Last chance for December clam digs with 20-clam limit

OLYMPIA — Shellfish managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Thursday 26 tentatively scheduled razor clam digs in January and February.

WDFW also confirmed that the latest round of December digs can proceed as planned beginning next week.

“These late-winter digs should continue what’s been a very successful razor clam season so far,” said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager with WDFW. “There were a lot of great digging days this fall, and we’re looking forward to a productive spring season as well.”

Beginning with the final 2021 digs on Dec. 30, the daily limit of razor clams will return to 15. The limit increased to 20 clams throughout the fall digs, but Ayres said that the 15-clam limit should help prevent exceeding quotas set before the season.

“Returning to a 15-clam limit on Dec. 30 should help ensure we have sufficient clams remaining to be able to offer digs during the morning spring tides that many people prefer,” Ayres said.

Managers confirmed the following December digs can proceed as scheduled, after marine toxin results from the Washington Department of Health earlier this week showed razor clams were safe to eat:

Dec. 15, Wednesday, 4:28 p.m.; +0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Dec. 16, Thursday, 5:07 p.m.; +0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Dec. 17, Friday, 5:43 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Dec. 18, Saturday, 6:18 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Dec. 19, Sunday, 6:52 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Dec. 20, Monday, 7:27 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Dec. 21, Tuesday, 8:02 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Dec. 22, Wednesday, 8:38 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Dec. 23, Thursday, 9:16 p.m.; +0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

WDFW previously announced the following tentative 2021 dig dates, when the limit will return to 15 razor clams. All dates below are tentative pending final marine toxin testing, which usually occurs about a week or less prior to each set of openings:

Dec. 30, Thursday, 3:49 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Dec. 31, Friday, 4:42 p.m.; -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

The following tentative 2022 dig dates were also announced today, along with low tides and beaches:

Jan. 1, Saturday, 5:32 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Jan. 2, Sunday, 6:21 p.m.; -1.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Jan. 3, Monday, 7:08 p.m.; -1.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Jan. 4, Tuesday, 7:54 PM -1.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Jan. 5, Wednesday, 8:40 p.m.; -1.1 feet; Long Beach

Jan. 14, Friday, 4:43 p.m.; +0.4 feet; Long Beach

Jan. 15, Saturday, 5:22 p.m.; +0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Jan. 16, Sunday, 5:59 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Jan. 17, Monday, 6:34 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Jan. 18, Tuesday, 7:08 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors

Jan. 19, Wednesday, 7:41 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Copalis

Jan. 20, Thursday, 8:14 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach

Jan. 29, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Jan. 30, Sunday, 5:21 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Copalis

Jan. 31, Monday, 6:08 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach

Feb. 1, Tuesday, 6:52 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Feb. 2, Wednesday, 7:34 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Feb. 3, Thursday, 8:13 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Copalis

Feb. 14, Monday, 5:35 p.m.; 0.0 feet; Long Beach

Feb. 15, Tuesday, 6:09 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Mocrocks

Feb. 16, Wednesday, 6:42 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Copalis

Feb. 17, Thursday, 7:14 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors

Feb. 18, Friday, 7:45 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Feb. 26, Saturday, 3:18 p.m.; 0.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Feb. 27, Sunday, 4:16 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Mocrocks

Feb. 28, Monday, 5:06 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Long Beach

Not all beaches are open for every dig, so diggers are encouraged to make sure their intended destination is open before heading out. Diggers should also continue to respect coastal communities and residents by following local and state health guidelines.

Most successful digging occurs between one and two hours before the listed time of low tide. No digging is allowed before noon during digs when low tide occurs in the afternoon or evening.

Details on these and future digs can be found at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/razor-clams.

All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach.

Licenses, ranging from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license or a Fish Washington license, are available from WDFW’s licensing website at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/login, and from hundreds of license vendors around the state.

To learn more about razor clam abundance, population densities at various beaches, and how seasons are set, visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/razor-clams#management.