Razor clamming is the signature activity of the Washington coast, and Ocean Shores is one of the state's most productive clamming beaches. The season typically runs from late autumn through early spring, with specific dig dates set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife based on population surveys and biotoxin testing. You need a Washington shellfish/seaweed license, which is sold at local sporting goods shops and convenience stores.
The technique is straightforward but requires practice. Look for a small dimple in the wet sand — called a "show" — left by the clam when a wave passes over it, then drive a clam gun (a hollow tube with a suction cap) into the sand and extract the core before the clam digs deeper. Most diggers can reach their limit of 15 clams in about an hour on a good night. Evening and night digs at low tide are particularly atmospheric, with headlamps bobbing along the surf line as far as you can see.