WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
https://wdfw.wa.gov/

February 14, 2018
Contact: Dan Ayres, 360-249-4628

WDFW tentatively plans 8 days of razor clam digging in March, April

OLYMPIA – State shellfish managers have tentatively scheduled razor clam digs through April on four ocean beaches.

Final approval of all scheduled openings at Copalis, Mocrocks, Long Beach and Twin Harbors beaches will depend on whether results of marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) typically announces whether a dig will go forward about a week before the opening, said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the department.

Ayres noted the digs in March are on evening low tides while those in April are on morning low tides.

No digging is allowed before noon during evening digs and digging must be completed by noon during morning digs. However, WDFW is making exceptions to that rule on two dates in April, since low tides occur close to noon those days, Ayres said.

WDFW will consider additional dates later this spring if sufficient clams remain available to harvest, Ayres said.

The proposed razor clam digs, along with low tides and beaches, are listed below:

  • March 2, Friday, 6:54 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Mocrocks
  • March 3, Saturday, 7:34 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Mocrocks
  • March 16, Friday, 7:03 p.m.; +0.2 feet; Copalis, Mocrocks
  • March 17, Saturday, 7:36 p.m.; +0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
  • April 19, Thursday, 9:46 a.m.; -0.9 feet; Mocrocks
  • April 20, Friday, 10:37 a.m.; -0.7 feet; Mocrocks
  • April 21, Saturday, 11:34 a.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks (digging hours will be extended to 1 p.m.)
  • April 22, Sunday, 12:38 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks (digging hours will be extended to 2 p.m.)