OLYMPIA - The first razor-clam dig of the fall season will get under way Oct. 16 if marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today. Additional digging opportunities are planned through mid-December.
Three evening digs are tentatively scheduled at Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks Oct. 16-18, while Long Beach is scheduled for two evening digs Oct. 17 and 18. Digging will be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight.
Because the low tides for digging occur later in the evening, people should take lights or lanterns with them, said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for WDFW. He also recommended checking weather and surf forecasts before heading out.
Harvesters are allowed to take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.
A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2008 annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination fishing license is still valid. Another option is a razor-clam only license available in annual or three-day only versions. Descriptions of the various licensing options are available on the WDFW website at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov. Clam diggers are not required to display their licenses on outer clothing.
Ayres said that more harvest dates would be announced following the December opener.
Tentative opening dates and evening low tides in October are:
- Thursday, Oct. 16 (8:30 p.m. -1.5) Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
- Friday, Oct. 17 (9:17 p.m. -1.5) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
- Saturday, Oct. 18 (10:08 p.m. -1.2) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
In addition, WDFW has tentatively scheduled two other digs through December:
- Thursday, Nov. 13 (6:27 p.m. -1.6) Copalis, Mocrocks
- Friday, Nov. 14 (7:15 p.m. -1.8) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
- Saturday, Nov. 15 (8:04 p.m. -1.6) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
- Sunday, Nov. 16 (8:54 p.m. -1.2) Long Beach, Twin Harbors Copalis, Mocrocks
- Thursday, Dec. 11 (5:23 p.m. -1.1) Copalis, Mocrocks
- Friday, Dec. 12 (6:13 p.m. -1.5) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
- Saturday, Dec. 13 (7:02 p.m. -1.6) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
- Sunday, Dec. 14 (7:50 p.m. -1.4) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
Beaches scheduled to open are:
- 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, Pacific Beach and Moclips.
