A RAZOR CLAM season featuring 56 days of prospective digs ranging from Sept. 22 to Dec. 28 has been announced by shellfish managers with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“The 2022-23 razor clam season will mirror the remarkable digging opportunities last season pending marine toxin levels stay below the health guidelines,” said Dan Ayres, the coastal shellfish manager.
Final approval of marine toxin testing usually occurs about a week or less prior to the start of each digging series.
Marine toxins have been elevated but remain below state Department of Health guidelines.
Always check for the latest updates at wdfw.wa.gov.
There’s no bonus to the clam limit this fall and winter, with a 15 clam per-person limit. 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.
No Kalaloch digs
Our closest razor clam beach at Kalaloch will be closed due to “continuing issues with depressed populations of harvestable clams.”
Most successful digging occurs between one and two hours before the listed time of low tide. Below are the tentative dates through September, along with low tides and beaches.
Morning tides
• Sept. 22, 5:03 a.m.; 0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis.
• Sept. 23, 5:41 a.m.; 0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
• Sept. 24, 6:15 a.m.; 0.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis.
• Sept. 25, 6:48 a.m.; 0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
• Sept. 26, 7:19 a.m.; 0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis.
Evening tides
• Sept. 27, 8:24 p.m.; minus-0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
• Sept. 28, 9:06 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis.
• Sept. 29, 9:51 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
• Sept. 30, 10:43 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis.
Makah river fishing
Two rivers on the Makah Reservation are open through 30 minutes past sunset Monday for tribal and non-tribal rod and reel chinook fisheries.
The Tsoo-Yess (Sooes) and Wa’atch rivers have a two chinook limit per day, release all coho.
The Wa’atch is open from its mouth to the tree line.
Tsoo-Yess rules allow one hand-held rod and reel per person with no more than two hooks.
A special instruction to avoid snag gear, and “no snagging” also has been issued. The only permitted tackle is eggs and spinner or spoon gear.
Non-tribal visitors also need a tribal fishing license.
On-Reservation Sport Rod & Reel Fishery “Sport Permits” for non-tribal members are also available for purchase at the Tribal Center at the Makah Fisheries Management Department in Building No. 150.
Return crab catch cards
With the summer crabbing season wrapped up, it’s time to submit catch reports.
All summer catch records must be reported at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/login, or mailed to the address printed on the card by Oct. 1 even if you didn’t go crabbing or catch any crab.
It’s a $10 penalty to fail to return cards, and the fee will be tacked on to your next license purchase.
Non-spot shrimp
Marine Area 6 (excluding the Discovery Bay Shrimp District) is open through Oct. 15 to recreational non-spot shrimp harvest.
Shrimpers must comply with a 175-foot maximum depth restriction to avoid spot shrimp.
The total daily weight limit is 10 pounds, heads and tails, of all shrimp species combined. If retaining non-spot shrimp, all shrimp heads must be retained in the field until ashore and finished fishing for the day. Minimum mesh size is 1/2 inch for pots. Maximum of two pots per person and four pots per vessel.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@ peninsuladailynews.com.
