WDFW approves 5 days of razor clam digging March 7th-17th. Evening digs March 7-11 and morning or early afternoon digs March 12-17 Not all beaches are open for every dig, so please check the schedule. More tides coming the end of March and in April.
WDFW Approved Razor Clam Tides:
Approved dates during evening (noon to midnight only) low tides in March:
Approved dates during morning/early afternoon (4 a.m. to 4 p.m. only) low tides from March 12-17:
Not all beaches are open for every dig, so diggers are encouraged to make sure their intended destination is open before heading out.“
Additional tentative dates in March and April:
Tentative dates during morning (midnight to noon only) low tides in March:
Attention: New clam license is required!
WDFW approves 11 days of coastal razor clam digs starting March 7; additional tentative digs planned for March and April
OLYMPIA – Razor clam diggers can look forward to more digging opportunities on coastal beaches beginning March 7, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) coastal shellfish managers confirmed today.
“March is finally here and with it comes longer days, the switch to morning harvest, and hopefully better weather,” said Bryce Blumenthal, a WDFW coastal shellfish biologist. “This next tide series will start off with evening tides, shift halfway to early tides, and end with an added weekend of digs for the Ocean Shores Razor Clam Festival."
Not all coastal beaches are open for every dig, so diggers are encouraged to make sure their intended destination is open before heading out. Optimal digging occurs between one and two hours before the listed time of low tide.
The following March 7 to March 17 digs will proceed as scheduled, after marine toxin results from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) showed razor clams are safe to eat.
Afternoon and evening low tides (noon to midnight only):
Morning/early afternoon (4 a.m. to 4 p.m. only) low tides from March 12-17:
Tentative dates during morning (midnight to noon only) low tides in March:
NEW Clam License is required starting April 1st!
Tentative dates during morning (midnight to noon only) low tides in April:
Check this out!
WDFW wants razor clam fans around the state to weigh in on the perennial question:
Which is better, clam gun or shovel?
To register support for a favored digging method, clam diggers can post a photo or video, complete with hashtag #TeamClamShovel or #TeamClamGun on any social media before the end of the spring season.
Many ocean beaches are open to motor vehicles, but drivers are required to follow the "rules of the road," said Ayres. “Mocrocks beach only has three points of road access, so we are asking beachgoers to arrive early and exercise good judgment when accessing the beach,” he added.
"Under state law, all vehicles - and horses - are required to travel along the extreme upper limit of the hard sand," he said. "When in doubt, follow the path marked by multiple tire tracks." Drivers who veer from that path pose a direct threat to fish and wildlife, Ayres said. Motorists who violate Washington state laws on beach driving can face a fine of $150, or much more for killing endangered seabirds, like snowy plovers.
“We manage recreational clam digging in Washington in a manner that we believe minimizes potential impacts to vulnerable ground nesting listed bird species,” said Ayres. “We do this by not scheduling digging after May 15 at key breeding areas for snowy plovers and streaked horned larks, including Long Beach and Twin Harbors.”
The agency continues to emphasize ‘digging while distancing’ and masking up when near others to support efforts by community health experts to ensure a fun and safe razor clam season.
The agency continues to emphasize ‘digging while distancing’ and masking up when near others to support efforts by community health experts to ensure a fun and safe razor clam season.
All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach.
Licenses, ranging from a three-day razor clam license (starting at $9.70) to an annual combination fishing license, are available on WDFW's website and from some 600 license vendors around the state.
Under state law, diggers at open beaches can take 15 razor clams per day and are required to keep the first 15 they dig. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.
Razor Clams
Please remember to check with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for last minute changes to the razor clam digging , rules and regulations.
Beaches in Washington with razor clam fisheries include:
Copalis Beach, which extends from the Grays Harbor north jetty to the Copalis River, and includes the Copalis, Ocean Shores, Oyhut, Ocean City and Copalis areas.
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, Seabrook, Pacific Beach and Moclips.
Twin Harbors Beach, which extends from the mouth of Willapa Bay north to the south jetty at the mouth of Grays Harbor.
Long Beach, which extends from the Columbia River to Leadbetter Point.
Kalaloch Beach, which extends from the South Beach Campground to Brown’s Point (just south of Beach Trail 3) in the Olympic National Park.