Nice video, I was a tonger in Babylon 1976 - 1985. A couple of things about babylon, one was many of us went to the clam tong handle replacement guy on Fire Island Ave in Babylon. He would set you up with a nice set of new handles. We would all meet their and shoot the bull. Also I remember being out in the Babylon cut clamming one day and it was the first day of the Suffolk Police's new Challenger police boats being used on the bay. There was a lot of poaching going on and they came out of the State Channel, about 3 or 4 of them and they blazed full speed all around the bay for a few minutes and then headed toward Bay Shore. It was sort of a warning to the poachers who may have been clamming at the time "Hey, now you can't outrun us, we will get you". Also, I remember they used to allow us closer to shore just before Christmas as the start of the special winter opening, man that extra money helped at that time. On the first day of one winter opening, probably the late 70's it was a storm with 6-7 foot rollers and white water. A few boats sunk that day, it was the only day I tied a lifeline to myself while tonging. My boat was all over the place, but I needed the money bad so I stayed out. Many other experiences out there. Winter clamming cutting holes in the ice with an ax and transporting clams with a sled. Getting stuck in the ice while taking a chance clamming close to shore, trying to make a few extra bucks for food and gas and having a police air boat see me and come out of the state channel and head right for me and he couldnt stop in time and ramming me and breaking some beams in my hull. Scalloping on the south end of the bay, getting that 10 bag limit . Some of the best times of my life. Never to be repeated. I wish I knew that back then.

This a gold mine. Great job preserving your grandfather's story

This takes me back to the late 60s early 70s when I was still in High school and beyond. My Dad somehow got a old 17 foot flat bottomed open boat that was sunk. Him, me and my retied grandfather who was a carpenter, worked on that boat all winter. Found and old Johnson 10 in the trash, and got it running. We knew someone who lived in Freeport, and he agreed to let us keep the boat there, as long as we (I) kept the grass cut by the canal slip. We would get bushels of clams by walking at low tide, feeling them with your feet, and digging them out by hand. I'm not sure if you are able to clam those waters anymore........How I miss those times.......Thanks for the video !!

Great Video, Thanks. I was a clammer between the ages of 14 and 35 at which time I left to start my career. No doubt those were the best years of my life. Now I'm retired and would love to go out clamming but I can't get a license because they limit them. I can still go out and tread up some for home use thank God. This video makes me cry remembering those wonderful years I had as a bayman.

I'm from an old bayman family on the Great South Bay. Thank you so much, so many memories.

I came across this video and the memories came rushing back, I clammed back in the 70's before joining the military. I always cherished those summers out on the bay and Babylon, West Islip was such a great area to grow up in. Listening to Imus on the radio, digging in the hot sun, only wish that I could've done that for the rest of my life, by far the best years of my life! Thank you for sharing this video, those were truly amazing times to live on the bay.

Wow, this takes me back! I grew up in Oakdale on the bay in the 70's when all we wanted to do was dig clams. Both my brother and I owned garveys and did very well in the clam market. We did the ice hole clamming back then a few times too but nothing beats being your own captain at 16. Grown up, all left the Island, all did well after but I'll always be an Islander at heart. God bless your family and thank you for this great clip. Word to the wise: don't cross ferry lines in a deep fog with only a compass, a chart and NO ferry schedules. The right timing is enough to make you change your pants...

Just came across this video, a subject very close to my heart. Even though I'm not on the Island anymore I don't think a day goes by that my thoughts don't go back to those good times on the bay. Thought I would work on the bay forever, but that didn't happen. Thanks for sharing, I'm sure your family is proud of your efforts. This era on the Bay meant a lot to a lot of good people. Tom Seerveld, proud former Bayman

Great video. I clammed the Great South Bay in the mid 60's when I was 17. Remember it as one of the best times in my life. Hope your grandfather is well and thanks for the memories.

Awesome video thank you. Ex Clammer lobstermen here and this brought me back to my younger days in Sayville. Commercial fishing will always be in my heart

Great video. Brings back memories of the 70s for me when the clamming was good. God bless your grandfather... I hope he is still doing well.

WOW, Very Kool... Covered all the bases, Nice Job Avery. I'm an old clammer from the mid 1970's, lived in Babylon and my boat was docked at the Babylon pools.

My uncle was a clammer during same time out of Islip! Great great video of LI, thank you! 💜

I can listen to men like your grandfather all day we all can learn alot if we listen ! I enjoyed your video . well done .

What a great video and memory. My Dad was a clammer from Bay Shore, and manufactured clam tongs and clam rakes years ago. Ask your grandfather if he know my Dad Jean Oakley, or of the Oakley clam rakes and clam tongs. Their shop was on Brentwood Road. I can tell he would have loved catting it up with my Dad!

I love this yet it breaks my heart to see it, I know I can never go back. Beautiful historic video.

Well done. Little late on commenting, but growing up in South Jersey on the Great Bay many of my neighbors were clammers in the 70s and 80s. Great times.

Reminds me of my late grandfather. Thanks for the video

Loved learning from your grandfather , thank you for sharing this

I grew up visiting my dad in Babylon on weekends. We'd go out and go clamming once in a while. I miss those days.

Great video Avery. Brings back memories I grew up the same time as your dad. I spent all the time I could on the bay.thanks for the memories. I now have a grandson named avery and I can only hope he turns out like you John west babylon

Very nice. Totally enjoyable. I still see two different clammers as I sail from Lindenhurst to the Robert Moses bridge. One is an old friendly guy. We always wave back and forth. It's like seeing a piece of Long Island history in real life. They are just south of Babylon. Seems like the same area your Grand Pop clammed in your video.

Nice work Avery! This is a great video that records a way of life and a culture that was once Long Island. I was blessed to have grown up in the time time of "Clam Power" where one could live, work, and play on the Great South Bay! Good luck on your future filming endeavors!

Amazing video. I showed my grandfather , he used to buy clams off of your grandfather way back when .... jack Collins. Where still in business too.

awesome video, loved every minute of it!

Great family story Thanks for sharing!

That was very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

very entertaining...hard work being out there every day....great job

I remember getting clam shirts from the clam buyers. I found a couple old ones from the early 70s love, peace and clams, and I dig clams.

great video, I remember when I was a kid in the 90's out of Sayville there were still some spots, now theyre all dead.

So awesome to still see people tonging for clams here in the great south bay.

Great video thank you so much all time

Interesting comment up front... he mentions harvesting hundreds of clams that were just one inch -- and clammers were boat to boat - back in the day. Think that might be the problem? Over harvesting? Taking clams that were too small?

Great Job! You should look into a Production Academy. I really enjoyed Grandpa's stories too!

Awesome job! Cool Grandpa.

The conchs are eaten by Italians called "scungilli" and are eaten as a seafood salad. Typically as part of "Feast of Seven Fishes".

Well done. You've done your family proud. The Barnegat Bay is the same way.

Great video. I'm a graduate of the Longraking school of economics with two brothers here on Pleasant Bay.

Great video, thanks

Sound would've been better without the radio playing in the background

Thank you video very well done.

Where do you sell the clams on Long Island. Also what brand of boat do you use?

Great History Lesson 😎👍

God bless pops great work

Great video! Thank you. I'd like to follow-up with your father on one point for a piece on which I'm working. Is there a good contact for you or him?

Beautiful. I love New York.

Fantastic. We knew many of these guys back in the day. Sad that the baymen and bonicars (sp?) are all but gone now. I'm sure all of the fertilizer runoff into the creeks hasn't helped the brown tide either.

That was awesome

Nice work, I grew up on the south shore but never really paid attention to the clammers.

I dig North Shore . We got awesome clams

Well Done Avery!

How’s the clamming now eight years later?

Did your grandfather know Bill Kalinsky?

Thank you so very much for this documentary, although I’m in Cape May this definitely strikes a cord with me and my family. It brings back a lot of memories of my father & grandfather. Although retired as a career firefighter, I still commercial fish& clam! So nice to see this tribute to your family!

I guarantee you if you shook is hand he could crush you without trying.

talk about overfished

Ralph!

Clams hard to get I love it

Great video! Wish I would have done this when my grandfather was still alive out on the bay. Nice work.. you might have some interest in a documentary we filmed last year out there, what the clammers did after the harvest, Broadbill hunt the bay area. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/h7F6e5yhvK-waHU.html Hope your grandfather is doing well. Your father / Grandfather may know of some of the members we filmed Schuyler Watts, Johnny Verbeke, Brud Skidmore, Charlie Horal & Mike Harwood

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😢 Sad that you’re smart enough to put together a documentary; But don’t have enough 🧠BRAINS in your head to have Grandpa Lower the Radio so we can 👂🏼 hear.