Razor clam season ‘shaping up’ for plenty of North Beach digs

First dig dates start Oct. 11-12 pending testing, final approval

September 14, 2018 1:00 pm
Patricia Jollimore photo of the first razor clam dig of the 2017-18 season on the beach at Ocean Shores.
Patricia Jollimore photo of the first razor clam dig of the 2017-18 season on the beach at Ocean Shores.

The upcoming razor clam season is “shaping up to be a great season for digging on the coast.”

That’s the early assessment from Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, after the state last week released a tentative schedule for the fall razor clam season set to begin in early October. The first dig is planned for Oct. 11 in the Mocrocks area of the North Beach, with Copalis open the following day.

The department estimates the total razor clam population on most of Washington’s beaches has increased significantly from last season, which means more days of digging this season. The exception is Long Beach, an area that is recovering after a decline in clam survival due to low salinity in winter 2017.

“The good news is that future digging opportunities look really great, with some opportunity even at Long Beach,” Ayres said.

Final approval of all scheduled openings will depend on results of marine toxin tests, which are usually conducted about a week before a dig is scheduled to begin.

“We’re releasing a tentative schedule to give people plenty of time to make plans to go digging this fall,” said Ayres. WDFW is working with Olympic National Park to assess possible digging dates on Kalaloch beach.

State shellfish managers are also seeking public input on management options, including scheduling for spring digs. Comments on the spring digs can be sent via email to razorclams@dfw.wa.gov. Proposed digs are listed below, along with evening low tides and beaches:

Oct. 11, Thursday, 8:58 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Oct. 12, Friday, 9:41 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis

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

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

Nov. 25, Sunday, 8:05 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Dec. 6, Thursday, 6:01 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis

Dec. 7, Friday, 6:40 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Dec. 8, Saturday, 7:16 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis

Dec. 9, Sunday, 7:53 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Dec. 20, Thursday, 4:51 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Dec. 21, Friday, 5:35 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis

Dec. 22, Saturday, 6:20 p.m.; -1.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Dec. 23, Sunday, 7:05 p.m.; -1.6 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis