The first razor clam dig of the season is tentatively scheduled to take place Oct. 28-29 on four beaches, with more digs planned through late December.
In announcing the initial dig schedule, shellfish managers at the state Department of Fish and Wildlife pointed out that final approval of digs depends on results of marine toxin tests, which must show that the clams are safe to eat.
The first fall season dig is scheduled for evening tides at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks.
Olympic National Park, in consultation with the state agency, is still developing options for a recreational season at Kalaloch Beach. That announcement is expected in the next week or two. Digging at Kalaloch was halted in March over concerns that clam populations there were on the decline.
Most other digging opportunities through December are set at Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks, because those beaches have the highest number of clams available for harvest, said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager.
Additional digs scheduled so far at Copalis Beach are limited to Nov. 25 (the day after Thanksgiving) and Dec. 23 (two days before Christmas), due to low numbers of clams.
No digging will be allowed before noon on any of the five razor clam beaches until the tides change next spring.
“This season’s tides are not as favorable as those in the past few years,” Ayres said in a news release. “Low tides will occur later in the day, so diggers will have to be prepared for the dark during evening digs in fall and winter.”
SCHEDULED DIGS
Proposed razor clam digs, along with evening low tides:
Oct. 28: 8:28 p.m., -1.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks.
Oct. 29: 9:17 p.m., -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks.
Nov. 11: 6:48 p.m., -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
Nov. 12: 7:23 p.m., -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Nov. 25: 6:27 p.m., -1.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks.
Nov. 26: 7:14 p.m., -1.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
Dec. 10: 6:30 p.m., -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
Dec. 22: 4:40 p.m., -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
Dec. 23: 5:29 p.m., -1.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks.
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