Clam beaches opened through May 8

Three ocean beaches opened this week for a razor clam dig that could be the last dig of the season.

Morning digs are set on two beaches, Long Beach and Twin Harbors, for six straight days, May 3-8. Mocrocks Beach, which extends north from the Copalis River to the southern boundary of the Quinault Indian Reservation, will also be open for razor-clam digging May 7-8.

No digging will be allowed on any of those beaches after noon.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the dig after marine toxin tests showed that the clams on all three beaches are safe to eat.

Under state rules, harvesters may take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 taken, regardless of size or condition. Each digger's limit must be kept in a separate container.

Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish coordinator, said clam diggers have taken most of the razor clams available for harvest this season on Washington’s ocean beaches.

“The April opener was very successful, both in terms of weather conditions and the number of clams dug,” Ayres said. “After this next dig, we’ll have to see if any more clams can be harvested under the state’s share of the annual quota.”

Two beaches – Copalis and Kalaloch – are closed for the season, said Ayres, noting that the April dig brought Copalis Beach up to 98.8 percent of the state’s harvest quota. “What remains isn’t enough for even one more day of digging,” he said.

Ayres also reminds diggers to avoid signed upland beach areas at Long Beach and Twin Harbors, which are closed to protect nesting western snowy plovers. At Long Beach, the closed areas are located north of the Oysterville Road from the state park boundary north to Leadbetter Point.