Camping & Razor clamming on the coast of Washington

Razor clam season is in full swing and we have been sure to take part in this abundant recreational activity. The sport is easy, fun and most of all - abundant. The Pacific razor clam is one of the most sought out shellfish in the State of Washington. People of all ages make the trek to the coast to enjoy this activity. 

A baby razor clam

This activity requires some back and leg workClam digging on the coast of WashingtonA clam dimple - a sign there is a clam under thereClam guns are the best tool for this activityHigh top boots or waders are a must to stay comfortable out thereA bountiful harvest

And what better way to make it an even more enjoyable time? Camping of course! And it's a great time, too, because the season starts in the Fall and lasts through April-May, which is a period in which most campgrounds are empty and easier to score a sweet site.

Clamming, camping, and chillin' on the beach are a great way to make the best of the weekends. It makes going back to work on Monday's not so bad after all. 

Bring your furry family members alongEnjoying what the coast has to offerFun in the sand

Preparing the clam is a bit time consuming but once you do the first two, the rest will be quite easy. But before you start removing the shells, it would be best to let them soak in a bucket overnight (preferably in the ocean water you have harvested them from) so that they can spit all of the sand out. There are two ways that you can remove the shell from the clam. One, you can simply remove the shell by taking a sharp pairing knife and gently tear away the meat from the shell. 

The second way is to boil a pot of water and simply drizzle the water over the clam. Like magic the shell will pop off of the clam. I must warn you, though, that it is quite a messy job, so be sure to choose a big working area and have lots of towels around to clean up all the drippings. Here is a YouTube video that demonstrates this, as well as how to cut the meat, what to keep and what to discard.

Once you have cleaned all of your clams, you can go ahead and fry them up or freeze them to enjoy them later. We love to prepare these clams katsu style (Panko) and served with a side of Kathy's (the gal in the YouTube video above) Rock-The-World Tarter Sauce. It is the BEST homemade tarter sauce on this planet! Bon appetite!

Katsu style razor clams

Kathy’s Rock-The-World Tartar Sauce (Makes 2 cups)

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise 

1/4 cup finely chopped dill pickle or dill pickle relish 

2 Tbsps drained capers, chopped 

1 green onion, very thinly sliced 

1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard 

1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce 

2 Tbsps chopped parsley 

1/4 tsp celery seed 

2 Tbsps fresh lemon juice 

1/2 tsp granulated garlic 

1/2 tsp salt 

1/4 tsp black pepper

In a medium bowl, mix all the ingredients.

Before heading out, be sure to check out Washington State's Fish and Wildlife website for information on approved dig dates, times, and tide levels. A shellfish license is also required, but very easy obtain. There is also a limit of 15 clams per license, per day. More information on the rules and regulations for this activity can be found here. As with all type of seafood harvests, it is always important to follow the rules so that future generations can take part in them, too. Enjoy!