1. California mother fined $88,000 for children collecting clams they thought were seashells at Pismo Beach.
2. Pismo Beach has strict regulations on clam harvesting, including size restrictions and licensing requirements.
3. Mother was able to get fine reduced to $500 after explaining mistake in court, with the option to fulfill fine through community service work.
A California mother, Charlotte Russ, was fined $88,000 after her children mistakenly collected clams instead of seashells during a family vacation at Pismo Beach in late 2023. The beach, known as the “Clam Capital of the World,” has strict regulations for clam harvesting, including the requirement of a valid saltwater fishing license and restrictions on clam size and daily bag limit. Russ received citations for fishing without a license and collecting undersized clams, resulting in the hefty fine.
Initially devastated by the situation, Russ was able to explain the mistake to a San Luis Obispo County judge and had the fine reduced to $500, which could be fulfilled through community service work. Despite the costly lesson learned, Russ described it as an unforgettable and expensive trip to Pismo Beach. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife did not respond to requests for comment on the incident. Ultimately, the family’s innocent error in collecting clams instead of seashells led to a costly fine, but with some understanding from authorities, the situation was resolved with a significantly reduced penalty.