Seven-day-a-week clamming extended through March 31 for Ocean Park/Long Beach

Published 11:48 am Friday, February 26, 2016

OLYMPIA — State shellfish managers have extended an opening at Long Beach/Ocean Park through March 31.

The Long Beach/Ocean Park area was previously scheduled to be open through March 10.

Although Long Beach is open daily through the end of March, optimal digging conditions occur when the low tide is 1 foot or lower, said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for WDFW.

“There are several days early in the month when low tides will be high enough to make digging difficult,” Ayres said.

Ayres noted that the seasonal shift of low tides from evening to morning takes place in March. When low tides occur in the afternoon or evening, no digging is allowed before noon. When low tides take place in the morning, no digging is allowed after noon.

Diggers at Long Beach, which is open daily through March 31, should be aware that low tides will shift back and forth between morning and evening multiple times during the month of March.

“Low tides are a little unusual this March, which means diggers should be sure to check tide information before heading to Long Beach,” Ayres said.

Long Beach will be open on evening tides March 1-10 and March 15-23 and will be open on morning tides March 11-14 and March 24-31.

In north Pacific County, the Twin Harbors digging area that extends from the entrance to Willapa Bay north to the vicinity of Westport remains closed. Levels of the marine toxin domoic acid remained at or above the 20 parts per million threshold at all three Twin Harbors test sites as of Feb. 22 and 23.

WDFW has razor clam recipes, updated season information, as well as advice on digging and cleaning clams on its webpage at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams/.

Under state law, diggers can take 15 razor clams per day and are required to keep the first 15 they dig. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.

All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2015-16 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach. Licenses, ranging from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, are available on WDFW’s website at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov and from license vendors around the state.

SIDEBAR:

The Long Beach/Ocean Park recreational razor clam opening continues through March 31. For optimal digging conditions, state shellfish managers suggest digging on days when the low tide is 1 foot or lower.

Digging only allowed from noon to midnight (p.m. hours)

March 1, Tuesday, 12:01 p.m.; 1.9 feet

March 2, Wednesday, 12:51 p.m.; 1.8 feet

March 3, Thursday, 1:59 p.m.; 1.4 feet

March 4, Friday, 3:00 p.m.; 0.9 feet

March 5, Saturday, 3:53 p.m.; 0.3 feet

March 6, Sunday, 4:40 p.m.; -0.2 feet

March 7, Monday, 5:23 p.m.; -0.5 feet

March 8, Tuesday, 6:05 p.m.; -0.6 feet

March 9, Wednesday, 6:47 p.m.; -0.5 feet

March 10, Thursday, 7:28 p.m.; -0.2 feet

Digging only allowed from midnight to noon (a.m. hours)

March 11, Friday, 7:59 a.m.; -0.1 feet

March 12, Saturday, 8:49 a.m.; -0.2 feet

March 13, Sunday, 10:43 a.m.; 0.0 feet

March 14, Monday, 11:42 a.m.; 0.3 feet

Digging only allowed from noon to midnight (p.m. hours)

March 15, Tuesday, 12:49 p.m.; 0.6 feet

March 16, Wednesday, 2:01 p.m.; 0.8 feet

March 17, Thursday, 3:12 p.m.; 0.8 feet

March 18, Friday, 4:15 p.m.; 0.7 feet

March 19, Saturday, 5:07 p.m.; 0.5 feet

March 20, Sunday, 5:50 p.m.; 0.4 feet

March 21, Monday, 6:28 p.m.; 0.5 feet

March 22, Tuesday, 7:02 p.m.; 0.6 feet

March 23, Wednesday, 7:34 p.m.; 0.8 feet

Digging only allowed from midnight to noon (a.m. hours)

March 24, Thursday, 7:57 a.m.; 0.8 feet

March 25, Friday, 8:31 a.m.; 0.7 feet

March 26, Saturday, 9:06 a.m.; 0.6 feet

March 27, Sunday, 9:42 a.m.; 0.7 feet

March 28, Monday, 10:21 a.m.; 0.8 feet

March 29, Tuesday, 11:06 a.m.; 1.0 feet

March 30, Wednesday, 12:00 p.m.; 1.2 feet

March 31, Thursday, 1:02 p.m.; 1.2 feet