Submitted by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
OLYMPIA – The next evening razor clam dig will get under way Tuesday (Nov. 13) at Twin Harbors beach, then expand to include openings at three other beaches later in the week.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the dig after marine toxin tests at all four beaches confirmed the clams are safe to eat. No digging will be allowed at any of those beaches until after noon.
The dig at Twin Harbors will run five days, extending through Saturday (Nov. 17). Long Beach will open for digging Thursday (Nov. 15), followed by Copalis and Mocrocks on Friday (Nov.16).
“If razor clams have a place on your Thanksgiving table, this is the time to get them,” Ayres said. “We have lots of clams available for harvest on all four beaches.”
He noted that the best digging occurs one to two hours prior to low tide. Digging days and evening low tides for those beaches are:
- Nov. 13, Tuesday, 5:54 p.m., -1.6 ft., Twin Harbors
- Nov. 14, Wednesday, 6:41 p.m., -1.9 ft., Twin Harbors
- Nov. 15, Thursday, 7:29 p.m., -1.9 ft., Long Beach, Twin Harbors
- Nov. 16, Friday, 8:18 p.m., -1.6 ft., Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
- Nov. 17, Saturday, 9:09 p.m., -1.1 ft., Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
Ayres recommends that diggers carry a lantern or strong flashlight during night digs. He also says diggers heading to Copalis and Mocrocks should be aware of a traffic revision on eastbound U.S. Highway 101 in Hoquiam due to emergency work on the Simpson Avenue Bridge.
“This is the only route to those beaches, so people should allow extra travel time to make sure they arrive on time,” Ayres said. He advises diggers to check the Washington Department of Transportation website for more information at http://goo.gl/hzoM1.
Clam diggers are limited to 15 razor clams per day, and 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 2012-13 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.
Information about beach locations and additional digs proposed in the weeks ahead is available on WDFW’s website at http://goo.gl/ooxEO.
