Long Beach opens for razor clams on Tuesday

Clammers can return to Long Beach and other razor clam beaches starting Tuesday.

State shellfish managers for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have approved the upcoming digs after testing the clams for marine toxins, and finding that the clams are safe to eat.

“We also were able to pencil out tentative dates, and upcoming digs bring a ton of opportunity to harvest clams well into the new year,” said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager in a news release.

The approved digs are for evening tides, and no digging will be allowed before noon during these open periods.

The approved digs are for the following beaches, dates and low tides:

• Tuesday, 5:28 p.m., -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Wednesday, 6:06 p.m., -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

• Thursday, 6:45 p.m., -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Friday, 7:26 p.m., -1.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

• Dec. 14, Saturday, 8:08 p.m., -1.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Dec. 15, Sunday, 8:53 p.m., -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

• Dec. 16, Monday, 9:41 p.m., -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

The WDFW sets razor clam digs based on the results of annual coast-wide clam population assessments, while considering harvest to date. Shellfish managers then approve the digs following testing for marine toxins.

The department has tentatively set five more digs in December, 13 days in January, and 11 days in February.

Clammers are allowed 15 clams a day, and must keep the first 15 clams dug. Each participant must keep their harvest in a separate container.

Tides around New Year’s will not be low enough for successful clam digging, so the state will not be able to open the beaches for the popular holiday dig.

For more information, check the WDFW razor clam web page at: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/razor-clams