WDFW approves pre-holiday razor clam dig starting Nov. 20

OLYMPIA - Diggers will have plenty of opportunity to put razor clams on the Thanksgiving table during a week-long dig that begins Nov. 20.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the opening, which runs through Nov. 26, after marine toxin test results showed the clams are safe to eat. No digging will be allowed before noon.

"Diggers can fill their buckets right up until the holiday," said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager.

Ayres noted that diggers are required to keep the first 15 clams they dig under state law. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.

WDFW has razor clam recipes as well as advice on digging and cleaning clams on its webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams/.

Digging days and evening tides during the upcoming opening are:

• Nov. 20, Thursday; 5:06 p.m., 0.0 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors
• Nov. 21, Friday; 5:45 p.m., -0.5 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Nov. 22, Saturday; 6:24 p.m., -0.8 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks, Copalis
• Nov. 23, Sunday; 7:05 p.m., -1.0 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Nov. 24, Monday; 7:47 p.m., -1.1 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors
• Nov. 25, Tuesday; 8:32 p.m., -0.9 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors
• Nov. 26, Wednesday; 9:19 p.m., -0.5 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors

The best results typically occur one to two hours before low tide, Ayres said.

All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2014-15 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.

WDFW also has proposed another dig in early December, tentatively set to begin Dec. 3 if marine toxin tests are favorable. That dig is tentatively scheduled on the following dates, beaches and low tides:

• Dec. 3, Wednesday; 4:14 p.m., -0.1 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors
• Dec. 4, Thursday; 5:02 p.m., -0.6 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors
• Dec. 5, Friday; 5:45 p.m., -0.9 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Dec. 6, Saturday; 6:26 p.m., -1.0 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks, Copalis
• Dec. 7, Sunday; 7:05 p.m., -0.9 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Dec. 8, Monday; 7:44 p.m., -0.6 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors
• Dec. 9, Tuesday; 8:21 pm, -0.2 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors

A WDFW video, which demonstrates how to teach your kids to harvest razor clams, is available at http://youtu.be/gl9p_PparVk.