shellfish contains a wide range of toxins that are poisonous to humans. On the appointed day, drive onto the beach and youll notice people starting to cluster and dig an hour or two before low tide. Consequently, Willapa Bay is located near the Oregon boarder only 35 miles from Seaside, Oregon. The best clamming is in the big flat directly off the parking area. At the tide line, rogue waves can easily crash over people if clams are thrown into the water. Nancy lives in east Ballard/lower Phinney Ridge with her husband, a teen andtheir Havanese dog. This Moroccan themed glamping offers a queen sized bed with a full size sofa, a table and chairs for a romantic dinner for two and a private deck. Open year round for clams and oysters; check DOH link for possible closures. Sometimes water or sand squirts out of a hole when you walk nearby it. Where to go Crabbing in Washington State (Secret Spots) Our family prefers the northern shore of Long Beach, and Ive dug my biggest clam at Twin Harbors. Sport fishermen in Washington can apply for a variety of licenses. If everyone dug clams all the time, there would be no razor clams left on our coast. Regardless of the beach, the most important factor for a successful clam dig is the tide, so understanding how to read the tide tables is a necessity. Get the best of ParentMap delivered right to your inbox. The first fifteen razor clams regardless of size or condition must be retained. There are a handful of areas that are typically open to the public for clamming digging each year, from Olympic National Park's . What you want to look for is called a clam show, a hole or bump in the sand (called dimples, doughnuts, or keyholes) caused by the clam moving under the surface (usually retreating farther down). There is a wealth of information on how to dig razor clams on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website. 1. At any one given time, the WDFW can have some fifty plus areas listed for closure or advisory of potential closures caused by pollution or harmful toxins. "We want to create responsible future shellfishers, but they should be enjoying themselves, too.. Clamming is a popular activity in Washington state, and a license is required in order to harvest clams. Check out this great resource with detailed tutorials on spotting clam shows and digging with guns or shovels (plus some yummy clam recipes at the end!). Now that I have learned everything there is to know about clamming in Washington state, I am here to share the knowledge. The best time to go clamming in Washington is during the low tide. Places to go Public clam, mussel, and oyster beaches Public clam, mussel, and oyster beaches Clam, mussel and oyster harvesting seasons vary by beach. The low tide exposes the clam beds, making it easier to find and collect clams. Mar 3, 2023, 3:12 PM. When planning your trip be sure to check their website for updated dates, locations, and tide levels. You must stay on the upper hard-sand area. Tides and times for razor clamming: During the fall and winter, the low tides are in the evening, so people start as the light fades form the sky and finish in the dark with lanterns lighting the digging. You may face much harsher penalties if you use a prohibited device while fishing. Top 10 Glamping Sites in Washington State - Glamping Space Residents must pay $30.05, while non-residents must pay $17.40 to obtain a one-year license. Licenses may be purchased online at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/loginChildren under the age of 15 do not need a razor clam license. Most clams are not far under the surface. Children under the age of 14 do not need a license. (In case you are wondering, yes, I embarrassed myself. To prepare your razor clams for cooking or preserving, rinse them well by soaking them in a large bowl of cold water, then running them under the tap. Cheap ones are made of plastic; more expensive ones are metal. Plug the hole on the gun with a finger, lift, and drop a tube of sand onto the beachthen search through it for your clam. There is really good ocean beach Razor Clamming. My husband and oldest daughter find a good digging spot while my younger daughter and I explore the habitat. The minimum size for clams here is 1 1/4 inches (the size limit on all other beaches is 1 1/2 inches). If youre a clumsy beginner, its easier to learn how to use a clam gun rather than a clam shovel. Clamming 101 The Pacific razor clam, or Siliqua patula, is a bivalve only found on the western edge of the North American continent, from southern Alaska to northern California. Slight dimples, donut holes and keyholes are easiest to spot on a smooth, sandy beach. Check the state website to see which beaches are open for which weekends. Although this isnt the most scenic beach, small clams are plentiful here. Read on to learn the basics of this endeavor and the best beaches for clamming. Location:Greenbank, Whidbey Island, WashingtonPrice:unknownAmenities:sleeps up to 2, outdoor shared kitchen, Tiki bar, hot outdoor shower, outdoor toiletGreat for:couplesActivities:walking, hiking, cycling, beautiful scenery. Pressure from the weight of the vehicles or digging action of horses hooves cause clam mortality. Each adult and child needs a clam permit. Daily person limit is up to 40 clams, not to exceed 10 pounds in the shell. When I first moved to Washington, I accidentally ended up in the razor clam capital of the world. Cascade Mountains region is well-known for its high mountain peaks, like the highest peak in Washington Mt. This is not my favorite part, and lets be honest I make my husband do it. This glamping site has 2 beautiful safari tents on a private 3-acre residence with organic vegetable garden, grape vines and fruit trees in Greenbank, Washington. Limit: The daily personal limit for all marine clams is up to 40 clams but not to exceed 10 lbs. Clamming on Washington's beaches is fun for everyone and a - Medium The burns are scheduled for the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area Unit northeast of Rochester and the West Rocky Prairie Wildlife Area Unit northwest of Tenino . You can learn how to shuck the clams and take out the digestive material on the WDFW website, where you will also find plenty of recipes. I created this blog because of my love for seafood and my desire to share that love with others. Check the WDFW site for razor clam dig days for this April and May. Click here for Nahcotta Tidelands season information. Ayres says the other vital piece of knowledge for razor clam digging is locating where to dig based on clam show. How to Go Clam Digging on Washington's Coast - The Dyrt Its a recipe for disaster if you catch razor clams, and my little boys adore it. This is the area of beach where you should start digging. If youre lucky and the little bugger was in that first clump, drop him in your bag or bucket. For more, Ocean Beach Hospital & Medical Clinics welcomes in, Clamshell Railroad Days July 15th and 16th at the, Save the date for the 76th Annual Long Beach Rodeo, Anchor Realty is an OPACC member. In addition to your clam gun or shovel, youll need a clam bag for collecting your clams (this net bag can be tucked into your pants, keeping your hands free); a bucket for putting the clams in when your haul gets too heavy for the bag; a strong flashlight (we like headlamps, and a good lantern is recommended as well, so you can find your bucket! It is also a great way to get fresh, delicious seafood. Anglers who are only licensed in Oregon may fish in Washington sloughs and tributaries, but they may not fish on the Washington coast. Stay put and keep your eyes open. Try to spot a commercial clammer. First, you will need a fishing license. Any digger over the age of 15 who wishes to harvest razor clams must have an applicable fishing license. Rubber-dipped gardening gloves wont keep your hands dry but they will keep them cleaner and protect hand from glass and other small impediments. Razor clams can be found just under the surface of the sand, several feet down, or anywhere in between. Harvest is restricted to daylight hours only. According to Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager at WDFW, the digging opportunities should be good this season, as long as marine toxin levels remain below health guidelines. Please check the park website or call ahead to find out what is allowed, because each state park has its own set of rules. For razor clams, holes do not have to be refilled as is required for hardshell clam digging. A basic annual license for recreational clamming costs $8.50, while a commercial license costs $58.00. She prefers to cook the first portion of her harvest the next day. The Best Pet-friendly site in Washington State: Sky Haus. And you can cook them on the beach; see this video. Clam Digging In Long Beach WA | AnchorAndHopeSF As a beginner, its easier to start with a clam gun rather than a clam shovel. The general rule is the larger the hole, the larger the clam, but Ive noticed thats not always the case. Location:Seattle, WashingtonPrice:$$Amenities:sleeps up to 4, kitchen, bathroom, free parking, heating, backyardGreat for:couples, familiesActivities:walking, hiking, cycling, childrens games and toys, exploring Seattle. To make things a bit easier, Ive narrowed a list down to sites with these attributes: Copyright 2013 - 2019. The clam is buried under there vertically, neck up, foot down, so you then work your long clam tube into the sand, hoping to catch the clam in the pillar of sand in the tube. The razor clam is a funny looking affair, fitting in a long and skinny shell with its foot sticking out of one end and its neck out of the other. If you want to catch salmon, steelhead, or sturgeon, you must have a valid Washington Fishing License with it. I always pack complete changes of clothes for myself and my daughters, and we use part of the kit perhaps fifty percent of the time. The best time to go clamming in Washington is during the low tide. Each person must have a permit to dig clams, and each adult and child must have a permit. Wind your way up the side of the mountain on a one-mile hike that takes you 848 feet up.
