Washington Razor Clams — Food, Rules & Recipes

Websites, regulations, harvest process, cleaning, and recipes

Summary for Washington coastal recreational diggers • Last revised: 2025‑12‑09

Overview

This handout is a print‑friendly overview of Washington razor clam digging. It highlights key official websites, current high‑level regulations, safety information, and links to trusted how‑to and recipe resources. It is not a substitute for the official Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) regulations or Washington State Department of Health (DOH) safety information.

Key official websites

Regulations & safety basics (high‑level summary)

Licenses

  • As of the 2025–2026 sport‑fishing rules, everyone age 16 or older must have a valid Washington license to harvest razor clams. A combination, shellfish/seaweed, or razor clam license all qualify.
  • Carry your license on you while digging and transporting clams.
  • Special rules apply if you are digging for someone with a disability using a designated harvester companion card.

Daily limit, size, and possession

  • No minimum size limit for razor clams.
  • Standard daily limit on Washington ocean beaches remains 15 razor clams per person. Always confirm current limits on the WDFW razor clam page for the specific season.
  • You must keep the first 15 clams you dig, regardless of size or condition (broken clams count). You may not discard small or damaged clams to “upgrade.”
  • Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container. You may not mix multiple limits in a shared bucket or bag.
  • You may possess only one daily limit of fresh razor clams. Additional clams must be in frozen or processed form that is clearly from an earlier dig.

Allowed gear

  • Razor clams may be harvested only by hand, hand‑operated shovel, or a tube (“clam gun”).
  • Clam tube outside diameter must be at least 4 inches (or 4 × 3 inches if elliptical).
  • Diggers may share shovels or tubes, but each person must collect and carry their own clams.

Openings, closures, and beach status

  • WDFW sets razor clam seasons and beach openings based on clam population surveys and management goals.
  • DOH runs the statewide Shellfish Safety Map and biotoxin program. Beaches can close because of domoic acid (ASP), paralytic or diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, Vibrio, or pollution.
  • You may harvest razor clams only when both:
    • WDFW has opened the specific beach for razor clams, and
    • DOH lists the area as open for razor clams on the Shellfish Safety Map.
  • Check WDFW’s razor clam seasons page and DOH’s map on the same day you plan to dig, then re‑check shortly before you head out. Emergency closures can occur with little notice.

Vehicles, horses, and protected areas

  • Washington regulations make it unlawful to drive or operate a motor vehicle, land an airplane, or ride or lead a horse on razor clam beds, as defined in Washington Administrative Code.
  • eRegulations describes this prohibited zone as roughly west of a line about 150 feet waterward of the extreme upper limit of the hard‑sand area on coastal beaches.
  • Several short stretches of beach are marked as razor clam reserves where digging is not allowed. Obey posted signs and the boundaries shown in current pamphlets and on official maps.

Health and consumption

  • Marine biotoxins such as domoic acid can accumulate in razor clams. Cooking or freezing does not destroy these toxins.
  • Washington DOH currently advises most healthy adults to limit their intake of razor clams to about 15 clams per month, averaged over the year, to reduce long‑term exposure to domoic acid. Children and some adults may need to eat fewer clams.
  • Always verify beach status on the DOH Shellfish Safety Map and follow any DOH or local health department advisories.

Important: This section is a convenience summary only. Regulations, closures, and advisories can change at any time. Always rely on current WDFW regulations, DOH advisories, and applicable tribal or federal rules for the exact area where you plan to dig.

Before you go: quick checklist

  1. Confirm you have a valid shellfish license (combination, shellfish/seaweed, or razor clam).
  2. Check the current WDFW razor clam seasons and emergency rule changes for your beach.
  3. Check the DOH Shellfish Safety Map for biotoxin and pollution closures.
  4. Verify any special rules on tribal or National Park Service beaches (for example, Kalaloch).
  5. Review tides, surf forecasts, and beach access rules for the area you plan to use.
  6. Bring separate containers for each digger’s limit.
  7. Plan how you will keep clams cool and clean on the way home.

Finding and digging razor clams (summary)

WDFW and Serious Eats both provide excellent step‑by‑step photos and videos for spotting “shows” (dimples, doughnuts, and keyholes) and using a shovel or clam gun. This section is only a brief reminder.

On the beach

  • Arrive early enough before low tide to walk to the low‑tide line safely.
  • Look for classic razor clam “shows” in wet sand: small dimples or doughnut‑shaped depressions.
  • Watch the surf edge; clams often show right at the advancing or receding wave line, especially when you “stomp” the sand.

With a clam gun

  • Place the tube slightly seaward of the show, slanted toward shore.
  • Push the tube straight down while rocking gently; cover the vent hole at the top.
  • Twist and pull the core of sand out, then search the core and the hole for the clam.

With a shovel

  • Start a few inches seaward of the show and dig a vertical cut.
  • Quickly scoop back toward the show, keeping your shovel away from the clam.
  • Use your hand to follow the clam down in the sand, grabbing gently behind the shell to avoid cutting the neck.

Cleaning, storage, and basic cooking

Cleaning and gutting

  1. Rinse sand off the shells as soon as possible after digging.
  2. Place clams in a sink or large pan and pour boiling water over them (about 1 quart for 15 clams). After roughly 10 seconds, drain and immediately transfer clams to cold water.
  3. Remove meat from shells, split the body, and carefully remove and discard the dark digestive tract and gills. Rinse away all sand.
  4. Keep cleaned clam meat refrigerated and use promptly or freeze.

Transport and storage

  • Transport live clams cool and dry, not in fresh water.
  • Avoid keeping clams sealed in a small amount of seawater for long periods, which can lead to off‑flavors from waste products.
  • Refrigerate cleaned clam meat as soon as you get home or freeze for longer storage.

Simple cooking ideas

  • Classic pan‑fried steaks: Pound cleaned siphon and foot lightly, bread in seasoned crumbs, and fry quickly in a hot pan with oil or butter until just cooked through.
  • Chowder: Use chopped razor clams in place of other clams in your favorite chowder recipe. Add clam meat near the end and avoid vigorous boiling.
  • Pasta or rice dishes: Stir chopped razor clams into cream or tomato sauces at the last minute so they stay tender.

For detailed cleaning photos, step‑by‑step instructions, and many tested recipes, see the WDFW processing and recipe booklets and the Serious Eats guide listed in the Websites and References sections.

References (footnotes)

  1. WDFW, “Razor clam seasons and beaches,” https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/razor-clams .
  2. WDFW, “Razor clam (Siliqua patula) species profile,” https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/siliqua-patula .
  3. eRegulations, “Washington Razor Clam Rules,” https://www.eregulations.com/washington/fishing/razor-clam-rules .
  4. WDFW, “Shellfishing regulations,” https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations .
  5. WDFW, “Clam, mussel, and oyster harvest (shellfish beaches),” https://wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/shellfish-beaches .
  6. Washington State DOH, “Shellfish Safety Map,” https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/biotoxin/biotoxin.html .
  7. Washington State DOH, “Domoic acid and razor clam advisory,” https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/shellfish/recreational-shellfish/illnesses/biotoxins/domoic-acid-razor-clams .
  8. WDFW, “How to dig razor clams,” https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/basics/digging-razor-clams .
  9. WDFW, “Processing Washington clams for eating and recipes” (PDF), https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/bklt_processing_wa_clams_for_eating_and_recipes_2.pdf .
  10. WDFW, “Razor Clam Recipes” (PDF), https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-10/clam_recipes_0.pdf .
  11. Becky Selengut, “Pacific Razor Clams: How to Catch, Clean, and Cook Them,” Serious Eats, updated 2024‑06‑04, https://www.seriouseats.com/razor-clam-guide .
  12. National Park Service, “Razor clam harvest at Kalaloch beach,” https://www.nps.gov/olym/learn/news/razor-clam-harvest-at-kalaloch-beach.htm .