Razor Clam Dig - May 8th Through 14th
WDFW approves razor clam dig
starting next week at two beaches
OLYMPIA – State shellfish managers today approved a morning razor clam dig May 8-14 at Twin Harbors and May 10-11 at Long Beach.
No digging will be allowed at either beach after noon.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the dig after marine toxin tests showed the clams at the two beaches are safe to eat.
Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager, said two other razor-clam beaches – Copalis and Mocrocks – are now closed for the season, because harvest guidelines at those beaches have been met.
“We still have clams available for harvest at Twin Harbors and Long Beach, and we want to give diggers a chance to catch their limit before the season comes to an end,†Ayres said. “After this opening, we’ll take another look at how the catch on those beaches measures up against the harvest guidelines.â€
Digging dates at those beaches, along with morning low tides, are as follows:
May 8, Wednesday, 6:22 am -0.5 ft., Twin Harbors
May 9, Thursday, 7:00 am, -0.8 ft., Twin Harbors
May 10, Friday, 7:37 am, -0.9 ft., Twin Harbors, Long Beach
May 11, Saturday, 8:12 am, -0.8 ft., Twin Harbors, Long Beach
May 12, Sunday, 8:48 am, -0.7 ft., Twin Harbors
May 13, Monday, 9:23 am, -0.5 ft., Twin Harbors
May 14, Tuesday, 10:01 am, -0.2 ft., Twin Harbors
To participate, diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2013-14 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach. Licenses are available online (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/), by phone (1-866-320-9933) and from license dealers around the state.
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.
Ayres cautions clam diggers and other beachgoers to avoid disturbing western snowy plovers, which nest on the state’s coastal beaches from April through August. The small white birds are listed under the federal Endangered Species Act as threatened and by the state as endangered.
Plovers – and their eggs – are extremely vulnerable at this time of year because the birds nest in the dry sand, Ayres said.
Ayres also asks that diggers avoid signed upland beach areas at Long Beach and Twin Harbors, which are closed to protect nesting western snowy plovers.
At Long Beach, the closed areas are located north of the Oysterville Road from the state park boundary north to Leadbetter Point. At Twin Harbors, the closed areas are located from just south of Midway Beach Road to the first beach-access trail at Grayland Beach State Park.
Ted's has everything you need for this upcoming dig.
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