Elsewhere on the coast, it’s a 4-day dig. Here, just Saturday and Sunday. Low tides: (Note: “Copalis” and “Mocrocks” = Ocean Shores and North Beach, in WDFWspeak)

Dec. 4, Sat. – 5:29 p.m., (-1.2 ft.),  Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch

Dec. 5, Sun. – 6:14 p.m., (-1.3 ft.), Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch

See the Fish and Wildlife site for how to dig the clams. See the DoOceanShores.com site for how to clean them.

Why do the Westport and Long Beach areas get to have a clam dig this weekend (Saturday-Sunday), but not Ocean Shores and the North Beach (called “Copalis” and “Mocrocks” by the out-dated state terminology)? I asked Dan Ayres, of the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. His answer: “As always we are trying to manage the seasonal razor clam TAC (total allowable catch) on each beach to be sure we still have clams left when we get to the highly popular daylight morning tides in the spring.
“On both Copalis and Mocrocks we are required to share the razor clam TAC with the Quinault Nation, the result is fewer clams available for the recreational fishery – so we need to offer less digging on these beaches in the fall and winter to insure we have clams for the spring.

Can it be? Nice O.S. weather for a clam dig?????? Enjoy it while it lasts, diggers. From weather.com:

Tonight Nov 05		Partly Cloudy	45°	20 %
Sat Nov 06		Showers	54°/48°	70 %
Sun Nov 07		Few Showers	51°/40°	30 %

Clams pass first testing with flying colors (or should it be burrowing colors?), says the Fish and Wildlife folks: On September 20, 2010 WDFW announced tentative dates for an October recreational razor clam opener.  These dates cannot be confirmed until two rounds of marine toxin testing are completed. 

From today’s dig, the last of the season on the North Beach:

Winning guess will receive 1 penny per clammer, PLUS an order of Razor Clam Sushi, the new menu item at the Get Toe Cafe

Nothing like a little Razor Clam Dig to bring the masses to the beaches. Mild weather didn’t hurt, either. Low tide, today: 7:01 p.m. (-1.8 feet).

One of the scenes, last evening:

North Beaches cleared for razor clam digging Friday through Sunday; Long Beach remains closed, says Fish & Wildlife:

OLYMPIA – Twin Harbors beach will open for razor clam digging tomorrow (Jan. 28), followed by openings at three other beaches later this week after a new round of marine toxin tests showed the clams there are safe to eat.
Long Beach, however, will remain closed to digging due to high levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) detected in the clams.
“We’re pleased that we can move forward with digs at these four beaches,” said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager.  “The latest tests showed that the clams there remain safe to eat.”
The four beaches will open for digging at noon on the following days:

·         Twin Harbors – Thursday (Jan. 28) through Sunday (Jan. 31)
·         Copalis and Mocrocks – Friday (Jan. 29) through Sunday (Jan. 31)
·         Kalaloch Beach – Saturday (Jan. 30) through Sunday (Jan. 31)

OLYMPIA – Rising marine toxin levels have prompted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to cancel a razor clam dig scheduled at Long Beach and delay final decisions about digs at Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches until next week.Olympic National Park will also wait until next week to decide on a dig at Kalaloch Beach, pending the results of further biotoxin testing.

Previous plans for a dig starting late next week were put on hold after routine testing found elevated levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in clams collected on coastal beaches, said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager.

PSP is a marine toxin produced by a certain type of algae that can cause paralysis and even death if consumed in sufficient quantities.

The Ocean Shores Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce a brand new logo contest for the 2010 Razor Clam Festival.  Entries will be accepted now
through December 31, 2009, and can either be mailed to PO Box 382, Ocean
Shores, or dropped at the Ocean Shores Chamber of Commerce office located at
873 Pt. Brown Ave NW.
The winner will receive a cash prize in the amount of $250 and will see
his/her creation on all of the festival’s collateral and clothing celebrating the 2010 event.  For information, please call the chamber at (360) 289-2451.