Razor clam lovers ought to get their nets and buckets cleaned out.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) confirmed four days of razor clam digging opportunities at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches from Oct. 14-18, according to a Wednesday news release.
“After a successful first tide series of the season, we are excited to announce another round of digs for this weekend, and we’re very happy to get Mocrocks back into the mix,” said Bryce Blumenthal, a WDFW coastal shellfish biologist, in the release.
Clam digging is best between one and two hours before low tide.
With the clams now confirmed safe to eat through marine toxin results from the Washington Department of Health, the schedule for the upcoming evening digs is as follows:
• Oct. 14, Saturday: 7:17 p.m.; 0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Oct. 15, Sunday: 7:52 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Oct. 16, Monday: 8:28 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Oct. 17, Tuesday: 9:06 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Oct. 18, Wednesday: 9:49 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Mocrocks
Marine toxin levels have been decreasing, according to the Department of Health. Approval for digging series usually happens about a week before the start of a digging series. Tentative dates for future digs include:
Oct. 27-31 series:
• Oct. 27, Friday: 6:18 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Oct. 28, Saturday: 7:03 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Oct. 29, Sunday: 7:46 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Oct. 30, Monday: 8:29 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Oct. 31, Tuesday: 9:12 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Mocrocks
Nov. 12-18 series:
• Nov. 12, Sunday: 5:53 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Mocrocks
• Nov. 13, Monday: 6:30 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Nov. 14, Tuesday: 7:09 p.m.; -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Nov. 15, Wednesday: 7:51 p.m.; -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Nov. 16, Thursday: 8:37 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Nov. 17, Friday: 9:27 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Copalis
• Nov. 18, Saturday: 10:22 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Mocrocks
Nov. 24-29 series:
• Nov. 24, Friday: 4:18 p.m.; 0.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Nov. 25, Saturday: 5:05 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Nov. 26, Sunday: 5:49 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Nov. 27, Monday: 6:31 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Nov. 28, Tuesday: 7:12 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Nov. 29, Wednesday: 7:52 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Mocrocks
Dec. 13-17 series:
• Dec. 13, Wednesday: 6:55 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Dec. 14, Thursday: 7:39 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Dec. 15, Friday: 8:25 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Dec. 16, Saturday: 9:12 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Dec. 17, Sunday: 10:01 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 26-29 series:
• Dec. 26, Tuesday: 6:18 p.m.; -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Dec. 27, Wednesday: 6:57 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Dec. 28, Thursday: 7:35 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Dec. 29, Friday: 8:11 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
On all open beaches, the daily limit is 15 clams per person. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container, and all diggers must keep the first 15 clams they dig, regardless of size or condition.
“It's important that diggers keep the clams they dig to prevent wastage,” Blumenthal said in the release. “It's not unusual to encounter some small clams, especially this early in the season.”
Diggers age 15 and over must have a valid fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach. Licenses are available online via WDFW’s licensing website and from various license vendors statewide.
In the Twin Cities, Chehalis Outfitters, formerly Sunbird Shopping Center, has licenses available for purchase.
WDFW shellfish managers are exploring an adjusted digging schedule for Copalis and Mocrocks beaches in 2024.
The proposed change would involve opening each beach for multiple consecutive days instead of alternating openings between areas every other day.
Public comments on the proposal are welcome until Nov. 15 and can be emailed to razorclams@dfw.wa.gov.
For more details on razor clam management and additional 2023-2024 razor clam information, visit https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations.
