Fish and wildlife police bust Raab’s Lagoon clamdiggers with 108 pounds of clams

Police say the group had collected more than triple their legal limit.

By Beachcomber Staff • March 17, 2025 6:30 pm
The Fish and Wildlife department shared this photo of a truck with clams in its bed in a news release about a group of clamdiggers cited for multiple clamming violations. A total of 1,255 clams, weighing 108 pounds, were seized from the group. (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police photo)
The Fish and Wildlife department shared this photo of a truck with clams in its bed in a news release about a group of clamdiggers cited for multiple clamming violations. A total of 1,255 clams, weighing 108 pounds, were seized from the group. (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police photo)

A total of 1,255 clams — weighing 108 pounds — were seized by fish and wildlife officers from a group of clamdiggers accused of illegal harvesting earlier this year.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the seizure on March 11, but the incident happened on January 9 around 5 p.m., according to WDFW Police spokesperson Becky Elder.

Officer Jake Greshock, while patrolling Raab’s Lagoon at low tide that day, contacted a group of clamdiggers as they returned to their vehicle with several five-gallon buckets. One person in the group tried unsuccessfully to stash a bucket in the woods, according to WDFW.

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Four people in the group were harvesting clams but only three were licensed, according to WDFW.

The limit for hardshell clams is 40 per harvester or 10 pounds, allowing the group (minus the unlicensed individual) to legally possess 120 clams or 30 pounds. But a total of 1,255 clams, weighing 108 pounds, were seized.

The diggers were cited for four counts of collecting more than the limit of clams, not filling in clam holes and possession of undersized clams. One was charged for clamming without a license.

What about the fate of the seized clams?

”In shellfish cases such as these, the clams are returned to the beach as they are still viable,” Elder said in an email. “In cases where fish or wildlife is killed and the meat is seized but still safe to consume, it is usually taken to a local food bank or donated to a lawful fisher/hunter in the area.”

Unlicensed or excessive clamming is far from a new issue for Vashon.

”Anecdotally speaking there has been an increase in illegal activity over the last ten years as information on where to go and how to clam is more readily available,” Elder said. “WDFW Police have also increased the number of officers patrolling in the Puget Sound area. WDFW Police continue to grow in our ranks and as we have more capacity we can increase our natural resource enforcement emphasis.”

WDFW relies on public help to intervene quickly when the law is being broken, Elder said.

You can call WDFW Enforcement at 877-933-9847 or text or send photos to WDFWTIP at TIP411 (847411). Learn more by visiting wdfw.wa.gov/about/enforcement/report.