Let’s Chat about Razor Clam Digging
If you have not gone to dig for razor clams in the Pacific Northwest, you are missing out! Clamming is a family-friendly, dog-friendly activity that just about anyone can do.
A few years ago, when the girls were young, some friends took us clam digging for the first time and we loved it! It was so much fun together with other Pacific Northwest enthursit and foraging for yummy and fresh clams! It was an experience like none other and from then on we were digging as much as we could!
Razor clams are delish! We cook them two ways, pan-fried in pankos and in clam chowder! I liked taking the girls when they were younger. They could not dig but they loved grabbing the clams out of the hole and they would carry them around proudly in their buckets until they had reached their limit.
Taking kids Razor Clam Digging
The girls have been partaking all their lives and even though they do not enjoy it as much as teens, we still drag them along 🙂
We have always loved taking our kids with us.It was an experience, we would bundle them up in their chest waders and raincoats. The girls have been partaking all their lives and even though they do not enjoy it as much as teens, we still drag them along 🙂
Razor clam season usually starts around September, and they go all the way until March or April. We typically go three times a year, depending on the times of the dates and our schedule. The digs start two hours before low tide, and the lower the tide, the easier it is to dig up the clams. You must make sure you are clam digging at the right beaches. Only specific beaches on specific dates and specific times are allowed.
Fish and Wildlife Update
Washington Fish and wildlife has announced, and things are a little different this fall season! Get your clam guns out; it is time to dig!
WDFW announces 62 days of tentative razor clam digs in 2021
Limit increased to 20 clams; all digs dependent on marine toxin results
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE WDFW WEBSITE FOR UPDATES
Planning your clam digging trip
You can only clam dig on certain days and at certain times of the year. Go to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website, and you will find the exact locations, times, dates that you can go clam digging. You must follow all the guidelines. You can get fined if you go over your limit or break any of the other rules, so make sure you know what you’re doing or ask questions before you go out there and do it.
How to clam dig
We recommend the following items when you go clam digging.
Chest waders (or high waterproof boots and neoprene pants)
raincoat
waterproof hat
waterproof lanyard for your clam digging license
Net /bucket for holding clams
Loads of time 🙂
Tips on how to clam dig
For night digs, you need a headlamp, and I would suggest a light for your vehicle so you can find it in the dark (A lesson learned the hard way)
Spotting the clam – You can’t normally see the clams on the surface at all. During low tide, you look in the sand and look for dents or little holes. That is a sign ther clam is right below the surface.
To do the actual clam dig you can either use a clam gun or clam shovel. We use a clam gun which is a long circular tube that you put in the sand over where you think the clam is. The handle of the tube usually has a hole for air to go through. Align your tube over the dent in the sand.
Once you push your clam gun down in the sand, you cover up the hole on the handle, and the suction will bring up the sand and hopefully the razor clam.
Typically the limit is 15 clams per person; there can be different limits depending on what’s going on. There is an overabundance of clams right now, so for the rest of 2021, the limit is 20 per person instead of the usual 15.
Wrap up and head home or back to the RV
After the four of us reach our limit, we take them home, clean them up, cut them up, and either cook them or freeze them. There is nothing better than going out there and working for your meal. It’s also one of those iconic Pacific Northwest activities that everyone should try at least once.
There is a few Washington State Parks you can stay at if you want to spend a few days clam digging. Blog coming soon, or just check out the link below to find a State park availability! If you do not have a RV/camper there are also yurts available.
Click here to find a State Campground
- Visiting San Juan Island, How to plan your trip without your car!
- Chasing the Aurora in Washington
- Car camping essentials for photographers
- Car Camping Checklist
- Practical Magic, Coupeville Washington
Let’s Chat about Razor Clam Digging
If you have not gone to dig for razor clams in the Pacific Northwest, you are missing out! Clamming is a family-friendly, dog-friendly activity that just about anyone can do.
A few years ago, when the girls were young, some friends took us clam digging for the first time and we loved it! It was so much fun together with other Pacific Northwest enthursit and foraging for yummy and fresh clams! It was an experience like none other and from then on we were digging as much as we could!
Razor clams are delish! We cook them two ways, pan-fried in pankos and in clam chowder! I liked taking the girls when they were younger. They could not dig but they loved grabbing the clams out of the hole and they would carry them around proudly in their buckets until they had reached their limit.
Taking kids Razor Clam Digging
The girls have been partaking all their lives and even though they do not enjoy it as much as teens, we still drag them along 🙂
We have always loved taking our kids with us.It was an experience, we would bundle them up in their chest waders and raincoats. The girls have been partaking all their lives and even though they do not enjoy it as much as teens, we still drag them along 🙂
Razor clam season usually starts around September, and they go all the way until March or April. We typically go three times a year, depending on the times of the dates and our schedule. The digs start two hours before low tide, and the lower the tide, the easier it is to dig up the clams. You must make sure you are clam digging at the right beaches. Only specific beaches on specific dates and specific times are allowed.
Fish and Wildlife Update
Washington Fish and wildlife has announced, and things are a little different this fall season! Get your clam guns out; it is time to dig!
WDFW announces 62 days of tentative razor clam digs in 2021
Limit increased to 20 clams; all digs dependent on marine toxin results
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE WDFW WEBSITE FOR UPDATES
Planning your clam digging trip
You can only clam dig on certain days and at certain times of the year. Go to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website, and you will find the exact locations, times, dates that you can go clam digging. You must follow all the guidelines. You can get fined if you go over your limit or break any of the other rules, so make sure you know what you’re doing or ask questions before you go out there and do it.
How to clam dig
We recommend the following items when you go clam digging.
Chest waders (or high waterproof boots and neoprene pants)
raincoat
waterproof hat
waterproof lanyard for your clam digging license
Net /bucket for holding clams
Loads of time 🙂
Tips on how to clam dig
For night digs, you need a headlamp, and I would suggest a light for your vehicle so you can find it in the dark (A lesson learned the hard way)
Spotting the clam – You can’t normally see the clams on the surface at all. During low tide, you look in the sand and look for dents or little holes. That is a sign ther clam is right below the surface.
To do the actual clam dig you can either use a clam gun or clam shovel. We use a clam gun which is a long circular tube that you put in the sand over where you think the clam is. The handle of the tube usually has a hole for air to go through. Align your tube over the dent in the sand.
Once you push your clam gun down in the sand, you cover up the hole on the handle, and the suction will bring up the sand and hopefully the razor clam.
Typically the limit is 15 clams per person; there can be different limits depending on what’s going on. There is an overabundance of clams right now, so for the rest of 2021, the limit is 20 per person instead of the usual 15.
Wrap up and head home or back to the RV
After the four of us reach our limit, we take them home, clean them up, cut them up, and either cook them or freeze them. There is nothing better than going out there and working for your meal. It’s also one of those iconic Pacific Northwest activities that everyone should try at least once.
There is a few Washington State Parks you can stay at if you want to spend a few days clam digging. Blog coming soon, or just check out the link below to find a State park availability! If you do not have a RV/camper there are also yurts available.
Click here to find a State Campground
- Visiting San Juan Island, How to plan your trip without your car!
- Chasing the Aurora in Washington
- Car camping essentials for photographers
- Car Camping Checklist
- Practical Magic, Coupeville Washington
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