Clams in Pismo Beach are coming back in size and number after 30 years of a low population. Locals say they’ve seen a surge in the last three months.

“It's been crazy,” said Saige Sewell, who works near the Pismo Pier. “On the low tide, there's hundreds and people pick them up, the seagulls pick them up and break them open.”

“You have to dig for them usually,” said Kolea Quincey, a Los Osos resident and frequent Pismo Beach visitor. “So I thought it was unusual that we saw a lot of them just lying on the beach.”

The clams are growing to the allowed harvesting size of 4 1/2 inches, but city leaders say they’re not growing fast enough to keep clamming season year-round.

“We would want to make sure that we're doing it where people can continue to clam,” said Jorge Garcia, Pismo Beach City

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