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OLYMPIA — Area clam diggers take heart on Valentine’s week.
The closest beach to North Olympic Peninsula diggers, Kalaloch, could open to digging in early April.
It’s been months since forlorn diggers have been able to hit the beach for their favorite shellfish.
That bad spell may end soon.
In the meantime, three other beaches will open to digging this weekend.
The last evening razor-clam dig of the season will take place Saturday and Sunday on three ocean beaches.
After that, clam diggers can look forward to a series of digs on morning tides.
Evening digs at Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks beaches have been approved by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for this weekend after marine toxin tests showed that the clams on those beaches are safe to eat.
No digging will be allowed at any beach before noon.
Copalis Beach will remain closed for razor-clam digging this month, due to a relatively low abundance of clams, Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager, said.
That closure will affect beaches near Ocean Shores, Oyhut, Ocean City and Copalis.
“We want to save some of the clams available for harvest in the Copalis management area for spring digs,” Ayres said.
“The other three beaches have enough clams to take us right through the end of the season.”
Kalaloch also will remain closed, due to a low abundance of razor clams.
The National Park Service, which manages that beach in cooperation with WDFW, has announced plans to open Kalaloch for a razor-clam dig April 7-9.
For the upcoming dig, the evening low tide Saturday is at 4:13 p.m. (0.0 feet), and on Sunday at 5 p.m. (-0.2 feet).
Ayres recommends that diggers hit the beach one to two hours before evening low tide for best results.
Once the harvest is totaled for this month’s dig, WDFW will announce plans for future digs, starting in early March, Ayres said.
Because of the change in tides that occurs in spring, those digs will all be held during morning hours.
Under state law, diggers can take 15 razor clams per day, and are required to keep the first 15 they dig.
Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2011-12 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach.
Licensing options range from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, which can be purchased on WDFW’s website (https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov) and from license vendors around the state.
Hunters’ education
The next hunter education course in Forks will begin March 12 at the West End Sportsmen’s Club.
The course dates and times are as follows: March 12, 14, 19, 21, Mondays and Wednesdays, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The final test is Saturday, March 24 at 8 a.m.
Students must attend all classes for the opportunity to receive a hunter education student certificate.
Washington law requires all first-time hunters born after Jan. 1, 1972 to successfully complete a hunter education class in order to purchase a hunting license.
Students receive instruction in firearms safety, wildlife conservation and sportsmanship.
The course is taught by volunteer instructors, who have been certified by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to conduct student courses.
The hunter education program is open to everyone, experienced or not.
Most students who successfully complete this course are 10 years old or older.
A parent or guardian is required to attend the first night of class with their child and are encouraged to attend all classes.
Additionally, if the student is under 10 years old, a parent or guardian must accompany them to all classes.
Students must pre-register and can do so by going online at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website, and follow prompts to Hunter Education, Traditional Class registration.
For more information, call 360-374-5718.