Too many clams result in ticket for Mariners' Bloomquist

By Jeremy Pawloski | The Olympian • Published May 15, 2008

A state Fish and Wildlife officer cited Mariners utilityman Willie Bloomquist on April 21 for unlawful recreational fishing for going over the state’s limits on razor clams while he was digging at Twin Harbors, according to a citation filed in Montesano Municipal Court.

Bloomquist, 30, has paid a $50 fine after being issued the citation, a Grays Harbor District Court official said.

The ticket issued to Bloomquist does not indicate how many clams over the limit he had harvested on April 21. Fish and Wildlife spokesman Craig Bartlett said Thursday that he could not reach the officer who issued the ticket to find out how far he was over the limit.

“The catch limits and other rules are in effect to protect our resources,” Bartlett said. “The rules apply to everyone, regardless of who they are.”

Bloomquist was born in Bremerton and is a 1996 graduate of South Kitsap High School. He has spent his entire major league baseball career with the Mariners, and was called up to Seattle in 2002.

He lives in Peoria, Ariz, with his wife and daughter.

Mariners spokeswoman Rebecca Hale hadn’t heard of Bloomquist’s citation from Fish and Wildlife, and she had no immediate comment.

Through 20 games in 2008, Bloomquist had five hits in 32 at-bats and was hitting .156, according to espn.com. His 2008 salary is $1 million, according to espn.com.

The day Bloomquist was cited was on the Mariners' day off.

Jeremy Pawloski covers public safety for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5465 or jpawloski@theolympian.com.