A TASTY LITTLE stocking stuffer was handed out a few days before Christmas by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and Olympic National Park.
The present won’t be unwrappable at Christmas, but tenative approval for the first razor clam dig on the beach at Kalaloch in five years has been given.
Located inside Olympic National Park, the beach hasn’t been open for razor clam digging due a low abundance of clams in recent years.
But Fish and Wildlife and park officials say the population is robust enough for digs in 2017.
And take note that a recent press release announcing these tentative openings stated “additional digs at Kalaloch will be announced in the coming months.”
One can almost taste the clam fritters or clam chowder, the byproducts of a successful dig.
As for clam size? I would expect large numbers of smaller clams based on conversations back in March with state shellfish managers and Olympic National Park biologists.
State shellfish manager Dan Ayres said the density of clam populations along Kalaloch Beach was “off the charts.”
At that time, most clams were around 3 inches.
Final approval of all scheduled openings at Copalis, Mocrocks and Kalaloch beaches will depend on whether results of marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat.
“We know people are anxious to make plans to go razor clamming in 2017,” Ayres said.
“We’ve planned openings for 19 days in January and February, but we can’t give final approval until tests show we can open those beaches to digging.”
Fish and Wildlife will announce next week whether a previously announced two-day opening at Copalis and Mocrocks on Dec. 30-31 can proceed.
Both Twin Harbors and Long Beach remain closed to razor clam digging.
Dig schedule
The proposed razor clam digs through Mid-January, along with evening low tides and beaches, are listed below:
• Sunday, Jan. 8: 3:11 p.m.; 0.4 feet; Kalaloch
• Monday, Jan. 9: 4:08 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Kalaloch
Friday, Jan. 13: 7:17 p.m.; -1.4 feet; Copalis, Mocrocks
Saturday, Jan. 14: 7:59 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Copalis, Mocrocks
Sunday, Jan. 15: 8:40 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Copalis, Mocrocks
For more information, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-Clams17.
________
Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
