How to catch razorfish

After a storm, you can sometimes walk along the high-water mark and fill a bucket with assorted clams, whelks and cockles, but often the shells are broken, and the gulls have beaten you to it. You need to be proactive. There are tubular, clam-digging spades available, but on a yacht storage space is limited so we’ll concentrate on a shellfish that can be easily gathered without loading yet more gear aboard.

We’ve all seen razorfish shells washed up on the beach, but they’re actually a type of clam that’s delicious and easily gathered. You only need a small container of salt and a bottle of seawater to have the most fun you’ve ever had on a beach.

Wait for a big tide and head for the water’s edge at low water – undulating sandbanks seem to be the best location, but don’t let their absence put you off. You’ll probably see lots of small, dry, well-defined holes – razor clam burrows. Sometimes a few centimetres of shell will be protruding above the sand, and as you get closer the razors will disappear into their burrow. Now for the fun. Trickle a small amount of salt into a hole and add a glug of water. Within a few seconds the razor will partly emerge, and you can take hold and smoothly extract it from it’s burrow. If you’re less than smooth you’ll be in for a tug-of-war because it’ll expand in the hole and you’ll never get it out. They may also squirt you with water! Once extracted, put it in a bucket and move on to the next hole. Be aware that if you knock the bucket over, they’ll burrow back into the sand in seconds!

How to eat razorfish

I know they look odd, but you can substitute them for clams and mussels in any classic recipe. Try this twist on moules mariniere. Heat some oil in a pan and soften some finely sliced shallots or onion. Add a clove of finely chopped garlic. Tip in the razors, add a glug of dry cider and cover. Once the shells open, they’re ready. Add chopped parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice. No cream.