WDFW extends opening at Long Beach

State shellfish managers have extended an opening at Long Beach through March 31. They also released a list of proposed digs later in March on two ocean beaches.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Shellfish managers extended the dig at Long Beach to run daily through March 31. The beach was previously scheduled to be open through March 10. Although Long Beach is open daily through the end of March, optimal digging conditions occur when the low tide is 1 foot or lower, said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for WDFW.

Shellfish managers also announced a tentative schedule of digs through March at Copalis and Mocrocks beaches provided that marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat. WDFW will make a final announcement on the digs about a week before each dig is scheduled to begin.

Below is the list of proposed razor clam digs, along with low tides and beaches:

Evening low tides

March 18, Friday, 4:15 p.m.; 0.7 feet; Mocrocks, Copalis;

March 19, Saturday, 5:07 p.m.; 0.5 feet; Mocrocks, Copalis;

March 20, Sunday, 5:50 p.m.; 0.4 feet; Mocrocks, Copalis;

Morning low tides

March 25, Friday, 8:31 a.m.; 0.7 feet; Mocrocks;

March 26, Saturday, 9:06 a.m.; 0.6 feet; Mocrocks;

March 27, Sunday, 9:42 a.m.; 0.7 feet; Mocrocks.

Diggers at Long Beach, which is open daily through March 31, should be aware that low tides will shift back and forth between morning and evening multiple times during the month of March.