Razor clamming, explained
Everything we wish someone had told us before our first dig — clear, current, and written for the Washington and Oregon coast. No ads, no fluff.
Getting started
What Is a Razor Clam? The Pacific Northwest's Prized Catch
Meet the Pacific razor clam — what it is, how big it gets, how fast it digs, where it lives, and why thousands of people line up on the Washington and Oregon coast to catch it.
Read guide →Pacific Northwest Clam Identification Guide
How to tell apart the clams of the Washington and Oregon coast — razor clams, gapers, cockles, butter clams, littlenecks, softshells, and the invasive purple varnish clam — by shell, size, and where they live.
Read guide →Razor Clam Gear Checklist — What to Bring
The complete razor clamming gear list for the Washington and Oregon coast — clam gun vs. shovel, what to wear for a cold evening dig, and the small things people forget.
Read guide →Technique
How to Dig Razor Clams — A Beginner's Guide
Reading a clam show, using a clam gun or shovel, and the one trick that keeps you from crushing clams. Everything a first-timer needs to fill a limit on the Washington or Oregon coast.
Read guide →Clam Gun vs. Shovel — Which Should You Use?
The honest comparison for razor clammers. When a clam gun beats a shovel, when it doesn't, what to look for in each, and which one a beginner should buy first.
Read guide →How to Clean Razor Clams (Step by Step)
Blanch, open, and clean razor clams the right way — what to keep, what to cut out, and how to store or freeze your catch so it stays tender.
Read guide →Planning
Razor Clam Season & Dig Dates — How They Actually Work
When razor clam season runs in Washington and Oregon, why WDFW only confirms digs a few days out, and how to never miss an approval. The timing that decides whether you dig.
Read guide →The Best Time to Dig Razor Clams
The best time of day, tide, and season to dig razor clams on the Washington and Oregon coast — and why the perfect window shifts from winter evenings to spring mornings.
Read guide →Bay clams
Pacific Northwest Bay Clams — Species & Where to Dig
A guide to bay clamming in Oregon and Washington — the species (gaper, cockle, butter, littleneck, softshell, purple varnish), the best bays to dig them, and how it differs from razor clamming.
Read guide →How to Dig Bay Clams — Technique & Limits
How to dig gapers, cockles, butter clams, littlenecks, and softshells in Pacific Northwest estuaries — the right tool for each species, how to find shows, and the daily limits in Oregon and Washington.
Read guide →Crabbing
Dungeness Crabbing — A Beginner's Guide
How to catch Dungeness crab on the Washington and Oregon coast — pots, rings, and snares, the best bait, how to measure and sex a crab, and where to crab from a dock or boat.
Read guide →Crab Limits & Seasons (Oregon & Washington)
Dungeness and red rock crab daily limits, minimum sizes, gear rules, and seasons for Oregon, coastal Washington, and Puget Sound — plus the catch record card and biotoxin closures.
Read guide →Never miss a dig
Learn the craft here — and let us watch the calendar. Free alerts the moment your beach is open and safe.
You're on the list!
We'll alert you the moment your beach is cleared to dig — open and safe, with the tide window. Tight clams. 🦪