How to Dig Razor Clams

How to Dig Razor Clams

Digging razor clams is one of the most popular traditions on the Washington coast, and it doesn't take long to learn the basics. With a clam gun or shovel, a little practice, and the ability to recognize a clam show, even a first-time digger can bring home razor clams.

The process starts with finding a clam beneath the sand. From there, you'll position your digging tool, work quickly before the clam escapes deeper, and carefully retrieve it without damaging its fragile shell.

This guide walks you through the process step by step—from spotting your first clam show to using a clam gun or shovel and retrieving the clam from the sand.

New to razor clamming? Don't worry if you miss a few at first. Finding shows and judging exactly where a clam is sitting beneath the sand gets much easier with practice.

Before you can dig a razor clam, you need to find one. Look across the exposed wet sand for a clam show—a small hole or depression created when a razor clam withdraws its neck or begins digging beneath the surface.

There are three common types of razor clam shows:

• Dimple — A shallow depression in the sand. These can be subtle and easy to walk past.
• Doughnut — A depression surrounded by slightly raised sand, giving it a doughnut-like appearance.
• Keyhole — A more defined opening with distinct sides. Some have an hourglass-like shape.

Tip: Larger shows can sometimes indicate a larger clam, although that's not always the case.

If you're having trouble finding shows, try firmly tapping the sand with your foot or the handle of your clam shovel near the edge of the surf. A buried clam may react by creating a new show or squirting sand and water from its hole.

Once you see a good show, don't wait too long. Razor clams can dig quickly in soft, wet sand, so mark the spot and get ready to dig.

Our razor clam identification guide explains the features to check after retrieving a clam from the sand.

Once you've found a clam show, place your clam gun over it. Razor clams don't usually sit perfectly centered beneath the show, so positioning the gun correctly helps you avoid damaging the shell.

Place the tube over the show with the handle angled slightly toward the ocean. This positions the gun to follow the clam's typical orientation beneath the sand.

1. Center the clam show near the opening of the clam gun.
2. Angle the handle slightly toward the ocean rather than pushing the gun perfectly straight down.
3. Push the tube into the sand using a steady twisting motion.
4. Keep the air vent open while pushing the gun down so air and water can escape.

Push the gun deep enough to get below the clam. Avoid repeatedly plunging the gun into the same hole, since the edge of the tube can crack or cut the clam's shell.

Tip: If you're new to using a clam gun, focus on smooth positioning and a steady push rather than speed. You'll get faster naturally as you learn how the gun feels in different sand conditions.

Once the clam gun is deep enough, it's time to pull the column of sand out of the hole.

1. Cover the air vent with your finger or thumb. Sealing the vent creates suction inside the tube.
2. Pull the clam gun straight up using a smooth, steady motion.
3. Move the gun beside the hole and release the vent.
4. Dump out the sand plug and look carefully for the razor clam.

If everything lined up correctly, the clam will often be somewhere inside the column of sand you just removed. Check the loose sand carefully before digging again.

If the clam isn't there, don't assume you missed it completely. It may still be inside the hole and digging deeper.

Tip: Razor clam shells are thin and fragile. If you see or feel the clam, use your hands carefully rather than striking at it with the edge of the clam gun.

If the razor clam isn't in the sand plug, it may still be inside the hole. Once disturbed, razor clams can quickly dig deeper, so this is the time to use your hands rather than repeatedly plunging the clam gun into the sand.

1. Reach carefully into the hole. Feel along the sides and bottom for the clam or its shell.
2. Follow the clam downward. If you feel it moving deeper, work your hand into the sand alongside it.
3. Grasp the clam gently but securely. Razor clam shells are thin and can break if squeezed too hard.
4. Pull it free from the sand. Use steady pressure rather than yanking or twisting the shell.

Be careful when reaching into the hole. A damaged razor clam shell can have sharp edges, so avoid blindly forcing your hand against anything hard.

Important: If you dig up a razor clam, keep it even if the shell is cracked or damaged. A damaged clam still counts toward your daily limit.

Tip: Don't get discouraged when a clam gets away from you. Learning how quickly to react—and how the clam feels beneath the sand—is part of becoming a better razor clam digger.

A clam shovel is another effective way to dig razor clams. Instead of removing a column of sand like a clam gun, you dig alongside the clam and follow it downward until you can safely retrieve it by hand.

After finding a fresh clam show, position yourself so you can dig beside the clam rather than directly through it. The goal is to remove sand without striking the clam's fragile shell with the shovel blade.

1. Start beside the clam show. Place the shovel blade a few inches away from the show rather than directly on top of it.
2. Push the shovel into the sand. Keep the blade nearly vertical and remove a scoop of sand from beside the clam.
3. Continue working downward. Remove additional sand while following the clam's position deeper into the hole.
4. Switch to your hand when you get close. Once you locate or feel the clam, stop using the shovel so you don't strike the shell.
5. Grasp the clam carefully. Reach alongside it, hold the shell gently but securely, and pull it free from the sand.

Shovel digging takes a little practice, but it gives you excellent control and makes it possible to follow a clam that starts digging deeper.

Tip: Avoid chopping directly down through the clam show. Razor clam shells are thin, and a shovel can easily crack or cut the shell.

Sometimes you'll pull up your clam gun or remove a few shovelfuls of sand and discover that the clam isn't there. That doesn't necessarily mean you picked the wrong spot. Razor clams can quickly dig deeper when they sense the sand around them being disturbed.

If you know you're on a clam but haven't found it yet, stay focused on the same hole rather than immediately moving to another show.

1. Check the loose sand first. A clam can be surprisingly easy to overlook in the sand you've already removed.
2. Look inside the hole. You may see the clam, movement in the sand, or an indication of where it continued digging.
3. Use your hand when you're close. Carefully feel along the hole for the clam instead of repeatedly striking the area with your gun or shovel.
4. Follow it downward. If you feel the clam moving, work your hand alongside it and try to get your fingers beneath or around the shell.

Avoid aggressively chasing the clam with your digging tool. The farther you dig with a clam gun or shovel, the greater the chance of hitting and breaking the shell.

Tip: Missing a few clams is completely normal when you're learning. With practice, you'll get better at judging where the clam is beneath the show and reacting before it has time to dig deeper.

Razor clam digging gets much easier with practice, but a few common mistakes can make your first trips more difficult than they need to be.

• Waiting too long after finding a show. Once you disturb the sand, the clam may begin digging deeper. Get your gun or shovel into position and start digging promptly.
• Digging directly into the clam. Whether you're using a gun or shovel, remember that the clam is beneath the show. Good positioning reduces the chance of hitting its fragile shell.
• Chasing the clam with your digging tool. If you're close to the clam, switching to your hand is often safer than repeatedly digging deeper with a gun or shovel.
• Using too much force. Smooth, controlled movements usually work better than aggressively forcing a clam gun through the sand or chopping with a shovel.
• Giving up on the hole too quickly. Check the sand you've removed and the hole itself before moving on. The clam may still be there even if it wasn't where you expected.
• Discarding a damaged clam. If you dig up a razor clam and accidentally damage it, keep it. Damaged clams still count toward your daily limit.

Most importantly, don't worry about being perfect on your first dig. After you've dug a few clams, you'll begin recognizing shows faster, positioning your tool more accurately, and developing a feel for where the clam is beneath the sand.

For more help refining your technique, read our razor clamming tips and tricks.