Out & About: Public asked to help WDFW to locate lost net pen

The WDFW is asking the public to help it locate an empty net pen that broke free from its moorings near Cathlamet. The pen was spotted floating in the Columbia River days ago, but the department has not been able to locate it.

The pen has no netting and has not held fish since 2018. If it is still intact the pen should be visible above the water line. It was last spotted near Chinook.

The WDFW has asked for help from the Coast Guard and the crabbing fleet, and has attempted to find the pen itself, but efforts have been stymied by stormy conditions.

The structure is built of eight individual pens tied together and is approximately 60 by 90 feet in size. It is built of PVC piping, and has wooden planks around its perimeter.

The department has developed plans to recover the net pen once it is found.

Anyone that sees the pen should call WDFW Enforcement Capt. Dan Chadwick at 360-581-3337.

It is possible by now that the pen is caught in a side channel or has moved offshore. WDFW is investigating how the empty net pen came loose.

Proposed razor clam digs await approval

The next round of razor clam digs is set to begin Tuesday, Jan. 21, pending the results of marine toxin tests. Would-be clammers should keep an eye on the WDFW razor clam page on its website for the approval of the digs, possibly later this week.

A list of the proposed digs includes the following dates and low tides.

• Jan. 21, Tuesday, 4:23 p.m. -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Jan. 22, Wednesday, 5:10 p.m. -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

• Jan. 23, Thursday, 5:53 p.m. -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Jan. 24, Friday, 6:32 p.m. -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

• Jan. 25, Saturday, 7:08 p.m. -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

• Jan. 26, Sunday, 7:42 p.m. -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

No digging is allowed before noon on approved digs with evening low tides. Clammers may keep 15 clams per day and must keep the first 15 they dig.

Also, each clam digger must dig their own clams, and keep them in a separate container.