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WDFW approves 7 days of coastal razor clam digs beginning NYE

Published 1:30 am Friday, December 26, 2025

WDFW
Map of razor clam beaches.

WDFW

Map of razor clam beaches.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) shellfish managers on Wednesday confirmed razor clam digging opportunities at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches from Dec. 31 to Jan. 6, 2026.

“Bring in the New Year with some daylight razor clam digging opportunities,” said Bryce Blumenthal, a WDFW coastal shellfish biologist. “Low tide times near sunset should allow for daylight digging during New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, and hopefully the weather cooperates with quality low tides to allow for a successful week of digging to begin 2026.”

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) requires test samples for marine toxins, and domoic acid levels 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. Final approval usually occurs about a week or less — sometimes two to three days — before the start of each digging series.

Recent marine biotoxin closures do not apply to razor clams or crabs. Certain shellfish species accumulate toxins more quickly, to higher levels, and can harbor them longer than other species. Refer to DOH’s shellfish safety map for details on which species are safe to harvest.

The following digs during later afternoon/evening (noon to midnight only) low tides will proceed as scheduled:

Dec. 31, Wednesday, 3:55 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Jan. 1, Thursday, 4:47 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Jan. 2, Friday, 5:37 p.m.; -1.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Jan. 3, Saturday, 6:23 p.m.; -1.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Jan. 4, Sunday, 7:07 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Jan. 5, Monday, 7:50 p.m.; -1.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Jan. 6, Tuesday, 8:32 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Below are additional tentative dates:

Jan. 15, Thursday, 4:35 p.m.; 0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Jan. 16, Friday, 5:14 p.m.; 0.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Jan. 17, Saturday, 5:50 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Jan. 18, Sunday, 6:24 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Jan. 19, Monday, 6:57 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Jan. 20, Tuesday, 7:29 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Jan. 21, Wednesday, 8:01 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Jan. 29, Thursday, 3:43 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Jan. 30, Friday, 4:37 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Jan. 31, Saturday, 5:25 p.m.; -1.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Feb. 1, Sunday, 6:08 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Feb. 2, Monday, 6:48 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Feb. 3, Tuesday, 7:25 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Feb. 4, Wednesday, 8:01 p.m.; 0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Feb. 14, Saturday, 4:48 p.m.; 0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Feb. 15, Sunday, 5:24 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Feb. 16, Monday, 5:57 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Feb. 17, Tuesday, 6:29 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Feb. 18, Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Feb. 19, Thursday, 7:32 p.m.; 0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Feb. 26, Thursday, 2:26 p.m.; 0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Feb. 27, Friday, 3:29 p.m.; 0.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Feb. 28, Saturday, 4:22 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

March 1, Sunday, 5:07 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

March 2, Monday, 5:46 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

March 3, Tuesday, 6:22 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

March 4, Wednesday, 6:55 p.m.; 0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Most successful digging occurs between one and two hours before the listed time of low tide.

On all open beaches — Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks — the daily limit is 15 clams per person. 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.

Diggers must have a valid 2025-2026 license. Licenses can be purchased from WDFW’s licensing website and from hundreds of license vendors around the state. All diggers age 16 or older must have a license to harvest razor clams on any beach. WDFW recommends diggers buy their license before visiting coastal beach communities.

Kalaloch Beach off the northern Olympic Peninsula coast won’t be open due to continuing issues with depressed populations of harvestable clams.

The 2025-2026 Razor Clam Management Plan is available on the WDFW’s website. WDFW welcomes public input on proposed razor clam schedules and considers this feedback when finalizing each season’s digs. Public comments may be emailed to razorclams@dfw.wa.gov. For more information, refer to the WDFW’s razor clam webpage.