Washington beach razor clam digs approved for week of April 1

OLYMPIA — Razor clam enthusiasts can head to four coastal beaches as shellfish managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed Thursday the next round of digging can proceed as planned from April 1-6.

“Diggers who take advantage of these spring morning tides will find plenty of razor clams that are fattening up for the late spring spawning period making for some tasty meals,” said Dan Ayres, the WDFW coastal shellfish manager.

Digging is allowed during low tide from midnight through 11:59 a.m. only:

April 1, Friday, 7:36 a.m.; +0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

April 2, Saturday, 8:07 a.m.; 0.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

April 3, Sunday, 8:45 a.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

April 4, Monday, 9:23 a.m.; 0.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

April 5, Tuesday, 10:01 a.m.; +0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

April 6, Wednesday, 10:43 a.m.; +0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

The most successful digging occurs between one and two hours before the listed time of low tide.

Details on these and future digs can be found on the WDFW razor clam webpage.

Not all beaches are open for every dig, so diggers are encouraged to make sure their intended destination is open before heading out.

The daily limit is the first 15 clams dug regardless of size or condition, and each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.

For the most part success has been very good this past winter, and the recent 7-days of digging in mid-March generated near limits of clams on all four open beaches. An estimated 27,533 diggers took home 388,655 razor clams for an average of 14.1 razor clams per digger.

Anyone digging razor clams beginning April 1 will need a new recreational fishing or shellfishing license. All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach.

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For helpful tips on how to clean and cook razor clams check out the WDFW YouTube video. Additional tips and razor clam recipes can also be found on the WDFW webpage.

To learn more about razor clam abundance, population densities at various beaches, and how seasons are set, visit the WDFW razor clam management webpage.

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