October Razor Clam Dig

Date: October 3, 2006
Contact: Dan Ayres, Wash. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, 360-249-4628
Contact: Barb Maynes, Olympic National Park, 360-565-3005

OLYMPIA – Clam diggers today got the green light to proceed with the first razor clam dig of the fall season, starting Friday, Oct. 6, on evening tides at all five of Washington's ocean beaches.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the digs at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches after a series of marine toxin tests confirmed that the clams there are safe to eat. The National Park Service approved the digs at Kalaloch Beach, which is located within Olympic National Park, to coincide with those at the other coastal beaches.

All five beaches will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 6-8. A fourth evening of digging is also scheduled Monday, Oct. 9, at Twin Harbors and Long Beach only.

Digging will be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight each day at all five beaches.

"Overall, razor clam populations are up on the beaches south of Grays Harbor and down some compared to last year on those beaches to the north," said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager WDFW. "This will likely mean more digging opportunities at Long Beach and Twin Harbors during the 2006-07 season."

Dates for openings in November and December will be announced after WDFW and the National Park Service review harvest levels during the October dig.

Olympic National Park superintendent Bill Laitner added a safety note for evening clam diggers, especially at Kalaloch. "Kalaloch is more remote than other clamming beaches in the state, and people should remember that there are no streetlights or lighted buildings in the area. Flashlights or lanterns are a must for all after-dark digs."

The best time to start digging is an hour or two before low tide, said Ayres, who recommends taking a lantern for evening digs at all beaches.

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 2006 annual shellfish/seaweed, 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 https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/.

Opening dates and evening low tides are:

Friday, Oct. 6 (6:39 p.m. -0.6) all beaches

Saturday, Oct. 7 (7:28 p.m. -1.3) all beaches

Sunday, Oct. 8 (8:16 p.m. -1.6) all beaches

Monday, Oct. 9 (9:03 p.m. -1.6) Twin Harbors and Long Beach only

Beaches scheduled to open for digging those days are:

Kalaloch Beach, which extends from the South Beach Campground to Brown’s Point (just south of Beach Trail 3) in the Olympic National Park.

Long Beach, which extends from the Columbia River to Leadbetter Point on the Long Beach Peninsula.

Twin Harbors Beach, which extends from the mouth of Willapa Bay north to the mouth of Grays Harbor.

Copalis Beach, which extends from the Grays Harbor North Jetty to the Copalis River, and includes beaches near Copalis, Ocean Shores, Oyhut and Ocean City.

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.