State approves razor clam digs starting Tuesday

OLYMPIA — The first razor clam dig of the season will get under way Tuesday, Oct. 7, at Twin Harbors and Long Beach, with additional opportunities the following weekend at two other beaches.

The Washington Department of Fish &Wildlife approved the dig after marine toxin tests on all four beaches confirmed the clams are safe to eat.

Digging days and evening low tides for beaches scheduled to open are:

• Oct. 7, 2014, Tuesday; 6:26 p.m., -0.5 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors

• Oct. 8, 2014, Wednesday; 7:13 p.m., -0.9 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors

• Oct. 9, 2014, Thursday; 7:58 p.m., -1.1 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors

• Oct. 10, 2014, Friday; 8:43 p.m., -1.1 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Oct. 11, 2014, Saturday; 9:28 pm, -0.8 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks, Copalis

• Oct. 12, 2014, Sunday; 10:15 p.m., -0.3 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Dan Ayres, Fish &Wildife coastal shellfish manager, recommends that diggers arrive at the beach an hour or two before low tide for best results. However, digging is not allowed on any beach before noon.

“Low tides will occur fairly late in the day, so diggers should be prepared to dig in the dark,” Ayres said.

Ayres noted that the department has tentatively scheduled another set of digs beginning Oct. 22, pending the results of future toxin tests. The department also has released a list of prospective digs through Dec. 31. That list is available on Fish &Wildlife’s webpage at http://ift.tt/16ZKK9N.

Anyone interested in taking up razor clam digging can get some tips from WDFW’s Great Getaways webpage at http://ift.tt/ZJTcuX.

All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2014-15 license to harvest razor clams on any beach. Licenses, ranging from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, are available on the department’s website at http://ift.tt/1czn9Tv.

Under state law, diggers can take 15 razor clams per day and are required to keep the first 15 they dig. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.

Diggers may not harvest any part of another person’s daily limit, unless they possess a designated harvester card.