Clam diggers will get another opening on Copalis Beach

The winter coastal razor clam season opened at Copalis Beach with very good success last Thursday to Saturday, and more chances could be looming on the horizon.

Thousands of diggers flocked to Copalis Beach and averaged 14.5 clams per digger, which is just short of a daily limit of 15 clams per person.

“We’re pretty sure on opening Copalis again (sometime between Jan. 8-12 during evening low tides), and Long Beach is the big question mark,” said Dan Ayres, the head state Fish and Wildlife coastal-shellfish manager. “Hopefully we’ll have a clean sample for marine toxins, and move forward with opening both beaches.”

State Fish and Wildlife dug test sample clams Tuesday and Wednesday, and they’ll go to the Department of Health lab on Thursday.

“Because of the New Year’s holiday we won’t have final results until Monday,” Ayres said.

Recent test samples showed the toxin level Dec. 15 at Long Beach was 16 parts per million — the action level is 20 ppm — Copalis was 12 ppm; Mocrocks was 25 ppm; and Twin Harbors was 50 ppm.

Last May, domoic acid — a natural marine toxin produced by certain types of marine algae — in razor clams skyrocketed well above the action level. Domoic acid can be harmful or even fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities.

Razor-clam diggers have enjoyed back-to-back excellent seasons in 2013-14 and 2014-15 that rank as some of the best seen in more than 30 years. Clam population assessments taken this past summer showed populations remained healthy on all coastal beaches.

In other shellfish news, the winter Dungeness crab fishing season has been extended in two marine areas and other waterways will close after this month.

Hood Canal and a portion of northern Puget Sound – also known as Admiralty Inlet — north of the Hood Canal Bridge to the Foulweather Bluff to Olele Point will remain open daily through Feb. 28.

Elsewhere, the fishery ends at 5 p.m. Thursday in the Strait of Juan de Fuca east of Neah Bay to Port Angeles; San Juan Islands; Deception Pass, Hope Island and Skagit Bay; Ports Susan and Gardner; central, south-central and southern Puget Sound; and the section of northern Puget Sound not included in the extension.

Those fishing for crab in the two areas remaining open won’t be required to record crab on catch cards, but must possess a current shellfish license with a Puget Sound crab endorsement.