Clam diggers can clean off their shovels and tubes, find their licenses and pack a cooler, the next razor clam dig starts Friday. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife gave the go ahead this morning.

Three evening digs are scheduled at Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks Friday through Sunday, while Long Beach will be open Saturday and Sunday.

The department authorized the digs after a series of marine toxin tests conducted by the state Department of Health confirmed the clams are safe to eat.

As long as the weather cooperates, the weekend should be good for clam digging, Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager, said in a prepared statement. "There are plenty of clams and the low tides are early enough for folks to dig during daylight hours."

Digging will be allowed only between noon and midnight. Ayres said the best time to dig is an hour or two before low tide. The low tide times are: Friday, 3:55 p.m., -0.1 feet; Saturday, 4:50 p.m., -0.4 feet; and Sunday, 5:39 p.m., -0.6 feet.

Kalaloch Beach in Olympic National Park is closed but may open this spring if the clam population grows to harvestable size.

Harvesters keep no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.

A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2008 Washington state annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination license is still valid. Another option is a razor-clam only license available in annual or three-day only versions.

Click here for descriptions of the various licensing options.