Geoduck that big, are they tough?
Depends on the age (imagine that). A former boss and mentor is a leader in the Puget Sound shellfish community.
Some years back, the geoduck was becoming scarce due to poaching. Most of the time, harvesting of the clam comes at really low tides (maybe 10 days a year). Poachers use scuba gear to collect them year round, and being the evil spawn they are, they do it in darkness.
Due to the deteriorating water quality and habitat for the geoduck (they don't grow everywhere), Tris Carlson (former boss) devised a method to grow the clam and promote its population in the south sound. Cathy (his wife) was cfo at the time (rip).
http://aquaculturenorthamerica.com/shellfish/geoduck-tales/So... the short answer is, old ones are tough. Geoduck is highly prized in the Asian markets (that's why they get poached). The younger clams are the best and don't need beating. The flesh is pure white and soft. But... It all comes down to best practices.
Thanks Tris.