Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on January 20, 2023, 07:13:11 PM
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) shellfish managers have confirmed that razor clam digging will reopen at only Copalis Beach on Saturday, Jan. 21, with additional digs on Jan. 23 and Jan. 25.
"We know this is short notice, but we promised to open any beach as soon as we had good results and those able to participate will have some excellent digging," said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager. "We’ll continue to closely monitor toxin levels in razor clams and hope to get Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks reopened as soon as clams there are safe to eat."
This set of digs during evening low tides will proceed after marine toxin results from the Washington Department of Health (WDOH) showed razor clams are safe to eat at Copalis Beach.
WDOH labs indicate that domoic acid levels at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks beaches are still above the health guideline levels. The DOH requires that two test samples taken 10 days apart must fall under the health guideline level before a beach can reopen for razor clam digging.
Digging is prohibited in razor clam reserves, which are marked by 10-foot poles with signs. The Copalis reserve is located just south of the Ocean City approach.
Under state law, the daily limit is the first 15 clams dug per person regardless of size or condition, and each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
Post by: Bullkllr on January 21, 2023, 07:31:14 AM
Post by: hhack on January 21, 2023, 07:38:55 AM
Post by: Bullkllr on January 21, 2023, 07:58:34 AM
Blowing 30 outta the west
Just heard gusts 50-55
Post by: CaNINE on January 21, 2023, 04:33:26 PM
Post by: NorseNW on January 21, 2023, 05:13:24 PM
Post by: Bullkllr on January 21, 2023, 05:18:00 PM
Post by: NorseNW on January 21, 2023, 05:23:19 PM
I've driven out onto the beach in the winter-dark a couple times I really regretted it. When the truck is getting rocked by the wind, then you stick your head out and get immediately blasted by a water and sand mixture, those are gonna be some hard-earned clams.
100% have done that as well. I think I may have some video of my wife (she's the real clammer in the family - I'd rather fish and hunt) trying to stand up straight in the wind and rain saying some stupid stuff like "it makes me feel alive!!". You can barely hear her over the wind blasting! She isn't even drunk or high. We've calmed down a bit from that.
Post by: PsoasHunter on January 21, 2023, 11:24:17 PM
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on January 22, 2023, 04:44:57 PM
Post by: ASHQUACK on January 23, 2023, 07:52:27 AM
Post by: Bullkllr on January 23, 2023, 08:02:50 AM
Post by: hookr88 on February 05, 2023, 07:35:21 AM
Post by: KNOPHISH on February 05, 2023, 07:54:10 AM
Post by: Bullkllr on February 05, 2023, 08:14:04 AM
Trying to decide if it’s worth the time to drive 2 1/2 hours for some clams tonight. Steady winds at 20 gusting to 40. What’s the general consensus. Tough digging with blowing sand and surf?
I'm sure ther're locals who know how the weather translates to clamming better than I can. But I'd say this evening's forecast is kinda "middling": not great, but not really too bad either. Looks fairly dry at least. The worst conditions for me are when it blows and rains really hard and it makes it about impossible to see shows.
Post by: 3boys on February 05, 2023, 08:48:28 AM
Post by: Stein on February 05, 2023, 09:56:57 AM
Post by: Norman89 on February 05, 2023, 11:08:08 AM
Post by: Norman89 on February 05, 2023, 08:52:55 PM
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on February 06, 2023, 06:07:25 AM
Post by: Jpmiller on February 06, 2023, 06:57:32 AM
Post by: Bullkllr on February 06, 2023, 08:42:55 AM
You guys using any "reliable" weather sources before you make the call to head out? I'm about two hours from the beach and have gotten incredibly lucky almost every single time with good weather but I always wonder when the time will come lol
I think most standard weather sites are accurate enough regarding wind and rain. This time of year we need to consider how wet is too wet? and how windy is too windy? :dunno: And you have to be prepared for the worst regardless.
Surf conditions seem like more of a gray area; then you need to interpret how that translates into clams 'showing' and being reasonably diggable. This is the difficult part to predict part for me.
We're going down to try tonight's dig. Weather looks kinda crappy, but surf conditions look pretty good. Roll of the dice how the clams will show, but with the openings the way they have been I figure it's time to go. Lousy conditions will be encountered eventually, but it's all part of the process. Some of our family's best clamming memories are when things were very questionable.
:twocents:
Post by: Jpmiller on February 06, 2023, 08:48:10 AM
You guys using any "reliable" weather sources before you make the call to head out? I'm about two hours from the beach and have gotten incredibly lucky almost every single time with good weather but I always wonder when the time will come lol
I think most standard weather sites are accurate enough regarding wind and rain. This time of year we need to consider how wet is too wet? and windy is too windy? :dunno: And you have to be prepared for the worst regardless.
Surf conditions seem like more of a gray area; then you need to interpret how that translates into clams 'showing' and being reasonably diggable. This is the difficult part to predict part for me.
We're going down to try tonight's dig. Weather looks kinda crappy, but surf conditions look pretty good. Roll of the dice how the clams will show, but with the openings the way they have been I figure it's time to go. Lousy conditions will be encountered eventually, but it's all part of the process. Some of our family's best clam memories are when things were very questionable.
:twocents:
I feel like the normal weather apps I use go to crap at the beach but then again they're only reasonable accurate inland too. I definitely can't figure out surf conditions on my own, but I always end up falling back on how ive never found a single clam at home.so I might as well go :chuckle:
But I don't think I've ever been there on a really crappy day
Post by: Bullkllr on February 06, 2023, 10:07:20 PM
Post by: Bullkllr on February 17, 2023, 07:13:42 AM
Post by: ASHQUACK on February 17, 2023, 07:33:59 AM
quote author=Jpmiller link=topic=276693.msg3764731#msg3764731 date=1675695452]
You guys using any "reliable" weather sources before you make the call to head out? I'm about two hours from the beach and have gotten incredibly lucky almost every single time with good weather but I always wonder when the time will come lol
[/quote]
Post by: 3boys on February 17, 2023, 08:16:31 PM
Post by: Bullkllr on February 17, 2023, 10:27:51 PM
Went out today on Rosevelt beach. Took us longer to walk to the surf line then to dig 2 limits.
And to top it off a gorgeous evening on the beach. Made it hard to leave.
Post by: Jamieb on February 18, 2023, 06:04:27 PM
Post by: 3boys on February 18, 2023, 07:26:52 PM
That was a fast dig. It took all of 20 minutes at Copalis tonight.we went out early and they were thick. All of them nice size. We were south of the Taurus acess
Post by: branches on February 19, 2023, 04:28:37 PM
Post by: Alchase on February 19, 2023, 07:31:18 PM
Went out today on Rosevelt beach. Took us longer to walk to the surf line then to dig 2 limits. Great tide on Saturday at Copalis beach. If you have never dug razors and need a clam coach PM me. I have a place near the beach and am happy to show the razor ropes. I have extra gear if you don’t want to invest in gear until you are sure what works.
Wow what an incredible offer! :tup:
The members of this forum are amazing!
Post by: pnwbestlife on February 20, 2023, 06:18:12 AM
Happy digging!
Post by: Bullkllr on February 20, 2023, 07:11:46 AM
Was out yesterday with a group of 9 of us for the -1.5 ft at 6:04pm. Couldn't believe the numbers of people out there, but I guess it's what you would expect for a holiday weekend with only one beach open. It took me longer than expected to get a limit, but there was quite a bit more competition than usual and we talked to lots of people who left without limits, which is crazy on a -1.5ft.
Happy digging!
Yeah, that's what we found also. We started about 2 hours ahead of the low, found a decent amount of shows at first, then the shows slowed to a trickle. Scratched out limits, barely. Total different story from Friday when shows were everywhere on a -0.7. And the surf didn't seem bad. :dunno: Mysteries of razor clams :dunno:
Post by: HntnFsh on February 20, 2023, 07:36:50 AM
Was out yesterday with a group of 9 of us for the -1.5 ft at 6:04pm. Couldn't believe the numbers of people out there, but I guess it's what you would expect for a holiday weekend with only one beach open. It took me longer than expected to get a limit, but there was quite a bit more competition than usual and we talked to lots of people who left without limits, which is crazy on a -1.5ft.
Happy digging!
Yeah, that's what we found also. We started about 2 hours ahead of the low, found a decent amount of shows at first, then the shows slowed to a trickle. Scratched out limits, barely. Total different story from Friday when shows were everywhere on a -0.7. And the surf didn't seem bad. :dunno: Mysteries of razor clams :dunno:
My experience also. I walked down and looked around at 4 pm. Saw a nice show and pulled a big clam and watched 6 more shows pop up around me. I just kinda mosied around looking, not really worrying about digging while I waited for the wife to walk down. I slowly started helping her spot clams as she got her limit. I would pull one every once in awhile. By the time she got done I needed 6 or 8. I had to work for those. The surf didnt really seem to drop to a -1.5'. Also had a lot of wave come way up the beach all through the tide. I was down across the creek by the rocks.
Post by: bobcat on February 20, 2023, 08:07:15 AM
Post by: ASHQUACK on February 20, 2023, 12:22:17 PM
Post by: CaNINE on March 03, 2023, 07:07:31 AM
Post by: Bullkllr on March 03, 2023, 07:14:32 AM
Anyone heading out tonight or tomorrow? Looks like it’s going to be wet. Hopefully they’ll be showing.
I'm thinking about it, but still on the fence for tonight. Surf report looks kinda rough, combined with weather and not a super-low tide; we may just wait.
Post by: Brotherman on March 03, 2023, 07:31:30 AM
Post by: bobcat on March 03, 2023, 07:51:08 AM
Anyone heading out tonight or tomorrow? Looks like it’s going to be wet. Hopefully they’ll be showing.
I'm thinking about it, but still on the fence for tonight. Surf report looks kinda rough, combined with weather and not a super-low tide; we may just wait.
:yeah:
I really wanted to go but it just doesn't sound to appealing with the weather and not a minus tide.
Post by: Encore 280 on March 03, 2023, 08:01:27 AM
Post by: Encore 280 on March 03, 2023, 10:16:17 AM
Post by: 3boys on March 03, 2023, 11:00:03 AM
Heading down to Ocean Shores for three days, and hoping the weather cooperates just a little. Wind and rain won't make for a wonderful experience. May be hard to see if they are showing. May chose to let the casino take my money instead!a little cold but no rain yet. It’s is the glass float expo this weekend so there’s a bunch of floats that have been put on the beach and released in the surf. We found one this morning.
Post by: 3boys on April 21, 2023, 08:35:56 AM
Post by: Stein on April 21, 2023, 10:26:21 AM
Post by: finnman on April 21, 2023, 11:41:47 AM
Post by: Humptulips on April 21, 2023, 11:58:37 AM
Why do they show good one day and not the next or not down the beach?
Post by: finnman on April 21, 2023, 12:19:04 PM
Shows everywhere at Moclips this morning. Nice clams too.
Why do they show good one day and not the next or not down the beach?
One gal we talked too said Thursday they were showing very well and got quick limits. Oh well that’s clamming!
Glad you did well!
Post by: Blacklab on April 21, 2023, 01:58:31 PM
Post by: metlhead on April 22, 2023, 11:21:56 AM
Post by: MR5x5 on April 22, 2023, 12:50:53 PM
Quick dig for 5 of us with largest overall size clams I've ever seen. Curiosity got me, and two limits, 40 clams, weighed in at 19lbs 4oz.
Two limits and 40 clams? Thems some extra fat limits! :o
Post by: 3boys on April 22, 2023, 02:35:28 PM
Dug on the high and dry sand.
Post by: Jamieb on April 22, 2023, 03:04:45 PM
Post by: Blacklab on April 23, 2023, 06:12:18 PM
Post by: Humptulips on April 23, 2023, 06:21:26 PM
Now that Tina is digging her own clams I can't use the story that I did the hard work of digging, you get to do the cleaning and cookin'. :dunno: :chuckle: