The razor clam is a cylindrical bivalve shellfish. A member of the Solenidae family, the razor clam lives in sandy environments. Its size can vary between 10 and 20 centimeters, depending on the biotope. Its calcareous shell is light yellow to white. Razor clams feed on phytoplankton and organic matter.
Getting knives
Knives are collected during high tides. The first step is to locate a hole on the surface, more or less in the shape of an 8. The knife can then be extracted using a fork or knife gouge. The knife can also be brought out of its hole by placing a pinch of salt on the hole. The knife, thinking that the sea is rising, will come to the surface, and you'll have to be more or less nimble to dislodge it by hand.
Razor clam harvesting is subject to regulations, so check with your local maritime authorities.
Knives can be stored in a container of water with a bubbler for several days.
Knives can also be found at your local retailer or fishing store. They can be sold fresh or frozen. Frozen knives are most often impregnated with a mixture containing amino acids of aquatic origin to optimize their atractability.
Fishing with knives
The knife can be used whole with the shell for sparid fish, particularly sea bream. It can also be used whole without the shell to select large specimens of sea bass or various sparids. And, of course, the knife can be cut into sections or strips to line hooks and target smaller fish such as marbled bream.
To fish with a whole knife, it is necessary to use a needle to properly eschew the bait on the hook. The flesh of a shelled knife is quite fragile and does not stand up well to hard casting. To overcome this disadvantage, use elastic binding wire to consolidate the bait's presentation and hold.
Knife fishing is most often done by surfcasting on sandy beaches. A bait that can be used all year round for sea bass, bream, sars or marblefish. It can also be used on rocky bottoms, in chunks, to catch rock fish.
