OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has tentatively scheduled three razor clam digs for December, including 15 total digging days in the month and a three-day New Year's Eve dig at four coastal razor clam beaches.

Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager, said final word on the first series of digs will be announced after marine-toxin test results confirm clams are safe to eat prior to each dig.

"Although these digs are still tentative, tide levels look good," said Ayres. "That's especially true for the eight-day dig beginning Nov. 30, and for the New Year's Eve dig."

He highlighted ample opportunities to dig tasty razors for holiday celebrations this year.

"Razor clam digging on New Year's Eve has become a tradition for many Washingtonians," said Ayres. "The tides aren't conducive to a holiday dig every year, but they're with us in 2013."

In past years, as many as 20,000 people have descended on ocean beaches to dig razor clams on New Year's Eve, Ayres said. Dates, beaches, and evening low tides for the proposed end-of-the-year digs are as follows:

Nov. 30, Saturday, 4:28 pm; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks
Dec. 1, Sunday, 5:13 pm; -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 2, Monday, 5:59 pm; -1.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 3, Tuesday, 6:44 pm; -1.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Dec. 4, Wednesday, 7:30 pm; -1.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
Dec. 5, Thursday, 8:17 pm; -1.4 feet; Twin Harbors
Dec. 6, Friday, 9:05 pm; -1.0 feet; Twin Harbors
Dec. 7, Saturday, 9:56 pm; -0.3 feet; Twin Harbors
Dec. 14, Saturday, 4:45 pm; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks
Dec. 15, Sunday, 5:26 pm; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbor, and Mocrocks
Dec. 16, Monday, 6:03 pm; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Mocrocks
Dec. 17, Tuesday, 6:38 pm; -0.4 feet; Twin Harbors
Dec. 18, Wednesday, 7:12 pm; -0.3 feet; Twin Harbors
Dec. 29, Sunday, 4:05 pm; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks
Dec. 30, Monday, 4:55 pm; -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks
Dec. 31, Tuesday, 5:42 pm; -1.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, and Mocrocks

Under state law, diggers can take 15 razor clams per day and are required to keep the first 15 they dig. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.

All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2013-14 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach. Licenses, ranging from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, are available on WDFW's website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov and from license vendors around the state.

Comprehensive information about razor clams - from updates on tentative digs to how-to advice on digging and cooking - is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams/ .