After a lengthy period of disappointing razor clam closures on coastal beaches, due to the presence of unsafe levels of marine toxins in the clams, the state Health Department and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have given the green light to a three-day dig starting today. The opening is approved for the following beaches and evening low tides:
Thursday, minus 1.3 feet at 8:37 p.m., on Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches only.
Friday, minus 0.8 feet at 9:28 p.m., on Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches only.
Saturday, minus 0.1 feet at 10:22 p.m., on Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches only.
Long Beach and Kalaloch remain closed.
Coastal shellfish manager for the WDFW, Dan Ayres in Montesano, said the best tide of the three days is Thursday, but that the weather forecast calls for digger-unfriendly 10-foot swells. The forecast for the remaining two days is more promising, with swells of about seven feet predicted.
“This will be classic nighttime digging,” Ayres said, “so grab a lantern and head on down.”
Ayres said that Friday is his birthday, and when the family asked him what he wanted to do, he opted for a razor clam dig that evening. Of course. What else would a shellfish biologist do?
“But I let the kids do all the work,” he said.
He also said his choice of beaches would probably be Twin Harbors, with a good population of larger clams, although the other two beaches will offer top digging as well. The limit is the first 15 clams dug (no “creaming” for larger clams allowed) and each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
All diggers 15 or older must have an applicable 2016-17 fishing license, ranging from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license. They are available on WDFW’s website, https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov, and from license vendors around the state.
The agency has a very good store of razor clam information at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish including “How to Dig Razor Clams,” with a good instructional video; Cleaning and Preparing Razor Clams; and Recipes. The recipe section is particularly interesting, with The Best Darn Razor Clam Dip Ever; Clam Chowder and a low-fat version; Clam Fritters; Smoked Razor Clams; Linguine; Pan-fried Panko Razor Clams, and more. Several of the recipes are from professional chefs, and others from “names” in the outdoor community and WDFW experts.
A list of proposed digs through Dec. 31 is also available on the WDFW website.
Pheasant
Belinda Schuster, manager of WDFW’s Skagit Wildlife Area, said she will once again follow tradition by planting additional pen-raised pheasant on her release site, Nov. 23, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Her site is the old “Smith Farm” on Leque Island, accessible from either the southeast corner of the property, or from the Davis Slough access.
To reach the “main” southeast site, cross the bridge from Stanwood toward Camano Island and at the end of the bridge turn left (south) and follow that road down-island. From the bridge, the Davis Slough site is another quarter-mile toward Camano Island, on the left.
Salmon
A surprisingly good winter blackmouth season continues in our local saltwater, according to All Star Charters skipper/owner Gary Krein of Everett. One-chinook limits are common, he said, particularly in Marine Area 9. Krein likes the southwest corner of Possession bar, fishing close to bottom in 120 to 150 feet of water.
The blackmouth aren’t big, Krein said, but they’re in good shape and running 5 to 7 or 8 pounds on the average. He likes a green Gibbs 11-inch flasher, 36 to 40 inches of leader and a 3.5- or 4-inch Kingfisher Lite spoon in glow green/white. There are a few shakers around, Krein said, but not enough to be a real problem.
Marine Area 8-2 is also putting out a few fish, with Hat Island a good bet for those who don’t want to run to Possession, off its southeast corner, or on the “racetrack” between Hat and Camano Head.
There’s still plenty of bait on the bar — enough in fact to attract an orca pod the last week or so. “Those critters know where the bait is,” Krein said.
Derby
Next up on our local salmon derby scene is the Friday Harbor event, the first weekend in December. For information and/or sign-up, go to http://fridayharborsalmonclassic.com/. Contact is Jim Lawson, email hawgheavencharters@gmail.com.
Grand prize
The winner of the drawing for the boat, motor, trailer package offered by the West Marine Northwest Salmon Derby Series was Matt Griffin of Issaquah. Griffin didn’t own a boat, but he does now — a fully equipped 22-foot Hewescraft, with trailer, valued at over$85,000. Griffin’s winning ticket went into the barrel at the Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby in February.
The random draw was from among 4,500 tickets entered in the Derby Series over the course of the year and is the 13th grand prize boat package awarded since the series was started in 2004. This year’s Hewescraft 220 OceanPro is powered by a 225-hp Mercury Verado and a 9.9-hp Mercury trolling motor, on an EZ Loader tandem-axle trailer. The boat is equipped with top of the line extras, including Lowrance electronics, Scotty downriggers, and a Dual Electronics stereo.
Griffin co-founded Combat Flip-Flops in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Basin waterfowl
New geese and ducks are starting to arrive in the Columbia Basin; Potholes Reservoir, Royal Lake and other spots, according to Mike Meseberg at MarDon Resort on the reservoir. Lower than usual water levels on Potholes makes access to the popular sand dune area a little challenging, Meseberg said, and warm temperatures haven’t been helping. That’s all due to change shortly, he said, telling hunters to call the resort store, 509-346-2651 for current hunting information.
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