Razor clam dig cleared to begin Wednesday

OLYMPIA - A four-day razor clam dig scheduled to start at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 27 received final approval today from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) after a review of test results that indicate the clams are safe to eat.

Digging will be allowed on four ocean beaches Feb. 27 through March 2 from noon until 11:59 p.m. each day. Beaches opening those days are Long Beach, Copalis, Mocrocks (from the Copalis River to the Moclips River) and Kalaloch.

Kalaloch was added to the original list of scheduled openings under an agreement with the Olympic National Park, which owns the beach. However, the Twin Harbors area - which includes Westport, Grayland, Midway Beach and North Cove - will not be open for digging during the upcoming opening because it has fewer clams remaining under its total allowable catch.

"We hope to have enough clams to allow some morning-tide digging at Twin Harbors and other beaches during the spring," said Dan Ayres, WDFW razor clam biologist. Ayres said the schedule for springtime razor clam digging will be announced in mid-March, following an analysis of the harvest through the early part of the month.

Ayres reminds prospective clam diggers that they must have a valid shellfish/seaweed license, combination license or two-day license to harvest shellfish. For licensing information, see the WDFW Fishing in Washington pamphlet.

Under WDFW rules, harvesters may take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 taken, regardless of size or condition. Each digger's limit must be kept in a separate container.

Clamming tides for the upcoming opening are listed below. Ayres recommends that clammers start digging about an hour before low tide for best results.