The final coastal razor clam digging dates have been approved, and digging set to begin this Friday (May 20) should excellent at Copalis and Mocrocks beaches.
“Last week’s digging was text book perfect, good weather, low surf, light crowds and big clams,” said Dan Ayres, the head state Fish and Wildlife coastal shellfish manager.
Digging will be open Friday and Saturday at Mocrocks and Copalis, and Sunday at Mocrocks only. Digging will allowed during morning low tides until noon each day.
“This has been a great clam digging season, despite getting a late start,” Ayres said. “Diggers have harvested lots of good-sized clams this season.”
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Last year’s spring season was cut short when marine toxin levels spiked above the cut-off level, but issue began to drop this past winter allowing most beaches (except Twin Harbors) to reopen for digging.
State Fish and Wildlife will now close the beaches to allow razor clams time to spawn, and then population surveys will be conducted this summer with digging hopefully starting back up in the fall.
The latest surveys indicated a good abundance of clams on all beaches, which is a good sign for the future.
Low tides: Friday, minus-0.3 feet at 6:37 a.m.; Saturday, -0.6 at 7:12 a.m.; and Sunday, -0.8 at 7:47 a.m.
Digging is best an hour or two hours before low tide. The daily limit is the first 15 clams dug regardless of size or condition. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.