Northwest Reel Life March 2025 Volume 4 Issue 5 - Flipbook - Page 10
fishing
WDFW CLAMS
Coastal razor clam
enthusiasts are really
digging the winter razor
clam season, and later in
March come much longer
days and a switch to
morning low tide harvest
opportunities.
“Digging has been relatively
good this winter when
conditions allow, and
hopefully we’ll see more
spring-like weather as we
bid farewell to February
and welcome March,” said
Bryce Blumenthal, WDFW’s
recreational razor clam
manager. “Once we receive
final marine toxin test
results for each series of
digs then we’ll proceed with
evening low tides during
most of March and shift to
morning low tides at the
end of the month.”
The Department of
Health (DOH) requires test
samples for marine toxins,
and domoic acid levels
that must fall under the
guideline level before a
beach can open for digging.
Domoic acid, a natural
toxin produced by certain
types of marine algae,
can be harmful or fatal if
consumed in sufficient
quantities. Levels this winter
have stayed well below
the cutoff threshold and
continue to remain that
way.
Final approval usually
occurs about a week
before the start of each
digging series. Details
about domoic acid, as well
as current levels at ocean
beaches, can be found on
the WDFW’s domoic acid
webpage at https://wdfw.
wa.gov/fishing/basics/
domoic-acid.
Not all coastal beaches
are open for every dig, so
diggers are encouraged to
make sure their intended
destination is open before
heading out. Optimal
digging occurs between
one and two hours before
the listed time of low tide.
