Two spring razor clam digs scheduled...

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

March 3, 2010

Contact: Dan Ayres (WDFW), 360- 249-4628
Barb Maynes (ONP), 360-565-3005

WDFW tentatively schedules
two spring razor-clam digs

OLYMPIA - Marking the start of the spring season, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has tentatively scheduled razor-clam digs on ocean beaches late this month and again in mid-April.

As always, final approval of both digs will depend on results of marine toxin tests that show the clams are safe to eat.

Prospective diggers should note that the first opening - scheduled March 26-April 1 at various ocean beaches - starts on evening tides, then switches to morning tides for the final four days, said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager.

"The digs planned this month span the seasonal change, when the lowest tides shift from evening to morning hours," Ayres said. "As in past months, razor-clam digging will be allowed after noon for the first three days of the opening, but will then switch to morning hours starting Monday, March 29."

Tentative days, tides and beach openings for this month’s dig are:

Friday, March 26, (4:29 p.m., +0.1) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Kalaloch
Saturday, March 27, (5:19 p.m., -0.1) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch
Sunday, March 28, (6:04 p.m., 0.0) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
Monday, March 29, (6:35 A.M., -0.1) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
Tuesday, March 30, (7:22 A.M., -0.7) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
Wednesday, March 31, (8:07 A.M., -1.0) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
Thursday, April 1, (8:52 A.M., -1.0) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
The National Park Service scheduled the dig at Kalaloch Beach, which is located within the Olympic National Park, to coincide with those at other coastal beaches. The annual Ocean Shores Razor Clam Festival ( http://www.oceanshores.org/clams.html ) is also scheduled to correspond with the March 27 dig on Copalis Beach.

Another dig is also tentatively scheduled on morning tides in mid-April at Long Beach on the following days and beaches:

Friday, April 16, (8:32 A.M., -0.7) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
Saturday, April 17, (9:12 A.M., -0.7) Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Kalaloch only
Sunday, April 18, (9:56 A.M., -0.6) Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Kalaloch only
Any 2009-10 annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination license is valid through March 31. However, a new license will be required for anyone age 15 or older to participate in the April dig. Descriptions of the various licensing options are available on the WDFW website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov .

Ayres said WDFW expects to announce additional razor-clam digs in late April or early May on most beaches, noting that several natural events have left more clams than usual available for harvest in spring. Those events include stormy weather in December, a marine toxin closure in January and last week’s tsunami advisory on the coast.

"Razor-clam diggers have had a bumpy ride this season, and we’re doing everything we can to add some additional digging opportunities," Ayres said.

Beaches tentatively scheduled to open March 26 are:

Long Beach , which extends from the Columbia River to Leadbetter Point.
Twin Harbors Beach , which extends from the mouth of Willapa Bay north to the mouth of Grays Harbor.
Copalis Beach , which extends from the Grays Harbor North Jetty to the Copalis River, and includes beaches near Copalis, Ocean Shores, Oyhut and Ocean City.
Mocrocks Beach , which extends from the Copalis River to the southern boundary of the Quinault Reservation near the Moclips River, including Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Pacific Beach and Moclips.
Kalaloch Beach , from the South Beach campground to Brown’s Point (just south of Beach Trail 3) in the Olympic National Park. Visitors to the park are advised to consult area bulletin boards for park safety and other information.


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Cool stuff,I just got done a couple day's ago dealing with 90 of them things.Kinda sick of it but will be back out for the Sat 27th & Sun the 28th digs for sure.Don't know about the rest yet as it depends on the springer run.Thanks for the heads up.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

alright fatties.....

Smack dab the week of my spring break. This will work.

Not real thrilled to see Copalis and Moclips only open 2 days of that, however.

We are goin! Ocean Shores look for the family of 3 that wont have a clue.

Clam On

Springers?

Trout and clams?

Springers?

Trout and clams?

Dyin' to get the boat wet on the CR for some purple platinum. But clam digging and some trout fishing would sure be a lot less complicated on a Daddy weekend.

Life's full of TOUGH choices....

What's a guy to do:????
#1 CR Springers
#2 OP Late winter metal & clam's
#3 Mutha cow mixed bag
#4 Oregon coast late winter metal
Real tough choices right now,so much to do so little time.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

I'll be there. Going to clam Twin Harbors Friday then around the horn to the Cantaberry, and clam out front on Saturday.

Twin Harbors is the only beach I have not clammed. Thinking of accessing it through the Grayland Access State Park on the Grayland beach road. Does that sound like a good choice? Doc??

Grayland State Park is right there at the beach.

Fish on...

Todd

Got ya Todd. Looks like you can drive from Aberdeen straight on to the beach. I was thinking of heading south a few miles to the Grayland Access Rd.

I'd head south of the state park to the next beach approach,head out to the beach then head south about another 1-1.5 miles to many pebbles out by the state park.I call twin harbors pebble beach for a reason,head south a bit.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

The dig ain't "tentative" any more.

Toxin tests have officially cleared today..... it's officially a go!

ok putting it out for a dumb question..

No need to bring a latern eh?

Tides early enough to dig in daylight!

Love them daylight digs.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Todd,
You coming down ??

Call me

Fly

Mebbe...the weather is kinda screwing steelheading this coming week, so I gotta do something!

Fish on...

Todd

If the fishing goes to hell with the weather and you wanna dig anyway, the door's open if you wanna crash the night before.

Give a shout.

I'll keep it in mind...thanks, guys.

Fish on...

Todd

Wah, so much time so little to do.

Strike that, reverse that.!!

There are no more clams on the twin harbors beach. Go home, go fishing or ????

Not often I have to wait for more than a couple of seconds to get on the main road.

Oh well, just seeing all the people having fun and the thrill little kids get when they get a clam make the traffic a little less annoying.

Am I the only one amazed at the shear numbers of clams harvested? It really is amazing.

Did see alot of crunched clams. Thats a little sad.

Dug my usual N Beach money zone, and it did NOT disappoint.

Only 3 dinks in a 60 clam limit for four diggers.

Fast and furious once an island of slightly elevated sand revealed itself in the surf. Every clam was within one shovel blade from the surface.

Saw lots of HEAVY limits walk off that stretch of beach today.

Beautiful weather and NO swell. Wind from the southeast really made the water lay down. Cleanest water I've ever seen out there!

Wish I could go again tomorrow.

Similar results for me Francis but I was a couple beaches and 10 miles north of you. We did have some intermitant algae in the surf but nothing we couldn't handle. Probably the heaviest limit I've had since last fall.

You going to try and go any of the mornings this week?

We were at OS and did well for some rookies. Learned an easy way to process by quickly putting the clams into hot water and the shell and membrane came right off. Scissors to do the rest and rinse. Going back out tonight. Fun times.

fp crew gottum but it took awhile as we got there way to early.

Very nice sized and weather was great. Looking like rain and wind today
so not sure if we will go or not. Will wait till later in the day today to make the decision. Nice to live just a 1/2 hour from the beach.

Lotsa people on Saturday but maybe the weather will leave a few at home today.

clamfest at fp's house today. Yummies!

fp

Must be gettin close to the spawn. The diggers on most of these were starting to become quite swollen.... lots of yummy "fluff" in there. Next dig or two should see them about ready to pop!

What time is the tide on Tues am? Maybe give it a whirl before the big meeting in Oly?

7:22 AM low tide with a -.7 height. Would be an early lantern show.

Now that I think about it, I'm not sure "I" want to get up that early for a limit! going to need to watch the wave height reports too with tonight's storm coming in.

We could touch bases tomorrow night if things look promising???

No threat of crowds that morning. We could start at first light around 0630 or a bit after and be done in about ten minutes. Be back on the road home with enough time to grab breakfast and still make it to Oly by 0900.

No reason that couldn't work. I'd just like to see the surf come down some. It's about 15 ft as I type this and that's too much with only a minus .7

Let's assess an touch bases tomorrow night.

Holy Mackerel was it nasty out there tonight. Mikey and myself got our 15 each but not sure I coulda dug another Clam. Waves just would not stay out long at all.

Got good clams and earned every one of them tonight.

fp

Bet ya didn't hardly have no comp'ny out thar either.

All I could see was a bunch of stupid people.

fp

Headed that way this afternoon. Any chance of getting a limit with 22 foot swells?

One of the nicest dig's all around of the season,heavy limits.4 limits in about 30 minutes.My 13 year old daughter has got the gun down,time get go out and get'r a good one.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

NOAA's Tuesday forecast:

SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 22 ft at 15 seconds. Chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Blowing big time here in Hoquiam at around 1:45 PM.

Glad we are not trying to dig today!

fp

If the temperature is 53 and the wind is blowing 53, is the wind chill zero?

We got limits last nite. Blew like a mofo made it interesting but less than an hour got em. I dont get the wearing knee boots.. pay an extra 10 bucks and get some half way decent hippers or I wore light weight chest waders. Got clam time to eat.

Clammed at Kalaloch Friday and Saturday and limits were fairly easy with plenty of volcano type shows on Friday. Saturday was more difficult though we got limits. You had to get down near the sand and look closely for marks resembling a circle. Cut the $#!$@ out of my finger tips but it was worth it!

Oh yeah....For the guys on the board who showed me the ropes, I used a shovel!

Dinner tonight was cross-cut diggers quick-sauteed in olive oil, butter (and a touch of bacon grease for add'l flavor) with garlic, onions, sun-dried tomatos, and a bit of basil served over pasta and sprinkled with shredded parmigiano reggiano.

Magnifique!

Very good...I'm sure Dave will be proud!

Fish on...

Todd

Are you now Big Clam Danny?

Right on, shovel shovel, The Dan Man is now a Clam Man.

Said with a slight Asian accent?

Very tough digging yesterday. Very easy today.