Razor Clamming Back Today on N. Oregon Coast's Clatsop Beaches After 3-Month Closure

Published 10/01/25 at 6:45 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Seaside, Oregon) - Razor clam harvesting has resumed today - October 1 - along the Clatsop beaches of the north Oregon coast, after the annual conservation closure that began July 15. The reopening marks a seasonal shift for recreational diggers and maybe a reason to whoop it up (if you're a clam fan). Officials say there are promising signs for future harvests based on recent population surveys. (Photo Seaside Aquarium)

During the summer closure, shellfish biologists from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) conducted assessments of razor clam populations along Clatsop’s shoreline, which accounts for roughly 90 percent of the Oregon coast's total razor clam harvest. Biologist Matt Hunter reported a strong showing of juvenile clams, with an average of 1.47 clams per square meter - nearly double the 20-year average of 0.75. These young clams are expected to drive a large-scale harvest season in 2026.

The total clam count, including both juvenile and adult specimens, reached 2.47 clams per square meter, the third-highest figure recorded since ODFW began monitoring in 2004. Most clams currently measure between two and a half and three inches, with an average length of three and a half inches. Few exceed four inches.

They are still on the small side. Hunter advises diggers to be selective this fall, however.

“For the best chance to find a larger clam, target only the large clam shows - the ones that are bigger than a nickel,” he said. “Once the young clams start growing in spring 2026, digging could be much more successful. But you still need to focus on the biggest shows to find those larger clams.”

ODFW reminds harvesters that only the first 15 clams dug - regardless of size or condition - may be kept. Before heading out, diggers should check for biotoxin advisories by calling the Shellfish Safety Hotline at 1-800-448-2474 or visiting the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin webpage.

The Clatsop region’s razor clam abundance is attributed in part to nutrient-rich outflows from the Columbia River and Necanicum River, which also support high concentrations of diatoms - microscopic algae that form the base of the food chain. These conditions not only favor razor clams but also contribute to the proliferation of sand dollars in areas like northern Seaside. While the exact combination of factors remains somewhat mysterious, fewer human disturbances and consistent nutrient input appear to play key roles.

Nearby, Washington’s Long Beach also supports a significant razor clam population, making this part of the Pacific Northwest a hotspot for shellfish enthusiasts as fall digging season begins.

The Washington side of the coast just gave the go-ahead for more clam dig dates.

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