7 Reasons to Experience Westport This Spring!
We are excited to kick off Springtime in Westport! From charter fishing to Mermaids, Westport, WA, offers something fun for the entire family. Here are seven experiences and events to enjoy this Spring.
1. Charter Fishing: People come to Westport from around the globe to experience world-class fishing. The seasoned crews of the Westport charter fleet guide people to fantastic fishing experiences, including Salmon, Halibut, Rockfish & Ling Cod, and Albacore Tuna.
Bottomfishing, including Lingcod and Rockfish, opened March 12 through October 15, 2022. The daily bag limit is seven rockfish plus two lingcod per angler.
Halibut fishing kicks off on May 5, with numerous days open in May and June.
For more info on fishing in Westport, visit our Fishing page.
2. Clam digging: The Pacific Razor Clam is one of the most sought-after shellfish in the state of Washington. It is an exceptionally meaty shellfish with a narrow, elongated shell. In Washington, these clams can grow to a length of three to six inches. Recreational digging for razor clams is one of the most authentic PNW experiences and is fun for the whole family.
The WDFW has announced many tentative razor clam dig dates through the end of April.
For more information on digging razor clams in Westport, please visit our Razor Clamming page.
3. Whale Watching: From March through May, Gray Whales visit our shores. Look for their water spouts from the beach and watch while they cruise along our coastline feeding. Whale watching boat excursions are also available from the Westport Marina with Ocean Sportfishing.
4. Birdwatching: Westport is a bird watcher's paradise! Whether from land or sea, you will find an abundance of seabirds to keep you entertained or to check off your list.
Each spring, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds stop to rest and feed along the Washington Coast during their migration northward. Coming from as far south as Argentina, these Arctic-bound shorebirds are among the world's greatest migrants. Bottle Beach State Park beach's extensive mudflats are great for spring migrating shorebirds such as Western and Least Sandpipers, Dunlin, and Semipalmated Plovers. This is the best place in Washington to find Red Knots in spring. The concentration of birds during spring migration offers people a great chance to view several shorebird species. Some birds travel over 15,000 miles round trip! The peak shorebird viewing dates of 2022 are April 24 - May 6. For more information, please visit www.shorebirdfestival.com.
Head out on a birdwatching charter from the Westport Marina! A few of the birds you can expect to see on your Pelagic Trip: Black-footed Albatross, Northern Fulmar, Sooty Shearwater, Pink-footed Shearwater, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Red-necked and Red Phalaropes, Pomarine Jaeger, Parasitic Jaeger, Sabine's Gull, California Gull, Western Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Cassin's Auklet, Rhinocerous Auklet, Tufted Puffin, and more!
Inshore species regularly seen include Pacific Loon, Red-throated Loon, Brandt's and Pelagic Cormorants, Black, White-winged, and Surf Scoters, Long-tailed Duck, Harlequin Duck, Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Wandering Tattler, Rock Sandpiper, Heermann's Gull, Mew Gull, Caspian Tern, and Marbled Murrelet.
For more information and to plan your Pelagic Trip, please visit https://westportseabirds.com.
5. Beachcombing: With 18 miles of beaches to explore, beachcombing is a favorite activity on our shores. Whether you're looking for treasures that have traveled across the Pacific or gifts from the ocean such as shells, agates, and beach glass, a walk on our beaches is enjoyable year-round.
6. Celebration of Glass: Saturday, April 9, 10:00-4:00 Museum guests will be able to visit with a group of renowned float collectors, see unique floats displayed in the Lens hall and Maritime Museum, and have a chance to buy, sell, and trade with the experts. We are encouraging a bit of a "roadshow" as well. If you have floats that have been sitting around or part of a family story of our beachcombing past, bring them in for review by our experts. Sunday the 10th will include float collectors and beach walk activities with noted beachcomber Alan Rammer.
Celebration of Glass Activities
March 31 to April 15 #wildfloats 2022
April 2-3 and April 9th Beach clean-ups. Return debris to McCausland Hall Saturday, April 2, noon to 4, and Saturday, April 9 till 4:00 pm for raffle tickets for the large float drawing.
Celebration of Glass show and experts Saturday, April 9th, 10-4 McCausland Hall
Sunday, April 10 Beach walk with Alan Rammer
For more information, please visit www.wsbhs.org/celebration-of-glass.
7. Mermaid Festival March 26 - April 3
The International Mermaid Museum is holding its annual Mermaid Festival from Saturday, March 26 through Sunday, April 3, from 11 am to 6 pm. There is no charge for admission to the museum located at Westport Winery Garden Resort during this weeklong event. In addition to the museum's educational and enchanting exhibits, there are a series of special attractions for visitors of all ages during this celebration of the sea. It is guaranteed during the festival that there will be siren sightings as mermaids swim to Unforgettable Grays Harbor.
For more information and a complete list of events, please visit www.mermaidmuseum.org/festival.