OLYMPIA— The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has tentatively scheduled razor-clam digs through October, while continuing to accept public comments on openings for the rest of the season.
The department is planning two series of evening digs at four ocean beaches in October, provided that marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat.
Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager, announced recently that the first series of digs have been approved.
Local low tides
• Oct. 4, Fri, 6:56 p.m.; 0.0 feet
• Oct. 5, Sat, 7:36 p.m.; -0.4 feet
• Oct. 6, Sun, 8:17 p.m.; -0.7 feet
• Oct. 7, Mon, 9:48 p.m.; -0.8 feet
• Oct. 8, Tue, 10:40 p.m.; -0.4 feet
• Oct. 17, Thu, 6:15 p.m.; -0.2 feet
• Oct. 18, Fri, 6:57 p.m.; -0.6 feet
• Oct. 19, Sat, 7:38 p.m.; -0.7 feet
• Oct. 20, Sun, 8:16 p.m.; -0.7 feet
• Oct. 21, Mon, 8:55 p.m.; -0.4 feet
• Oct. 22, Tue, 9:34 p.m.; -0.1 feet
Under state rules, harvesters may take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition.
Each digger’s limit must be kept in a separate container.
All diggers must have an applicable 2013-14 fishing license to dig razor clams on any beach. A license is required for anyone age 15 or older.
Several types of licenses, ranging from a combination fishing license to a three-day razor clam license, are available online at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/. Fishing licenses can also be purchased from sporting goods stores and other vendors, listed at wdfw.wa.gov/lic/vendors/vendors.htm.
“We’re still in the process of determining additional fall and winter digging opportunities, but we wanted to give people a chance to start making plans for October,” said Ayres, noting that tests conducted over the summer point to another year of strong razor clam populations and digging opportunities.