Razor Clam Digs - May 7th - 10th May
Razor Clams
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Beaches in Washington with razor clam fisheries include: Long Beach, which extends from the Columbia River to Leadbetter Point. Twin Harbors Beach, which extends from the mouth of Willapa Bay north to the south jetty at the mouth of Grays Harbor. Copalis Beach, which extends from the Grays Harbor north jetty to the Copalis River, and includes the Copalis, Ocean Shores, Oyhut, Ocean City and Copalis areas. Mocrocks Beach, which extends from the Copalis River to the southern boundary of the Quinault Reservation near the Moclips River, including Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Seabrook, Pacific Beach and Moclips. Kalaloch Beach, which extends from the South Beach Campground to Brown’s Point (just south of Beach Trail 3) in the Olympic National Park. (This beach is closed to harvest until further notice) |
May 4, 2015
Contact: Dan Ayres, (360) 249-4628
WDFW approves four-day razor clam dig on ocean beaches
OLYMPIA - Shellfish managers have approved four days of razor clam digging starting May 7 at various ocean beaches.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the digs after marine toxin tests showed the clams on those beaches are safe to eat. All of the digs are scheduled on morning tides.
No digging will be allowed after noon on any beach through Saturday. However, WDFW is extending the dig on Sunday, May 10, to 1 p.m.
"We're giving diggers an extra hour to wrap things up on Sunday due to the late low tide that day," said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager.
The upcoming dig is scheduled on the following dates, beaches, and low tides:
- May 7, Thursday; 9:30 a.m., -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
- May 8, Friday; 10:14 a.m., -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- May 9, Saturday; 11:03 a.m., -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- May 10, Sunday; 11:58 a.m., -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
The department has also proposed two additional digs in May, pending the results of marine toxin tests. Additional information about those tentative digs can be found on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams/
Under state law, diggers are required to keep the first 15 clams they dig. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.
All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2015-16 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach. Licenses, ranging from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, are available on WDFW's website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov and from license vendors around the state.
During all upcoming digs, state wildlife managers urge clam diggers to avoid disturbing snowy plovers and streaked horned larks. Both species nest in the soft, dry sand at Leadbetter Point on the Long Beach Peninsula, and on a section of Twin Harbors beach.
The snowy plover is a small bird with gray wings and a white breast. The lark is a small bird with a pale yellow breast and brown back. Male larks have a black mask, breast band and "horns."
To protect these birds, the department asks that clam diggers avoid the dunes and areas of the beach with soft, dry sand. When driving to a clam-digging area, diggers should enter the beach only at designated access points and stay on the hard-packed sand near or below the high tide line.
More details on how to avoid disturbing nesting birds can be found on the WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams/
Tentative upcoming digs
Proposed digs are tentatively scheduled on the following dates, beaches and low tides (newly added digs are in bold):
- May 15, Friday; 4:58 a.m., -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- May 16, Saturday; 5:50 a.m., -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- May 17, Sunday; 6:38 a.m., -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- May 22, Friday; 10:18 a.m., -0.8 feet; Mocrocks
- May 23, Saturday; 11:03 a.m., -0.2 feet; Mocrocks
- May 24, Sunday; 11:51 a.m., 0.3 feet; Mocrocks
All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2015-16 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach. Licenses, ranging from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, are available on WDFW's website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov and from license vendors around the state.
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