Stay at the Resort, Walk to the Beach, Dig your Clams: All you need to know about Clamming!

Razor clams are one of the most sought after shellfish, also they are fun to catch. Clamming in Long Beach Washington is easy when you stay with us. Just a quick walk and you will be on 28 miles of sandy clam digging beaches. However, if you have a four wheel drive vehicle, you can drive up the beach as our beaches are actual highways according to the WDFW. The speed limit is 25 miles and hour and please stay on the packed sand. Book your stay at the resort to ensure a perfect clam hunt.

When to dig Razor clams in Long Beach, Washington

Fall and Winter the low tides are at night and you dig by lanterns/flashlight. Spring clam digs are usually in the morning/daylight hours. The season runs from October to April, but according to the WDFW, only a few days each month that are open for digging. The “WDFW Clam Schedule” announces on their website, look for clamming in Long Beach, Washington. You will usually plan to arrive 1 -2 hours before the actual low tide. WDFW and DOH monitor to make sure the clams are safe to eat. If the water is too warm a ‘red tide’ a higher than normal algae bloom happens and consequently the clams become toxic and not safe to eat. Cancelled clam digs may force you to postpone your dig. To purposefully plan your clam digging experience, you will need to monitor the website noted above. Make your reservation at the resort.

Equipment Needed and Understanding the “Show”

All you need is a clam shovel or gun, a license and a bag to put the clams in. The limit is 15 clams and the WDFW highly suggests teach the children how to dig. Here is a great video from the WDFW. As an illustration go to (:32) for kid digging with a shovel, (1:40) to see how the “gun” works. Clams “show” by creating a divot in the sand. The clams on the Long Beach Washington Peninsula can be very tricky, learn to pound sand. This 9 min video from the WDFW shows (2:40), shovel digging (3:21), clam “show” (5:06) and tube digging (5:16). You may want to book one of our three bedroom suites that have two private king bedrooms downstairs and a private queen bedroom upstairs. Each suite has its own kitchen where you can cook up these delicious clams.

Safety and Clean up

Sneaker waves can attack cars if you don’t park a good distance from the water as it begins to creep in. Over the years, we have seen many a wave grab people, animals and even vehicles. The ocean is a powerful being and you should always keep your eyes on the waves, digging towards the ocean not with your back to the tide. Lastly, please clean up all trash and leave no trace that you have been there, we want our sea life and ocean beaches to remain pristine. The Lighthouse Oceanfront Resort has a great FAQ’s page to summarize resort specifics for your clamming experience in Long Beach Washington.