LONG BEACH, Wash – Clam diggers Monday got the go-ahead to proceed with the second razor clam dig of the fall season starting this week.

Additional digging opportunities are planned in December.

Four evening digs are scheduled at Copalis and Mocrocks Thursday through Sunday, while Long Beach and Twin Harbors are scheduled for three evening digs Friday through Sunday. Digging will be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife approved the digs at the four beaches after a series of marine toxin tests confirmed the clams were safe to eat.

Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager, suggests that clam diggers take lights or lanterns with them because of the times of the low tides. He also recommends checking weather and surf forecasts before heading out.

Harvesters are allowed to take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.

A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2008 annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination fishing license is valid. Another option is a razor clam-only license available in annual or three-day-only versions. Descriptions of the various licensing options are available on the WDFW Web site at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov . Clam diggers are not required to display their licenses on outer clothing.

Ayres said more harvest dates would be announced following the December opener.

Kalaloch Beach in Olympic National Park will remain closed at least until spring 2009, said Karen Gustin, ONP superintendent.

“Kalaloch was closed for the entire season last year because the clam population was so low,” Gustin said. “But there is a population of small clams now at Kalaloch that may grow to harvestable size by spring.”

WDFW and ONP jointly manage the recreational razor clam fishery at Kalaloch.

Opening dates and evening low tides are:

? Thursday 6:27 p.m. -1.6 Copalis, Mocrocks

? Friday 7:15 p.m. -1.8 Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

? Saturday 8:04 p.m. -1.6 Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

? Sunday 8:54 p.m. -1.2 Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

A December dig has been tentatively scheduled for:

? Dec. 11 (5:23 p.m. -1.1) Copalis, Mocrocks

? Dec. 12 (6:13 p.m. -1.5) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

? Dec. 13 (7:02 p.m. -1.6) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

? Dec. 14 (7:50 p.m. -1.4) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

Beaches scheduled to open are:

? Long Beach, which extends from the Columbia River to Leadbetter Point.

? Twin Harbors Beach, which extends from the mouth of Willapa Bay north to the south jetty at the mouth of Grays Harbor.

? Copalis Beach, which extends from the Grays Harbor north jetty to the Copalis River, and includes the Copalis, Ocean Shores, Oyhut, Ocean City and Copalis areas.

? 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.