Tentative Washington Fall, Early Winter Razor Clam Dig Schedule Out

THE FOLLOWING IS A WDFW PRESS RELEASE

Shellfish managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) today announced 40 tentative days of razor clam digs at four coastal beaches from Oct. 9 through Dec. 27.

“The razor clam season is right around the corner, and we’re excited to announce another fall schedule of harvest dates,” said Bryce Blumenthal, a WDFW coastal shellfish biologist. “Summer population assessments showed significant decreases on Copalis and Mocrocks, which will result in considerably less digging opportunity this season. Thankfully, Long Beach and Twin Harbors populations remain strong and should allow for similar amounts of harvest to previous years.”

All beach openings are dependent on final approval of marine toxin testing, which usually occurs about a week or less before the start of each digging series. Before a beach can open for digging, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) requires two test samples seven to 10 days apart and domoic acid levels under the guideline level. 

Domoic acid, a natural toxin that certain marine algae produce, can be harmful or fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities. For more information about domoic acid, as well as current levels at ocean beaches, refer to the WDFW’s domoic acid webpage and the DOH webpage. 

On all open beaches – Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks – 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.

“It’s important that diggers keep the clams they dig to prevent wastage (includes discarding small clams, clam with broken shells or reburying unwanted clams),” Blumenthal said. “It’s not unusual to encounter some small clams, especially this early in the season.”

Kalaloch beach off the northern Olympic Peninsula coast won’t be open due to continuing issues with depressed populations of harvestable razor clams.

Most successful digging occurs between one and two hours before the listed time of low tide. Below are the tentative dates, along with low tides and beaches.

Tentative dates during late afternoon/evening (noon to midnight only) low tides:

• Oct. 9, Friday; 6:23 p.m.; 0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Oct. 10, Saturday; 7:02 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Oct. 11, Sunday, 7:39 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Oct. 12, Monday, 8:15 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Oct. 13, Tuesday, 8:52 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Oct. 14, Wednesday, 9:32 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors

• Oct. 24, Saturday, 5:58 p.m.; 0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Oct. 25, Sunday, 6:37 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Oct. 26, Monday, 7:18 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Oct. 27, Tuesday, 8:01 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Oct. 28, Wednesday, 8:47 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Oct. 29, Thursday, 9:38 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Oct. 30, Friday, 10:34 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors

• Nov. 7, Saturday, 5:06 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Nov. 8, Sunday, 5:44 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Nov. 9, Monday, 6:19 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Nov. 10, Tuesday, 6:54 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Nov. 11, Wednesday, 7:29 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks (Veterans Day)
• Nov. 12, Thursday, 8:07 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors

• Nov. 22, Sunday, 4:33 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
• Nov. 23, Monday, 5:18 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
• Nov. 24, Tuesday, 6:02 p.m.; -1.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Nov. 25, Wednesday, 6:48 p.m.; -1.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Nov. 26, Thursday, 7:35 p.m.; -1.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis (Thanksgiving Day)
• Nov. 27, Friday, 8:25 p.m.; -1.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Nov. 28, Saturday, 9:18 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Dec. 5, Saturday, 4:07 p.m.; 0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
• Dec. 6, Sunday, 4:49 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
• Dec. 7, Monday, 5:27 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Dec. 8, Tuesday, 6:03 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Dec. 9, Wednesday, 6:37 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Dec. 10, Thursday, 7:12 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Dec. 11, Friday, 7:48 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Dec. 21, Monday, 4:13 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
• Dec. 22, Tuesday, 5:02 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Dec. 23, Wednesday, 5:50 p.m.; -1.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Dec. 24, Thursday, 6:36 p.m.; -1.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
• Dec. 25, Friday, 7:23 p.m.; -1.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors (Christmas Day)
• Dec. 26, Saturday, 8:09 p.m.; -1.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Dec. 27, Sunday, 8:55 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Additional information

All diggers age 16 or older must have a valid 2026-2027 license to harvest razor clams on any beach. Licenses are available on WDFW’s website, through the MyWDFW mobile app, or from statewide license dealers and WDFW regional offices. WDFW recommends diggers buy their license before visiting coastal beach communities. 

When driving on the beach, please respect the 25-mph speed limit and enter only at designated access points. Stay on the hard-packed sand near the high tide line to avoid crushing clam beds, buried female Dungeness crab and snowy plover nests.

The 2026-2027 Razor Clam Management Plan will be available soon on the WDFW’s website. WDFW welcomes public input on proposed razor clam schedules and considers this feedback when finalizing each season’s digs. Public comments may be emailed to: razorclams@dfw.wa.gov. For more information, refer to the WDFW’s razor clam webpage.

Fishery managers note that as a result of legislatively directed budget reductions, the Department will have less staff capacity to survey razor clams and support marine toxin analysis, which could result in delayed season opening and reduced opening days. More information is available in WDFW’s blog post.