LONG BEACH — Eight days of razor clam digging on the Long Beach Peninsula begin Friday with low tides early enough to allow some daylight opportunity.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the upcoming digs on Monday after marine toxin tests indicated the clams are safe to eat.
Low tides during the eight days are as follows: Friday, 3:43 p.m., 0.5 feet; Saturday, 4:32 p.m., 0.2 feet; Sunday, 5:15 p.m., 0.0 feet; Monday, 5:53 p.m., -0.1 feet; Feb. 3, 6:27 p.m.,-0.1 feet; Feb. 4, 6:59 p.m., 0.0 feet; Feb.5, 7:30 p.m., 0.2 feet, and Feb. 6, 8 p.m., 0.5 feet.
The best digging typically occurs one to two hours before low tide, said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the department.
Ayres said diggers should find lots of elbow room on Super Bowl Sunday on the beaches.
The agency has proposed another eight days of digging beginning Feb. 15 if marine toxin tests are favorable.
Low tides those days will be: Feb. 15, 3:47 p.m., 0.2 feet; Feb. 16, 4:37 p.m., -0.5; Feb. 17, 5:24 p.m., -0.9 feet; Feb. 18, 6:08 p.m., -1.1 feet; Feb. 19, 6:51 p.m., -1.1 feet; Feb. 20, 7:33 p.m., -0.7 feet; Feb. 21, 8:16 p.m., -0.1 feet; Feb. 22, 9 p.m., 0.6 feet.
Diggers age 15 and older must have a 2014-15 license to harvest razor clams. Licenses range from a three-day razor clam license costing $8.60 to an annual combination fishing license at $54.25.
Diggers must keep the first 15 clams dug. Each digger’s clams must be in a separate container.
