Changes in sport clam seasons on public tidelands

Action: Several sport clam fishing seasons will be adjusted to reflect new population assessments or bring them into alignment with Department of Health (DOH) beach closures.

December 28, 2015 2:22 am

Action: Several sport clam fishing seasons will be adjusted to reflect new population assessments or bring them into alignment with Department of Health (DOH) beach closures.

Effective Dates: Jan. 1 until further notice.

Species affected: Clams

Locations and seasons:

  • Belfair State Park: Open year-round.
  • Drayton West: Open Feb.1 through Oct. 31.
  • Freeland County Park: Open March 1 through May 15.
  • Point Whitney Lagoon: Open Jan.1 through April 30.
  • Point Whitney Tidelands: Open Jan. 1 through March 15.

Reason for action:

 

  • Belfair State Park: Increases in clam biomass will support a year-round season.
  • Point Whitney Tidelands and Point Whitney Lagoon: Increases in clam biomass will support 2.5 and 4 month seasons.
  • Drayton West: This is a portion of Drayton Harbor that DOH has approved for recreational harvest. The season has been set to coordinate with DOH conditional closures in the area.
  • Freeland County Park: Recreational harvest and biomass surveys indicate this park can support a 2.5 month long season. The timing of this season has been coordinated with DOH and Island County Health Department. The oyster seasons at Freeland County Park and Drayton West should coincide with the clam seasons on those beaches.

Other information: Check the current shellfish section of the WDFW webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish for details on shellfish seasons and regulations.