Dates haven’t been set yet for the first spring razor clam digs on the coastal beaches, but Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Dan Ayres in the agency’s Montesano office said he’s shooting for good morning tides around the last weekend of both March and April.
Morning digs are always more popular than the late-afternoon/evening events held during the winter months, Ayres said, not only because most people prefer daylight digging to that requiring lanterns, but also because the weather is often better.
If you’ve never dug razor clams, you’ve missed out on one of Washington’s major outdoor happenings. It’s a great family activity, drawing kids, dogs and adults from all over the state.
It provides the basic ingredient for what many feel is the best table fare available in our woods, fields and water. It’s relatively easy to learn and, particularly attractive in this time of fiscal uncertainty, doesn’t cost a bundle.
Here are the basics:
Where: See the accompanying map for the coastal beach layout. Most popular are the beaches south of Grays Harbor, between Westport and Grayland, and those in the Ocean Shores area north of the harbor. Long Beach and Mocrocks are a longer drive, but are usually less crowded. Kalaloch, to the north, probably won’t open for the March-April digs.
Ayres said all the open beaches should provide excellent digging, but that the ones north of Grays Harbor would offer both the best numbers and the largest clams.
When: Seasons are usually set for minus tide series, and Ayres said digging is generally best before the bottom end of the tide, rather than after. Be out there two hours before the low, he said, when foot traffic hasn’t yet pushed clams deeper.
Surf: Heavy surf can kill a clam dig. For a forecast, go to www.wrh.noaa.gov/sew and click on the map just off Grays Harbor. You’ll get a swell height forecast and Ayres said anything 12 feet or under should be okay, although lower is better.
Equipment: A clam shovel sells for something around $20 at most tackle shops. A minority of diggers prefer the tube, and a clam tube will cost you roughly $12 for plastic and up to $60 or $70 for aluminum. You can share a shovel or tube, but you must have a container for each member of the party. A bucket will work, but a mesh bag — such as an onion sack — tied to your belt is better. Take hip boots or waders, or wear old shoes and plan to get wet and sandy, and be sure to dress warmly and have dry clothing available.
Accommodation: The various coastal towns’ chambers of commerce can provide lists of motels, campgrounds, B&Bs and other accommodation. The Westport-Grayland chamber, for instance, is 1-800-345-6223, and you might ask about those older motels built in the 1950s for the charter salmon boom and recently upgraded. Usually very affordable, and many offer clam cleaning facilities. You can also Google Long Beach, Westport, Grayland, Ocean Shores, Copalis, Ocean City, Pacific Beach, Moclips and others.
Licenses: A number of various options available, from an annual fishing/shellfishing combo at $42.16 to a three-day razor clam license at $4.93. Buy at a local tackle shop, marina or other outlet before driving to the coast, because the dealers there are often overwhelmed, or purchase on line at www.wdfw.wa.gov. Go to licensing and permits, then license fees.
Digging: Look for a dimple or hole in the sand, the larger the better, and place your shovel blade 4 to 6 inches seaward of the “show.” The handle should be pointed toward the dunes, then push the blade straight downward (it’s important to keep the blade as vertical as possible to avoid breaking the clam). Pull the handle backward just enough to break the suction, then remove sand by lifting shovel upward and forward. Repeat two or three times, until you can see, or feel, the clam. You must keep the first 15 clams dug, regardless of size or condition.
More information: The state has a good online guide to razor clams, including digging instructions for both shovel and tube, cleaning the clams, and other tips. Go to www.wdfw.wa.gov, then fishing and shellfishing, then shellfish, then clams and oysters, then razor clamming in Washington state.
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