 Charlotte Russ was on a family trip to Pismo Beach, known as the clam capital of the world, when she said her kids picked up 72 clams from the clamming hot spot during their getaway. I'm not buying this explanation that you thought these were just seashells. These were obviously clams. Have you never seen a clam in your life? The Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed... But clams have shells. After the clams go out, it could become a seashell. Exactly. But there's still a clam in there, and the shells are closed.