WDFW catches alleged Quartermaster Harbor poachers with 650+ clams

Officers ran into the suspected poachers in the late morning of July 18 on the eastern side of the island.

By Alex Bruell • August 30, 2023 1:30 am
The state department of Fish and Wildlife shared these photos on Facebook from their citation of three clammers at Quartermaster Harbor (Courtesy Photo). The state department of Fish and Wildlife shared this photo on Facebook from their recent citation of three alleged illegal clammers at Quartermaster Harbor (Courtesy Photo).
The state department of Fish and Wildlife shared these photos on Facebook from their citation of three clammers at Quartermaster Harbor (Courtesy Photo). The state department of Fish and Wildlife shared this photo on Facebook from their recent citation of three alleged illegal clammers at Quartermaster Harbor (Courtesy Photo).

State Fish and Wildlife officers cited three clammers suspected of poaching last month, after those clammers allegedly tried to elude police and dumped bags of shellfish into the brush.

Officers ran into the suspected poachers in the late morning of July 18 on the eastern side of the island in the Quartermaster Harbor area, according to WDFW spokesperson Becky Elder.

While on patrol, two WDFW officers, using a spotting scope, saw the three people harvesting clams during an extremely low tide. Two of the clammers loaded bags and a bucket of clams into a vehicle the other clammer pulled up to them.

The WDFW officers drove over to meet the clammers and inspect their catch. Two of the clammers saw the officers and immediately turned to get into their vehicles, according to WDFW, ignoring an officer yelling at them to stop, and driving away.

The officers sped to catch up with the clammers, using a side road from where they could observe the clammers pull to the shoulder of the road. Two of the clammers began dumping bags of clams into bushes, according to WDFW.

The officers yelled again at the clammers to stop. One of the clammers admitted to eluding the officers due to their likely being over the legal catch limit, according to WDFW. The three were found to be in possession of 652 clams, and without shellfishing licenses.

Criminal citations and traffic infractions were forwarded to the King County Prosecutor, according to the WDFW.