Second Razor Clam Dig of January Approved

Olympia, WA - State fishery managers have approved a second razor clam dig in January, this one running from Friday, Jan. 25, through Sunday, Jan. 27, on evening tides at various ocean beaches.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the evening dig after marine toxin tests showed the clams on those beaches are safe to eat.

Digging will be allowed all three evenings at Long Beach and Twin Harbors - the two beaches with the most clams available for harvest. Copalis and Mocrocks beaches will be open for one evening of digging, Saturday, Jan. 26.

No digging will be allowed at any beach before noon. The schedule for the upcoming dig and evening low tides is:

- Jan. 25, Friday, 5:44 p.m., +0.0 ft., Twin Harbors, Long Beach,
- Jan. 26, Saturday, 6:18 p.m., -0.2 ft., Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Copalis, Mocrocks
- Jan. 27, Sunday, 6:50 p.m., -0.2 ft., Twin Harbors, Long Beach

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Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager, said most diggers surveyed during the weeklong opening earlier this month succeeded in getting their daily limit of 15 clams.

"Digger success was high, but it was darn cold out there on the beaches," he said. "I strongly recommend dressing for the weather and taking a lantern or powerful flashlight for visibility."

Ayres noted that the best digging occurs one to two hours prior to low tide.

By law, clam diggers are limited to 15 razor clams per day, and are required to keep the first 15 clams they dig. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.

All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2012-13 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.

Information about current and proposed digs, as well as the location of Washington’s razor clam beaches, is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams/current.html .