It’s almost time to dig into what should be a gold mine of razor clams this fall and winter, as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) shellfish managers recently announced 42 tentative razor clam dig dates at four coastal beaches stretching from October 3 to December 31.
“The 2024-25 recreational razor clam season will see similar digging opportunity to last season as long as marine toxin levels remain below closure levels,” said Bryce Blumenthal, a WDFW coastal shellfish biologist. “Razor clam populations on southern coastal beaches continue to be strong and healthy enough for abundant fall digging with harvestable low tides this season falling on Thanksgiving weekend, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.”
All beach openings are dependent on final approval of marine toxin testing, which usually occurs about a week or less prior to the start of each digging series. Most successful digging occurs between one and two hours before the listed time of low tide. No digging is allowed before noon during digs when low tide occurs in the afternoon or evening. Here are the tentative series of dates: October 3, 6, & 7: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks; October 4 & 5: at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis; October 15, 18, & 19: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks; October 16, 17, 20, & 21: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis; November 1, 2, & 5: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks; November 3 & 4: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis; November 13, 14, 17, & 18: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks; November 15, 16, & 19: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis; November 29 & 30: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks; Dec. 1, 2, & 5:Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis; December 3 & 4: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks; December 12, 15, & 16: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis; December 13, 14, 17, & 18: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks; December 28 & 31: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis; and, December 29 & 30: Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
Kalaloch Beach off the northern Olympic Peninsula coast won’t be open due to continuing issues with depressed populations of harvestable clams. On all open beaches, the daily limit is 15 clams per person. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container, and all diggers must keep the first 15 clams they dig, regardless of size or condition. All diggers 15 or older must have an applicable fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach. WDFW recommends buying your license before visiting coastal beach communities. For additional information on razor clamming, go to: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/razor-clams.
Grays Harbor Offers Decent Fall Coho Fishing
Now that summer salmon fisheries are behind us, it’s time to put an emphasis on bay fisheries like Grays Harbor as waves of fish migrate upstream with every rainfall or weather change.
Within Grays Harbor (Marine Area 2-2) is a section known as the “East Grays Harbor or south channel fishery” which is open daily through November 30 with a two salmon daily limit (release all Chinook) and a minimum size limit of 12 inches.
The optimal time to have your lines in the water is during a flood tide, although you can catch fish on an ebb tide. Timing is key for success, and you don’t need to be fishing in the pre-dawn timeframe, which is commonly best in most other salmon fisheries. It’s all about the tidal exchanges.
There are three boat launches to access the Grays Harbor salmon fishery, and the Westport boat launch is best for all sizes of boats. The Johns River launch facility is a gravelly two-lane ramp and better for smaller-sized boats. Both are the quickest route to the south channel fishery. A third is the 28th Street launch in Hoquiam, adjacent to the Port of Grays Harbor. (Be extremely cautious when running your boat from any of the launch facilities, especially the Johns River launch site. Follow the channel markers as there are many shallow sandbars, unexposed islands, and unmarked shallow points where you can ground a vessel.)
Once you arrive in the south channel, start your troll at the Goal Post (a distinct set of rotting wood pilings) located off the Johns River inlet. In this area is a trough that is 15- to 35-feet deep and runs east and west along the shoreline heading to the Chehalis River mouth. On a flood tide, start at the Goal Post and troll eastward to Stearns Bluff, a landmark on the southern hillside. When the tide changes to outgoing, reverse your pattern to head in a westward direction, and hopefully, you’ll start reeling ‘em in.
