Razor clam digging to open at three Washington beaches

OLYMPIA – Three nights of razor clam digging begin Thursday at Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks, but not at Long Beach.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says marine toxin tests have confirmed the clams on the three beaches are safe to eat.

Low tides are -1.3 feet at 8:37 p.m. Thursday, -0.8 feet at 9:28 p.m. Friday and -0.1 feet at 10:22 p.m. Saturday.

Digging typically is best one to two hours before low tide. No digging is allowed at any beach before noon.

“Diggers will find plenty of nice razor clams just waiting for the frying pan to use as an addition to their Thanksgiving feast,” said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Long Beach remains closed to razor clam digging due to elevated levels of domoic acid. A natural toxin produced by certain types of algae, domoic acid can be harmful or even fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities.

Under state law, diggers can take 15 razor clams per day and are required to keep the first 15 they dig. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.

A three-day razor clam license costs $9.70. A resident annual (April through March) razor clam license costs $14.10.