Tips for razor clam digging with kids

What a difference daylight makes. The last time I tried razor clam digging, it was an adventure. (Read: Dark, windy, rainy and we managed to lose our car.)

This time, we had daylight and unseasonably warm weather.

We all ended up with our limit of clams, even my 4-year-old daughter.

I was a bit worried about how she would do, but it turned out my fears were completely unfounded. Hazel enjoyed it so much that hide-and-seek has changed. When she hides now, she is a razor clam and we have to “dig” her up.

If you’re considering going razor clamming, bring your kids. Especially if the weather is decent. You’ll be glad you did.

Kids don’t need a license, but they do need to be actively participating in digging. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has a video (below) with tips on keeping legal. (Hint: If your kids are sitting in the car and you’re digging for them? That’s not legal.)

The next razor clam dig opens on Monday and runs through Thursday. Check the WDFW site for details on when digging is open. There are two more digs planned in March, with several digs that are during daylight hours.

If you are going to bring your kids, here are a few things we learned from our trip:

  • Put them in waterproof boots.
  • Pack a few layers, so you can swap out wet clothes or swap things up based on the weather.
  • If you’re worried about sand getting everywhere, put your child in a jacket that allows the sleeves to be rolled up. They’re going to be shoving their hands in sandy holes.
  • Bring a small backpack with a few snacks, some water and extra clothes for the kids. Don’t forget to stop for snacks. (The first day, we forgot to stop. The moment we were done and the excitement was over, my daughter had a meltdown that was fixed by a granola bar.)
  • It’s easier for kids to carry a mesh bag than a bucket. Make sure you have a bag with small holes or small clams will slip out. (The holes were too big in our bag, and we had to be very careful with it.)
  • Remember sunscreen.
  • Let your kids help you clean the clams. You might be surprised how much they get into it. It’ll slow down the process, but it’s fun.
  • Check out this story for general tips on razor clamming.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

The Moonlight Swing Orchestra will play classic sounds of the Big Band Era on April 21 in Everett. (submitted photo)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Relive the Big Band Era at the Port Gardner Music Society’s final concert of the season in Everett.

2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD (Honda)
2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD

Honda cedes big boy pickup trucks to the likes of Ford, Dodge… Continue reading

Would you want to give something as elaborate as this a name as mundane as “bread box”? A French Provincial piece practically demands the French name panetiere.
A panetiere isn’t your modern bread box. It’s a treasure of French culture

This elaborately carved French antique may be old, but it’s still capable of keeping its leavened contents perfectly fresh.

(Judy Newton / Great Plant Picks)
Great Plant Pick: Mouse plant

What: Arisarum proboscideum, also known as mouse plant, is an herbaceous woodland… Continue reading

Bright green Japanese maple leaves are illuminated by spring sunlight. (Getty Images)
Confessions of a ‘plantophile’: I’m a bit of a junky for Japanese maples

In fact, my addiction to these glorious, all-season specimens seems to be contagious. Fortunately, there’s no known cure.

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited (Hyundai)
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited

The 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited is a sporty, all-electric, all-wheel drive sedan that will quickly win your heart.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T hybrid’s face has the twin red lines signifying the brand’s focus on performance. (Dodge)
2024 Hornet R/T is first electrified performance vehicle from Dodge

The all-new compact SUV travels 32 miles on pure electric power, and up to 360 miles in hybrid mode.

Don’t blow a bundle on glass supposedly made by the Henry William Stiegel

Why? Faked signatures, reused molds and imitated styles can make it unclear who actually made any given piece of glass.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.