First razor clam dig starts Thursday

October 25 , 2007

Cape Disappointment State Park, Oregon State Parks and The Columbia River Maritime Museum invite the public to celebrate Graveyard of the Pacific Shipwreck weekend October 25- 27. Activities include a sea shanty camp, maritime programs, maritime music, ranger talks and exhibits. The Columbia River bar area earned the name “Graveyard of the Pacific” after more than 2,000 vessels met Clam diggers today got the go-ahead to proceed with the first razor-clam dig of the fall season starting Thursday, October 25. Additional digging opportunities are planned through the end of December.

Four evening digs are scheduled at Twin Harbors October 25-28, while Long Beach, Copalis and Mocrocks are scheduled for two evening digs October 26 and 27.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the digs at the four beaches after a series of marine toxin tests confirmed the clams were safe to eat.

Kalaloch Beach in Olympic National Park will remain closed throughout the 2007-08 season, due to the low clam population on that beach.

“Razor clam populations declined at Long Beach and Mocrocks, but increased on the middle coast,” said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for WDFW. “This will likely mean more digging opportunities at Twin Harbors and Copalis during the 2007-08 season.”

Digging will be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight each day at all beaches. The best time to start digging is an hour or two before low tide, said Ayres, who recommends taking a lantern for evening digs.

Harvesters are allowed to take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container. Clam diggers are no longer required to display their licenses on outer clothing.

A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2007 annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination license is still valid. Another option is a razor-clam only license available in annual or three-day only versions. Descriptions of the various licensing options are available on the WDFW website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov.

Opening dates and evening low tides are:

• October 25 (6:38 p.m. –1.1) Twin Harbors only

• October 26 (7:26 p.m. -1.7) all beaches (except Kalaloch)

• October 27 (8:14 p.m. -1.9) all beaches (except Kalaloch)

• October 28 (9:03 p.m. -1.8) Twin Harbors only

Beaches scheduled to open are:

• Long Beach, which extends from the Columbia River to Leadbetter Point.

• Twin Harbors Beach, which extends from the mouth of Willapa Bay north to the mouth of Grays Harbor.

• Copalis Beach, which extends from the Grays Harbor North Jetty to the Copalis River, and includes beaches near Copalis, Ocean Shores, Oyhut and Ocean City.

• 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, Pacific Beach and Moclips.