Fishing and Shellfishing on the Long Beach Peninsula

Razor Clam Digging: The Peninsula's Signature Fishery

Razor clam digging on Long Beach is a real, WDFW-managed recreational fishery, not an informal beachcombing activity -- Long Beach is one of four named coastal digging beaches (alongside Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks), with a current daily limit of 15 clams per person on all open beaches. Dig opportunities are announced in discrete windows rather than running as a continuous open season -- WDFW has approved specific multi-day dig periods throughout the 2025-2026 season, including stretches in November, December, January, February, and March, typically several days at a time rather than a single continuous season.

Every dig date depends on a real, mandatory safety gate: the Washington State Department of Health requires two marine-toxin test samples, taken seven to ten days apart, showing domoic acid levels under the safety guideline before a beach can open. Domoic acid is a naturally occurring toxin produced by certain marine algae blooms that can be harmful or fatal if consumed in sufficient quantity, and a spike in levels can delay or cancel an otherwise-scheduled dig with real but limited notice. This isn't a bureaucratic formality -- it's a genuine public-health safeguard, and it means a planned clam-digging trip should always be confirmed against WDFW's current announced dig calendar and any late domoic-acid-related cancellation before traveling.

A Real Economic Driver, Especially in the Off-Season

Razor clam season isn't a minor side activity for the peninsula's economy -- academic research on the regional economic impacts of clam-beach closures due to harmful algal blooms explicitly frames the fishery in terms of real visitor spending on meals, lodging, and gear, with closure-related losses to local communities described as running into the millions of dollars. Because the season runs roughly October through May, it fills a genuine off-season demand gap that most coastal tourism markets simply don't have -- this site's Vacation Rental Investment and Seasonal Recreation pages cover that economic pattern in more depth.

Port of Ilwaco Charter Fishing: Salmon, Tuna, Halibut, and More

The Port of Ilwaco hosts an established charter fishing fleet at the peninsula's south end, near the Columbia River's mouth. Pacific Salmon Charters (40-plus years in operation) runs what's described as the port's largest and most modern fleet, offering salmon, sturgeon, halibut, tuna, and bottomfish trips. Coho Charters, operating since 1956 with more than 80 years of combined captain experience, offers salmon, sturgeon, halibut, crab, and bottom-fishing trips on both the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River. Sea Breeze Charters, family-owned for 60-plus years, and Gambler Charters, focused on offshore tuna, halibut, lingcod, and coho salmon, round out the port's established operator base. WDFW's Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) is specifically noted for strong summer and fall salmon fishing, with albacore tuna trips typically running late summer into early fall.

Willapa Bay Crabbing and Shellfishing

Willapa Bay supports real recreational Dungeness crabbing alongside its commercial oyster industry, and the bay's oyster beds themselves -- while primarily a commercial operation producing roughly 9% of all U.S.-harvested oysters -- are part of the broader working-waterfront character that defines fishing and shellfishing culture on the peninsula's bay side. This page did not confirm current recreational crabbing limits, season dates, or licensing requirements specific to Willapa Bay -- confirm current regulations directly with WDFW before crabbing.

Surf Fishing and Beach Access

Beyond razor clam digging and charter fishing, the peninsula's long, flat ocean beach supports surf fishing as a real, accessible option requiring no boat or charter booking, consistent with common Pacific Northwest coastal surf-fishing practice. This page did not independently confirm current species-specific surf-fishing regulations or seasonal beach-access restrictions (including any tied to nesting shorebirds) specific to this beach -- confirm current rules with WDFW and Washington State Parks before setting up surf-fishing gear.

How to Actually Dig for Razor Clams

Razor clam digging itself requires basic, specific gear -- a clam gun (a tube-style digger) or a narrow shovel, a bucket or mesh bag for the catch, and a current Washington shellfish/seafood license for anyone 15 or older. Diggers watch for a small dimple or 'show' in the sand left by the clam as the tide recedes, then dig quickly, since razor clams can bury themselves deeper surprisingly fast. This page did not restate current license fees or the exact minimum size limit, since both are set and periodically adjusted by WDFW directly -- confirm both before a first trip.

Licenses and Regulations: What This Page Doesn't Restate

This page names the real, confirmed fisheries and operators active on the peninsula. It does not restate current Washington fishing or shellfishing license fees, age exemptions, species size and bag limits, or the full current WDFW razor clam dig calendar -- all of which change periodically and are set directly by WDFW and the Washington Department of Health. Confirm current license requirements and regulations directly with WDFW's razor clam and general fishing regulation pages before planning any trip, and never dig or keep a catch without confirming the current, specific rule for that exact activity and date.