Fall’s first razor clam digs fully approved for Oct. 11-13

The first razor clam digs of the fall season for the two North Beach areas have been fully approved after testing showed clams harvested there are safe to eat.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has approved the Oct. 11-13 digs on evening tides at Mocrocks first, alternating with Copalis, which opens Oct. 12, after marine toxin tests were completed on those beaches. No digging will be allowed on any beach before noon.

The upcoming dig is approved on the following local beaches, dates, and evening low tides:

• Oct. 11, Thursday, 8:58 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Twin Harbors in the Westport area, Mocrocks in the Pacific Beach/Moclips area.

• Oct. 12, Friday, 9:41 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis in the Ocean Shores/Ocean City area.

• Oct. 13, Saturday, 10:26 p.m.; +0.1 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager, recommends that diggers hit the beach about an hour or two before low tide for the best results.

Diggers want to be sure to come prepared with good lighting devices and always keep an eye on the surf, particularly in the fall when the best low tides come after dark, he added.

“Digging after dark brings with it the spectacle of thousands of small lights representing individual razor clam diggers working their way up and down the beach,” said Ayres.

All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2018-19 fishing 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 WDFW’s website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov and from license vendors around the state.

Under state law, diggers at open beaches 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.

Proposed razor clam digs through December are listed below, along with evening low tides and beaches:

• Oct. 25, Thursday, 7:55 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis

• Oct. 26, Friday, 8:36 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Oct. 27, Saturday, 9:19 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis

• Oct. 28, Sunday, 10:08 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Nov. 8, Thursday, 6:57 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Nov. 9, Friday, 7:36 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis

• Nov. 10, Saturday, 8:15 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Nov. 11, Sunday, 8:56 p.m.; 0.0 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis

• Nov. 22, Thursday, 5:55 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis

• Nov. 23, Friday, 6:36 p.m.; -1.1 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Nov. 24, Saturday, 7:20 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks