On Thursday, shellfish managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced the fall razor clam season with 40, what they’re calling “tentative,” days at four coastal beaches from Oct. 9 through Dec. 27.
“Tentative” because beach openings are dependent on final approval of marine toxin testing, which usually occurs around a week or so before the start of each digging period. The concern is domoic acid, a natural toxin produced by certain marine algae that can be harmful or fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities.
“The razor clam season is right around the corner, and we’re excited to announce another fall schedule of harvest dates,” Bryce Blumenthal, a WDFW coastal shellfish biologist, said in a statement. “Summer population assessments showed significant decreases on Copalis and Mocrocks, which will result in considerably less digging opportunity this season. Thankfully, Long Beach and Twin Harbors populations remain strong and should allow for similar amounts of harvest to previous years.”
The open beaches will be Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks, and the daily limit is 15 clams per digger. Each digger needs to claim the first 15 clams they dig, regardless of size or condition, without throwing any back.
Blumenthal said in the statement that diggers should keep the clams they dig up, no matter their condition, to prevent waste.
“It’s not unusual to encounter some small clams, especially this early in the season,” he said.
Kalaloch Beach will not open this year because of low populations of harvestable razor clams.
Below are the tentative dates, low tide times, and beaches:
Oct. 9, Friday; 6:23 p.m.; 0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Oct. 10, Saturday; 7:02 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Oct. 11, Sunday, 7:39 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Oct. 12, Monday, 8:15 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Oct. 13, Tuesday, 8:52 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Oct. 14, Wednesday, 9:32 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
Oct. 24, Saturday, 5:58 p.m.; 0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Oct. 25, Sunday, 6:37 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Oct. 26, Monday, 7:18 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Oct. 27, Tuesday, 8:01 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Oct. 28, Wednesday, 8:47 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Oct. 29, Thursday, 9:38 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Oct. 30, Friday, 10:34 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
Nov. 7, Saturday, 5:06 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Nov. 8, Sunday, 5:44 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Nov. 9, Monday, 6:19 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Nov. 10, Tuesday, 6:54 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Nov. 11, Wednesday, 7:29 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks (Veterans Day)
Nov. 12, Thursday, 8:07 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
Nov. 22, Sunday, 4:33 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
Nov. 23, Monday, 5:18 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
Nov. 24, Tuesday, 6:02 p.m.; -1.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Nov. 25, Wednesday, 6:48 p.m.; -1.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Nov. 26, Thursday, 7:35 p.m.; -1.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis (Thanksgiving Day)
Nov. 27, Friday, 8:25 p.m.; -1.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Nov. 28, Saturday, 9:18 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 5, Saturday, 4:07 p.m.; 0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
Dec. 6, Sunday, 4:49 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
Dec. 7, Monday, 5:27 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 8, Tuesday, 6:03 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 9, Wednesday, 6:37 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec. 10, Thursday, 7:12 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec. 11, Friday, 7:48 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 21, Monday, 4:13 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
Dec. 22, Tuesday, 5:02 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 23, Wednesday, 5:50 p.m.; -1.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Dec. 24, Thursday, 6:36 p.m.; -1.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
Dec. 25, Friday, 7:23 p.m.; -1.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors (Christmas Day)
Dec. 26, Saturday, 8:09 p.m.; -1.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 27, Sunday, 8:55 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
All diggers over 16 must have a valid license to harvest razor clams on any beaches. You can purchase licenses on the WDFW website, through the WDFW app, from statewide license dealers, or at WDFW regional offices.
This story was originally published September 11, 2026 at 9:27 AM.
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The News Tribune
Gavin Feek is the outdoors reporter for The News Tribune. He is a Seattle-born writer who covers the intersection of public lands, climate-related issues and outdoor recreation. After working for many years in Yosemite National Park, Gavin pivoted to journalism in 2020. You can find his bylines in The Seattle Times, The Stranger, Outside, Climbing, The Intercept, Vox Media, Vertical Times, McSweeney’s, and various other publications. He spends his free time outdoors with his family.