Razor Clam Dig Scheduled

[huntnphool]

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

February 18, 2010

Contact: Dan Ayers, WDFW (360) 249-4628 

WDFW approves razor-clam dig
with bonus days late this month   

OLYMPIA - Clam diggers today got the go-ahead to proceed with an evening razor-clam dig late this month after marine toxin tests found that the clams at all five ocean beaches are safe to eat.

In fact, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has expanded evening digs at two of those beaches - Long Beach and Twin Harbors - to run from Friday, Feb. 26, through Monday, March 1. 

Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager, said two evenings of digging were added to the scheduled opening at Long Beach, which was closed to digging last month due to elevated marine toxin levels.

"The good news is that toxin levels were well within the safe zone at all five razor-clam beaches," Ayres said.  "The bonus for Long Beach is that we were able to add two additional digging days because the clams that would have been taken last month are still available for harvest."

Twin Harbors also has enough clams to add an additional evening of digging to the schedule, Ayres said.
 
Two other beaches - Copalis and Mocrocks - will be open for evening digging Friday, Feb. 26, through Sunday, Feb. 28, and Kalaloch Beach will be open the evenings of Saturday, Feb. 27 and Sunday, Feb. 28.

The National Park Service scheduled the dig at Kalaloch Beach, which is located within the Olympic National Park, to coincide with those at other coastal beaches. 

Digging will be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight each day at all beaches. The best time to start digging is an hour or two before low tide, said Ayres, who recommends taking a lantern for evening digs. 

Below is the digging schedule and evening low tides for the upcoming opening:

Friday, Feb. 26, (4:49 p.m., -0.7) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks 
Saturday, Feb. 27, (5:34 p.m., -0.9) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch 
Sunday, Feb. 28, (6:16 p.m., -0. Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch 
Monday, Mar. 1, (6:57 p.m., -0.1) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
Ayres noted that additional openings will be announced after biologists have reviewed the harvest data for the February dig.

Harvesters are allowed to take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container. Clam diggers are no longer required to display their licenses on outer clothing. 

A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2009-10 annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination license is still valid. Another option is a razor-clam only license available in annual or three-day only versions. Descriptions of the various licensing options are available on the WDFW website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov . 

Beaches scheduled to open are: 

Long Beach , which extends from the Columbia River to Leadbetter Point. 
Twin Harbors Beach , which extends from the mouth of Willapa Bay north to the mouth of Grays Harbor. 
Copalis Beach , which extends from the Grays Harbor North Jetty to the Copalis River, and includes beaches near Copalis, Ocean Shores, Oyhut and Ocean City. 
Mocrocks Beach , which extends from the Copalis River to the southern boundary of the Quinault Reservation near the Moclips River, including Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Pacific Beach and Moclips. 
Kalaloch Beach , from the South Beach campground to Brown’s Point (just south of Beach Trail 3) in the Olympic National Park.  Visitors to the park are advised to consult area bulletin boards for park safety and other information.   

[Tealer]

I will be at Long Beach Fri to Sun. I love fried calm strips.

[Martinhunter]

I'll be there at twin harbors saterday evening with my son and brother. Last dig at the beginning of the year was a very good dig, lots and lots of clams and big one's at that!!

[huntnphool]

We got lots of limits a couple weeks ago, will be going again.

[kbyers]

Kinda a noob question but how hard is it to find a spot to dig clams?  I love clams but would hate to make the trip from the Tri Cities and get skunked.   

[Martinhunter]

It's simple, anyone can do it. Just look for little divets in the sand with water squirting up out of it. Their everywere! You won't get skunked, I guarentee it.

[NRA4LIFE]

I'll be at Ocean Shores Fri. and Sat., king cooker at the ready!

[fishcrazy]

I have not dug in 2 years and am thinking I might dig this one. If the weather hold out it could be a fun dig. I'm thinking it's time my 2 1/2 year old daught get her limit.

Kris

[toe-jam]

ill be hitting it all four day cant wait.

[Caseyd]

If theres one thing that makes my skin crawl...its clams and oysters 

Id eat a testical fresh off a kill before one of those things 

[huntnphool]

Kinda a noob question but how hard is it to find a spot to dig clams?  I love clams but would hate to make the trip from the Tri Cities and get skunked.   

Best way to learn is to figure out what day you are going and hook up with someone to watch and learn. Make sure you have your own gear and most will be glad to help. If I go it will be Saturday and more than likely Ocean Shores. I may hook up with elkaholic123 and I'm sure he wouldnt mind meeting up with someone and showing them the ropes either.

[elkaholic123]

SO WHO'S GOIN?

[ICEMAN]

I'm going....I have a convoy from work following me down, then a buffet dinner on the way back....should be fun...

Hope the weather holds..

[huntnphool]

Will be there Saturday

[kbyers]

Hope to be there Saturday night

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I'm going....I have a convoy from work following me down, then a buffet dinner on the way back....should be fun...

Hope the weather holds..

I dont know what buffet you are going to, but that one (Grand Buffet?) over by Walmart in Lacy is AWESOME

[fishcrazy]

I'm going....I have a convoy from work following me down, then a buffet dinner on the way back....should be fun...

Hope the weather holds..

I dont know what buffet you are going to, but that one (Grand Buffet?) over by Walmart in Lacy is AWESOME

I think it's the Super Buffet. It's allright if you like to eat allot and make a pig out of yerself.


Kris

[danceswitharrows]

I am going to give it a shot.  I will be at Ocean Shores Friday and Saturday, thinking about westport tokeland area Sunday

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Grayland on Sunday

[AKBowman]

Ill be out there with the girlfriend and dog on Sat! Good times!

[clearviewguy]

Leaving work early tomorrow to get down there in time!  Taking the girlfriend for her first time, I really hope the weather holds or I might be heading home sooner than planned!

[elkaholic123]

Got my limit by 4:00 today

[ICEMAN]

TSUNAMI ADVISORY POSTED FOR THE WASHINGTON COAST FOR TODAY, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH FOR 2:57 PM.

GUYS, CONSIDERING THE EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE TODAY, PLUS THIS ADVISORY, I RECOMMEND CHANGING YOUR SATURDAY CLAM DIGGING PLAN TO SUNDAY.

NOTHING WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN TODAY....BUT ALWAYS BETTER TO STAY SAFE.

[WDFW-SUX]

Yeah..Id pass those things are deadly serious.

[elkaholic123]

I am already here,so I will keep an eye out 

[danceswitharrows]

  They closed the beach in Ocean Shores

[toe-jam]

just got a call  from my bud he got his clams .

[AKBowman]

I got about 20 minutes from OC and heard they closed the beaches so turned right around and drove back to Tacoma. SUCKED!!! 5 hour drive for nothin'!!!

[elkaholic123]

Bad info, Ocean shores beaches were not closed!

[buckhorn2]

Had good digging again today 6 limits in 30 minutes and nice clams but everyone keep looking toward the ocean.

[clearviewguy]

Nice weather and 4 limits in 40 minutes in Westport. 

[ICEMAN]

Did alot of folks chicken out with the tsunami advisory?

[elkaholic123]

I'm sure some did 

[huntnphool]

Next dig scheduled



WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

March 3, 2010

Contact: Dan Ayres (WDFW), 360- 249-4628
             Barb Maynes (ONP), 360-565-3005

WDFW tentatively schedules
two spring razor-clam digs

OLYMPIA - Marking the start of the spring season, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has tentatively scheduled razor-clam digs on ocean beaches late this month and again in mid-April. 

As always, final approval of both digs will depend on results of marine toxin tests that show the clams are safe to eat.

Prospective diggers should note that the first opening - scheduled March 26-April 1 at various ocean beaches - starts on evening tides, then switches to morning tides for the final four days, said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager.

"The digs planned this month span the seasonal change, when the lowest tides shift from evening to morning hours," Ayres said.  "As in past months, razor-clam digging will be allowed after noon for the first three days of the opening, but will then switch to morning hours starting Monday, March 29."

Tentative days, tides and beach openings for this month’s dig are:

Friday, March 26, (4:29 p.m., +0.1) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Kalaloch
Saturday, March 27, (5:19 p.m., -0.1) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch
Sunday, March 28, (6:04 p.m., 0.0) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
Monday, March 29, (6:35 A.M., -0.1) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
Tuesday, March 30, (7:22 A.M., -0.7) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
Wednesday, March 31, (8:07 A.M., -1.0) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
Thursday, April 1, (8:52 A.M., -1.0) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
The National Park Service scheduled the dig at Kalaloch Beach, which is located within the Olympic National Park, to coincide with those at other coastal beaches.  The annual Ocean Shores Razor Clam Festival ( http://www.oceanshores.org/clams.html ) is also scheduled to correspond with the March 27 dig on Copalis Beach.

Another dig is also tentatively scheduled on morning tides in mid-April at Long Beach on the following days and beaches:

Friday,  April 16, (8:32 A.M., -0.7) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
Saturday,  April 17, (9:12 A.M., -0.7) Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Kalaloch only
Sunday, April 18, (9:56 A.M., -0.6) Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Kalaloch only
Any 2009-10 annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination license is valid through March 31. However, a new license will be required for anyone age 15 or older to participate in the April dig. Descriptions of the various licensing options are available on the WDFW website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov .

Ayres said WDFW expects to announce additional razor-clam digs in late April or early May on most beaches, noting that several natural events have left more clams than usual available for harvest in spring.  Those events include stormy weather in December, a marine toxin closure in January and last week’s tsunami advisory on the coast.

"Razor-clam diggers have had a bumpy ride this season, and we’re doing everything we can to add some additional digging opportunities," Ayres said.

Beaches tentatively scheduled to open March 26 are:

Long Beach , which extends from the Columbia River to Leadbetter Point.
Twin Harbors Beach , which extends from the mouth of Willapa Bay north to the mouth of Grays Harbor.
Copalis Beach , which extends from the Grays Harbor North Jetty to the Copalis River, and includes beaches near Copalis, Ocean Shores, Oyhut and Ocean City.
Mocrocks Beach , which extends from the Copalis River to the southern boundary of the Quinault Reservation near the Moclips River, including Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Pacific Beach and Moclips.
Kalaloch Beach , from the South Beach campground to Brown’s Point (just south of Beach Trail 3) in the Olympic National Park. Visitors to the park are advised to consult area bulletin boards for park safety and other information.

[elkaholic123]

Count me in!