State announces additional razor clam digging

LONG BEACH — Thirteen more nights of razor clam digging on the Long Beach peninsula through Dec. 31 have been announced by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

“This week’s dig, the first of the fall season, has been wet but productive,” said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager. “The number of clams is up at all beaches except Kalaloch this year, so we’re expecting a very good season.”

Fall and winter digs are of afternoon tides. The limit is the first 15 clams dug, regardless of size or condition.

The tentative digging schedule, including low tide and open beaches:

Oct. 27, Saturday, 5:57 p.m., +0.2 ft., Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

Oct. 28, Sunday, 6:36 p.m., -0.1 ft., Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

Oct. 29, Monday, 7:12 p.m., -0.3, Twin Harbors

Oct. 30, Tuesday, 7:46 p.m., -0.4, Twin Harbors

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

Nov. 26, Monday, 5:16 p.m., -0.1 ft, Twin Harbors

Nov. 27, Tuesday, 5:52 p.m., -0.3 ft., Twin Harbors

Nov. 28, Wednesday, 6:27 p.m., -0.4 ft., Twin Harbors

Nov. 29, Thursday, 7:01 p.m., -0.4 ft., Long Beach, Twin Harbors

Nov. 30, Friday, 7:35 p.m., -0.3 ft., Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

Dec. 1, Saturday, 8:10 p.m., -0.1 ft., Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

Dec. 11, Tuesday, 4:51 p.m., -1.1 ft., Twin Harbors

Dec. 12, Wednesday, 5:40 p.m., -1.6 ft., Twin Harbors

Dec. 13, Thursday, 6:29 p.m., -1.9 ft., Twin Harbors

Dec. 14, Friday, 7:15 p.m., -1.8 ft., Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

Dec. 15, Saturday, 8:01 p.m., -1.6 ft., Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

Dec. 16, Sunday, 8:47 p.m., -1.0 ft., Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Dec. 28, Friday, 6:42 p.m., -0.3 ft., Twin Harbors

Dec. 29, Saturday, 7:15 p.m., -0.3 ft., Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Dec. 30, Sunday, 7:47 p.m., -0.2 ft., Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

Dec. 31, Monday, 8:20 p.m., 0.0., Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

Final approval of the digs will be announced after marine toxin tests about a week before the openers.

“By popular demand, we included a dig on New Year’s Eve, even though the tide isn’t ideal,” Ayres said. “It’s a holiday tradition for some diggers.”

Additional digging for 2013 will be announced early next year.

“After this series of digs, we’ll have enough clams available for harvest to offer significant digging opportunities during daylight hours in spring,” Ayres said.