Digging for Littleneck Clams on the Hood Canal WA

digging-for-clams-on-the-hood-canal-waOne of my most favorite things in life is to sit down to a big kettle of steamed clams freshly dug up from along the beaches of the Hood Canal here in Washington State.

A popular clam digging location, Point Whitney Tidelands and Lagoon is opening for a short season, starting March 15th. The Lagoon will be open from March 1st through March 31st, and the Tidelands will be open from March 15th until April 30th.

You’ll need to have your WA State Fishing or Shellfishing License with you (last years 2010 license is still good through March 31st.

Remember the legal limit you can dig each day is only forty (40) of all species combined, i.e. native littlenecks, manilas, and butter clams.

Jake’s Steamed Heaven

Soak your clams in fresh water for an hour or so to allow the to spit out their grit. Scrub and rinse your clams. Discard any that are cracked or open.

In a large kettle, I like to saute some freshly chopped onion and garlic in butter, add in some parsley, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, and a 1/4 cup of white wine. Then add in the clams and pour in water until it’s just about an inch below the top of the clams. Cover and bring to boil. Shortly after it reaches boiling, the clams should all be opened up. Turn off the heat and cover for 5 minutes.

I always try to serve steamed clams with a tossed Romaine salad, generous amounts of sourdough french bread dripping with garlic butter,  and a nice chilled glass of Pinot Grigio.

Can You Dig It?

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kitsap-county-wa-real-estate

Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, HomesByHarbors, SOUNDBITEBLOG, ActiveRain, Everyday CK, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

Spring Razor Clamming is in the Air!

March 4, 2010 by rich @ 5:55 am
Filed under: Clamming Tags: , , ,

The WA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife has tentatively scheduled two Spring Razor Clam digs.

Our good friends in Olympia recently announced two proposed razor-clam digs on WA ocean beaches later this month and again in mid-April.razor-clamming-in-wa-state

As is typical, the final go ahead for both digs will depend upon results of marine toxin tests to determine if the clams are safe to eat.

Clam digging enthusiasts should take note that the first opening – scheduled March 26-April 1 at various ocean beaches – starts on evening tides, while the last four days switch to morning tides.

The proposed days, tides and beach openings for this month’s dig are as follows:

  • Friday, March 26, (4:29 p.m., +0.1) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Kalaloch
  • Saturday, March 27, (5:19 p.m., -0.1) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch
  • Sunday, March 28, (6:04 p.m., 0.0) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
  • Monday, March 29, (6:35 A.M., -0.1) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
  • Tuesday, March 30, (7:22 A.M., -0.7) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
  • Wednesday, March 31, (8:07 A.M., -1.0) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
  • Thursday, April 1, (8:52 A.M., -1.0) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only

The second dig is also tentatively scheduled on morning tides in mid-April on the following days and beaches:

  • Friday,  April 16, (8:32 A.M., -0.7) Long Beach and Twin Harbors only
  • Saturday,  April 17, (9:12 A.M., -0.7) Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Kalaloch only
  • Sunday, April 18, (9:56 A.M., -0.6) Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Kalaloch only

Remember that your 2009-10 annual shell-fishing license is good through March 31st. However, a new license is needed for the April dig.

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kitsap-county-wa-real-estate

Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG, ActiveRain, Everyday CK, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

New Proposed Rules Reduce Recreational Crabbing

January 29, 2010 by rich @ 11:26 am
Filed under: Crabbing Tags: , , , , ,

dungeness-crab-on-the-hood-canal-wa

During an upcoming public meeting scheduled for Feb. 4 thru 6 in Olympia, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider adopting a new package of sportfishing rules for 2010-12, as well as updates to the Columbia River sturgeon management policy.

Of particular interest is a proposed change to the Dungeness Crab Season and Daily Limit. This past year when the season opened, recreational crabbing was allowed each week from Wednesday through Saturday, with a legal limit of 5 per day, per licensed person. The newly proposed rules would change the allowable days for crabbing to Friday through Monday, and reduce the legal limit down to 4 per day, per licensed person.

While the day changes are certainly welcome, it’s hard to swallow (or maybe I should say ‘not’ to swallow) the reduction in daily limits. This is the second time in recent years that the limit amount has been lowered.

The commission, a nine-member citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), will convene for its regular meeting Feb. 5-6 in Room 172 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. both days.

For more information, go to WA Dept of Fish & Wildlife

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG, ActiveRain, Everyday CK, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

Marine Toxins Foil Long Beach Razor Clam Dig

January 22, 2010 by rich @ 11:22 am
Filed under: Clamming Tags: , , ,

Can You ‘Dig’ it?…..well, maybe not!razor-clamming-on-the-WA-coast

The upcoming Razor Clam Dig tentatively scheduled to open with evening tides at Long Beach on January 27th has been canceled due to the detection of elevated levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in clams collected along coastal beaches, according to Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager.

PSP is a marine toxin produced by a certain type of algae that can cause paralysis and even death if consumed in sufficient quantities (although there haven’t been any fatalities since 1942).

These findings will also delay final decisions about digs at Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, and Kalaloch beaches until sometime next week.

You can find the most current updates on the razor clam dig schedule, posted on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/shelfish/razorclm/season.htm.

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG, ActiveRain, Everyday CK, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com

WA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife on Twitter!

twitter-is-a-powerful-social-media-toolAs most of my readers know, I’m a huge social media junkie enthusiast. I’ve been blogging since 2005 and use loads of Internet social media tools and networks to promote/build my real estate business.

One such tool is Twitter, a hyper-blogging platform (or is that a platform for hyper bloggers?) I currently follow 1,942 Twits and, in turn, have 1,886 Twits that follow me. It’s a great venue for spreading information rapidly and connecting with friends. It’s just now catching on here in the West Sound. My Twitter username is @kitsapagent.

I’m always excited when I see other people, companies, and organizations beginning to understand the power of social media, and embrace emerging technology.

Kudos to the folks at Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife for jumping onto the Twitter Twain. You can follow them @wdfw.

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com and SOUNDBITEBLOG, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com