WDFW announces 47 tentative days of coastal razor clam digging opportunities beginning Oct. 6
OLYMPIA Shellfish managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) today announced 47 tentative days of razor clam digs at four coastal beaches from Oct. 6 through Jan. 6.
"This recreational razor clam season will see similar digging opportunity to the past two years, with a full digging schedule again for this fall, said Bryce Blumenthal, a WDFW coastal shellfish biologist. The tides this year will allow for clam gathering opportunity in the lead up to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, along with harvestable daylight digs for the late afternoons of New Years Eve and New Years Day.
All beach openings are dependent on final approval of marine toxin testing, which usually occurs about a week or less before the start of each digging series. Before a beach can open for digging, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) requires two test samples seven to 10 days apart and domoic acid levels under the guideline level.
Domoic acid, a natural toxin that certain marine algae produce, can be harmful or fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities. For more information about domoic acid, as well as current levels at ocean beaches, refer to the WDFWs domoic acid webpage and the DOH webpage.
On all open beaches Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks the daily limit is 15 clams per person. Each diggers clams must be kept in a separate container, and all diggers must keep the first 15 clams they dig, regardless of size or condition.
It's important that diggers keep the clams they dig to prevent wastage (includes discarding small clams, clam with broken shells or reburying unwanted clams), Blumenthal said. It's not unusual to encounter some small clams, especially this early in the season.
Kalaloch beach off the northern Olympic Peninsula coast wont be open due to continuing issues with depressed populations of harvestable clams.
Most successful digging occurs between one and two hours before the listed time of low tide. Below are the tentative dates, along with low tides and beaches.
Tentative dates during late afternoon/evening (noon to midnight only) low tides:
Oct. 6, Monday; 6:35 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Oct. 7, Tuesday; 7:18 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Oct. 8, Wednesday, 8:02 p.m.; -1.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Oct. 9, Thursday, 8:49 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Oct. 10, Friday, 9:40 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Oct. 11, Saturday, 10:37 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Oct. 12, Sunday, 11:41 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Oct. 20, Monday, 6:40 p.m.; 0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Oct. 21, Tuesday, 7:13 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Oct. 22, Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Oct. 23, Thursday, 8:18 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Oct. 24, Friday, 8:53 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Oct. 25, Saturday, 9:31 p.m.; 0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Oct. 26, Sunday, 10:15 p.m.; 0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Nov. 3, Monday, 4:30 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Nov. 4, Tuesday, 5:15 p.m.; -1.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Nov. 5, Wednesday, 6:01 p.m.; -1.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Nov. 6, Thursday, 6:46 p.m.; -2.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Nov. 7, Friday, 7:34 p.m.; -1.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Nov. 8, Saturday, 8:25 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Nov. 9, Sunday, 9:19 p.m.; -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Nov. 18, Tuesday, 5:18 p.m.; 0.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Nov. 19, Wednesday, 5:52 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Nov. 20, Thursday, 6:25 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Nov. 21, Friday, 6:59 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Nov. 22, Saturday, 7:34 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Nov. 23, Sunday, 8:12 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 2, Tuesday, 4:11 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec. 3, Wednesday, 4:59 p.m.; -1.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 4, Thursday, 5:47 p.m.; -1.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 5, Friday, 6:34 p.m.; -2.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec. 6, Saturday, 7:22 p.m.; -1.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec. 7, Sunday, 8:10 p.m.; -1.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 8, Monday, 8:59 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 18, Thursday, 5:34 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec. 19, Friday, 6:09 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 20, Saturday, 6:44 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 21, Sunday, 7:19 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec. 22, Monday, 7:54 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec. 23, Tuesday, 8:31 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 31, Wednesday, 3:55 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Jan. 1, Thursday, 4:47 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Jan. 2, Friday, 5:37 p.m.; -1.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Jan. 3, Saturday, 6:23 p.m.; -1.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Jan. 4, Sunday, 7:07 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Jan. 5, Monday, 7:50 p.m.; -1.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Jan. 6, Tuesday, 8:32 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Additional information
Diggers must have a valid 2025-2026 license. Licenses can be purchased from WDFWs licensing website and from hundreds of license vendors around the state. All diggers age 16 or older must have a fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach. WDFW recommends diggers buy their license before visiting coastal beach communities.
WDFW reminds beachgoers to avoid disturbing nesting snowy plovers a small sand-colored shorebird by staying out of the dunes and posted areas along the sandy beach coastline. Snowy plover nests are nearly invisible, and it is vital to give birds the space to live and thrive during the nesting period, especially along the southern end of Twin Harbors, known as Midway Beach, and north of Second Avenue in Ocean City to the north end of Copalis Beach and the north end of Long Beach. Avoid leaving leftover food or trash on the beach and picnic areas, keep pets on a leash, stay out of dunes, and avoid areas marked with posted signs. Learn more about snowy plovers by going to the WDFW webpage.
When driving on the beach, please respect the 25-mph speed limit and enter only at designated access points. Stay on the hard-packed sand near the high tide line to avoid crushing clam beds, buried female Dungeness crab and snowy plover nests.
The 2025-26 Razor Clam Management Plan will be available soon on the WDFWs website. WDFW welcomes public input on proposed razor clam schedules and considers this feedback when finalizing each seasons digs. Public comments may be emailed to: razorclams@dfw.wa.gov. For more information, refer to the WDFW's razor clam webpage.
WDFW works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.
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Dazed and confused.............the fog is closing in
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