Got a buddy heading to Grayland area for some clam digging, but wants to wet a line too. He's a newbie but has been doing well lately with spoons in this low water in Puget Sound area rivers.

His preference would probably be a terminal hatchery area etc. to increase the chance of getting fish since he won't have a boat or a lot of time. He indicated he sees hatcheries on the Nasselle, Gray's River etc., but not sure if these are viable to fish from the bank. Any ideas of best places to go in this area? Thx! Happy Holidays....

Emailed him with some info. Email back for vague specifics. When's the next dig?

Next razor clam dig set for Dec. 30


MONTESANO - The next razor clam dig is tentatively scheduled Dec. 30-Jan. 2 on evening tides at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks and Kalaloch beaches. A fourth evening of digging is also scheduled Monday, Jan. 2, at Twin Harbors and Mocrocks. No digging will be allowed before noon.

Final approval for all digs is contingent upon marine toxin tests that show the clams are safe to eat. The test results will be announced approximately one week before each proposed opening.

A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2005 annual shellfish/seaweed license is still valid. Another option is a "razor-clam-only" license available in annual and 3-day versions. Descriptions of the various licensing options are available on the WDFW website at http://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov.

For best results, start digging at least one hour before low tide. Low tides for the December digs are:

Friday, Dec. 30, 6:07 p.m., -0.8
Saturday, Dec. 31, 6:54 p.m., -1.1
Sunday, Jan. 1, 7:38 p.m., -1.2
Monday, Jan. 2, 8:22 p.m., -0.9 (Twin Harbors and Mocrocks only)
Locations of the five beaches are:

Long Beach, from the Columbia River north jetty to Leadbetter Point on the Long Beach Peninsula.
Twin Harbors, from the south jetty at the mouth of Grays Harbor south to the mouth of Willapa Bay.
Copalis Beach, which extends from the Grays Harbor north jetty to the Copalis River and includes the Ocean Shores, Oyhut, Ocean City and Copalis areas.
Mocrocks Beach, from the Copalis River to the Moclips River.
Kalaloch Beach, from South Beach Campground to Brown's Point (just south of Beach Trail 3) in Olympic National Park. Visitors to the park are advised to consult area bulletin boards for park safety and other information.
Digging is prohibited in the three one-quarter-mile-wide razor clam reserves, which are marked by 10-foot metal poles with signs. The reserves are located just south of the Ocean City access road on Copalis Beach, on the county line approach to Twin Harbors Beach, and 2.8 miles north of the Oysterville access road on Long Beach.