FISHING RULE CHANGE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

October 3, 2006

Action: Open razor clam season

Effective dates: Oct. 6 through Oct. 9, 2006, 12:01 p.m. through 11:59 p.m. each day.

Species affected: Razor clams

Opening dates and evening low tides are:

· Friday, Oct. 6 (6: 39 p.m. -0.6) all beaches

· Saturday, Oct. 7 (7: 28 p.m. -1.3) all beaches

· Sunday, Oct. 8 (8: 16 p.m. -1.6) all beaches

· Monday, Oct. 9 (9: 03 p.m. -1.6) Twin Harbors and Long Beach only

Location: Locations of the five beaches that will open for razor clam digging are:

· Long Beach, which extends from the Columbia River to Leadbetter Point on the Long Beach Peninsula.

· Twin Harbors Beach, which extends from the mouth of Willapa Bay north to the mouth of Grays Harbor.

· Copalis Beach, which extends from the Grays Harbor North Jetty to the Copalis River, and includes beaches near Copalis, Ocean Shores, Oyhut and Ocean City.

· Mocrocks Beach, which extends from the Copalis River to the southern boundary of the Quinault Reservation near the Moclips River, including Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Pacific Beach and Moclips.

· Kalaloch Beach, which extends from the South Beach Campground to Browns Point (just south of Beach Trail 3) in the Olympic National ark.

Reasons for action: Marine toxins tests found that clams on these beaches are safe to eat.

Other information: Harvesters may take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 taken, regardless of size or condition. Each diggers limit must be kept in a separate container. A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2006 annual shellfish/seaweed, combination fishing license is still valid. Another option is a razor-clam only license available in annual or three-day only versions.

Information contact: Dan Ayres, WDFW (360) 249-4628

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDF