Washington Dept. of Fish and WildlifeSHELLFISH REGULATIONS
West Dewatto (DNR 44A)

Clams open 1 August through 30 September
Oysters open year-round

This beach has been enhanced with clams and oysters

This page was last updated on:
Friday, February 15, 2008 - 11:21AM PST
Please
click here for latest emergency rule changes or
call the Emergency Regulation Hotline at 1-866-880-5431

Please check the Harvest Rules for clams, oysters and other species

Please check the D.O.H. website for health restrictions

HARVEST PROFILE: West Dewatto is a relatively small beach that has a good population of butter clams in the minus tidal zone (-1.0' or lower). Native littleneck clams and Manila clams are found in patches throughout the mid-high tidal zone but their abundance on West Dewatto can vary from year to year and conservation closures may be necessary.

This is an excellent oyster beach.

COOK ALL SHELLFISH: To learn about Vibriosis in oysters and other shellfish click here .

DIRECTIONS TO SITE: From the south travel north on Highway 16 to the town of Gorst. Take the Belfair exit to Highway 3 and continue for eight miles to Belfair. Look for signs to Belfair State Park and take the turnoff (a right turn) onto North Shore Road continuing past Belfair State Park and on to Tahuya. When you reach Tahuya (about 15 miles from Belfair) look for the turnoff (a right turn) to the Befair-Tahuya Road just after you cross the Tahuya River bridge. Contine for about five miles until you come to the Dewatto Road. Take a left and continue on Dewatto Road for about four miles to Dewatto. West Dewatto is on the right side of the road just south of the mouth of the Dewatto River. Look for the information signs and stairway to the beach. Parking is limited to the shoulder of the road.

To reach West Dewatto from the Hood Canal Bridge and Highway 3 take the Newberry Hill Road/Seabeck exit (just south of Silverdale) and proceed north on Newberry Hill Road to Seabeck Highway NE. Turn right and travel through Seabeck. Seabeck Highway will become Seabeck-Holly Road. Continue south on the Seabeck-Holly Road for about 11 miles to the town of Holly. Turn left onto the Dewatto-Holly Road and travel another 12 miles to Dewatto. Look for the information signs and stairway to the beach. Parking is limited to the shoulder of the road.

FACILITIES: None.

FUN FACTS: Dewatto comes from the Indian place name du-a-to, meaning "home of evils spirits who make men crazy." In legend, spirits emerged from the bowels of the earth in the Dewatto Bay area and attempted to enter the bodies of warriors.

Click here for aerial photos of the beach and surrounding area.
(Note: beach boundaries not shown)

Click here for Washington tides

Click here for crab regulations


To return to the Beach Map Page, click on Shellfish Regulations at the top of this page. Click on the WDFW logo to return to the WDFW Homepage.

Please check the Fishing and Shellfishing Regulations for latest information on closures or emergency updates.


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