The whole idea of shucking them as I have suggested is:

(a) you don't get a messy, mushy bait.

(b) You have a nice solid piece of flesh to put on your hook and as suggested in an early post, you can bind it into a sausage, which is why I suggested the use of a baiting needle.

(c) There is no danger of cutting yourself on a sharp piece of shell, you don't need a sharp knife, in fact a dull blade is much better.

(d) And this is most important, by baiting them frozen you retain all those beautiful juices that act as a scent trail to draw in your quarry.