RAZOR CLAMS The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has set tentative dates for razor clam digs that includes the first dig on morning low tides, set for the end of March.
The department has also tentatively scheduled additional digs Feb. 23-24, March 7-11 and March 28-31, provided upcoming marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat.
“We try to announce future razor clam digs as far in advance as possible, so diggers can mark their calendars,” Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager, said in a prepared statement. “We expect to open some beaches for digging later in spring, but that depends on how many clams we will have available for harvest after the March openings.”
Ayres noted that the digs tentatively scheduled in March reflect changes to both daylight-savings time and the seasonal switch to morning low tides.
“Every year in late March, the lowest low tides switch from evenings to mornings,” Ayres said in the statement. “I know a lot of diggers look forward to digging on morning tides.”
The department will announce the final word on all upcoming digs after marine toxin tests have been completed.
The digs are tentatively scheduled on the following dates and low tides:
Saturday: 5:12 p.m., +0.3 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors
Feb. 24: 5:47 p.m., +0.1 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors
March 7: 3:06 p.m., +0.3 feet, Twin Harbors
March 8: 4:01 p.m., 0.0 feet, Twin Harbors
March 9: 4:50 p.m., -0.2 feet, Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Copalis, Mocrocks
Daylight savings time begins
March 10: 6:33 p.m., -0.2 feet, Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Copalis, Mocrocks
March 11: 7:12 p.m., 0.0, Twin Harbors
Seasonal switch to morning tides
March 28: 7:57 a.m., -0.3 feet, Twin Harbors
March 29: 8:40 a.m., -0.6 feet, Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Copalis, Mocrocks
March 30: 9:26 a.m., -0.7 feet, Twin Harbors, Long Beach, Copalis, Mocrocks
March 31: 10:16 a.m., -0.6 feet, Twin Harbors
The beaches at Kalaloch remain closed because Olympic National Park managers are concerned about low population numbers. The area might open for a dig in April.
The basic rules
Licenses: 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 the department’s website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov and from license vendors around the state.
Limits: Diggers must keep the 15 clams they dig up, regardless of condition.
Gear: Each digger must use a separate container.
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