CDFW Conducts Successful Abalone Checkpoint on the Sonoma County Coast

May 20, 2014

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officers contacted more than 650 abalone divers at a wildlife checkpoint operation north of Jenner on Sunday, May 18. Checkpoints are an effective tool for wardens, who seek to promote safety, education and compliance with law and regulations through education, preventative patrol and enforcement.

All vehicles traveling south on Highway 1 in Sonoma County were screened at the checkpoint. Screening consisted of an introduction and brief questions. Approximately 260 vehicles were directed into the inspection area. Wildlife officers issued 31 citations and several dozen warnings. Violations included overlimits of abalone, undersize abalone, report card violations and alterations, abalone not tagged, abalone meat out of the shell, undersized fish and several other Fish and Game Code violations.

One diver attempted to throw a tagged but undersized abalone into nearby bushes, but instead threw it into a warden's truck bed. The loud clanking alerted officers to the attempt.

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One diver attempted to throw a tagged but undersized abalone into nearby bushes, but instead threw it into a warden's truck bed. The loud clanking alerted officers to the attempt.

Hahahahahaha

Looooooooool

That's awesome

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One diver attempted to throw a tagged but undersized abalone into nearby bushes, but instead threw it into a warden's truck bed. The loud clanking alerted officers to the attempt.

Hahahahahaha

Looooooooool

That's awesome

The stupidity of some people never fails to amaze me...

Yep I got corralled in also.I dont know maybe its just me but it seemed like the warden that was conducting my search was disappointed that I was all legal.the last question he ask me was"what you do with the abs from yesterday".so I calmly replied I ate one gave the other two away.I mean I could understand them asking that but with the 800 rule in place they should realize that cuts off alot of rock pickers.alot people that I know dont even pick for abs anymore so they ask me for it.I one of the few people that rarely fill up my tags anymore. Its usually no more than three trips.as we were leaving moat creek I told my buddy to leave his abs up top of his tote so if there's a check point well get out quickly. Yep 5minutes and we was on our way.two things that got my attention was I found a cluster of baby abs.never thought id be glad to see a bunch of 4-5" abs its a sight I havnt seen in many years.but at the same time as we were hiking back we saw an empty shell of an undersize with the meat fresh picked out of it.so im glad there out to keep everyone honest but id wish they keep in mind that not everyone is out to break the laws

Approximately 260 vehicles were directed into the inspection area. Wildlife officers issued 31 citations and several dozen warnings.

12% violation rate on vehicles stopped.  WTF!

-Allen

Approximately 260 vehicles were directed into the inspection area. Wildlife officers issued 31 citations and several dozen warnings.

12% violation rate on vehicles stopped.  WTF!

-Allen

Maybe, or maybe some vehicles got two or more citations!  I don't know if I would call this a "Success" - I think it would have been a greater success if they had absolutely zero violations and found everyone was fine and dandy.  Did they have abalone sniffing dogs?

I hid mine on the bottom of a reef when I left Shelter Cove.

Approximately 260 vehicles were directed into the inspection area. Wildlife officers issued 31 citations and several dozen warnings.

12% violation rate on vehicles stopped.  WTF!

-Allen

Maybe, or maybe some vehicles got two or more citations!  I don't know if I would call this a "Success" - I think it would have been a greater success if they had absolutely zero violations and found everyone was fine and dandy.  Did they have abalone sniffing dogs?

Still, it's 4.7% of the 650 divers checked.   And even more if you consider "several dozen warnings".

-Allen

Sonoma county courts are not lenient when it comes to abalone infractions. 31 cites is too much. If like to see a list of the names and where they live.

Sonoma county courts are not lenient when it comes to abalone infractions. 31 cites is too much. If like to see a list of the names and where they live.

+1!

Way too many not in compliance!

In these types of operations, they are usually trying to find reasons to cite people...more so than during a regular encounter at the beach. I'm not making excuses for people who are not in compliance with the regs, but sometimes it ticky-tacky BS that they feel compelled to enforce (to justify the expense & effort of their roadside checkpoint). For example, about 20yrs ago...someone I know...got cited for "transporting abalone outside the shell" because he prepared the abs in the campground (Paul Dimmick on the Navarro) and didn't end up cooking it all...so he put the remaining few slices in a ziplock in the freezer of the RV. In my opinion, his mistake was being honest with the warden at the checkpoint. Lesson learned...either cook it all in camp or throw it away before driving home    

In these types of operations, they are usually trying to find reasons to cite people...more so than during a regular encounter at the beach. I'm not making excuses for people who are not in compliance with the regs, but sometimes it ticky-tacky BS that they feel compelled to enforce (to justify the expense & effort of their roadside checkpoint). For example, about 20yrs ago...someone I know...got cited for "transporting abalone outside the shell" because he prepared the abs in the campground (Paul Dimmick on the Navarro) and didn't end up cooking it all...so he put the remaining few slices in a ziplock in the freezer of the RV. In my opinion, his mistake was being honest with the warden at the checkpoint. Lesson learned...either cook it all in camp or throw it away before driving home    

Throwing it away is waste of a game animal, a violation. It was prepared for immediate consumption. That's the rule. It could be consumed immediately. The reg doesn't say that it has to be immediately consumed if it is out of the shell, just prepared for immediate consumption. I'm fighting that one all day long.

In these types of operations, they are usually trying to find reasons to cite people...more so than during a regular encounter at the beach. I'm not making excuses for people who are not in compliance with the regs, but sometimes it ticky-tacky BS that they feel compelled to enforce (to justify the expense & effort of their roadside checkpoint). For example, about 20yrs ago...someone I know...got cited for "transporting abalone outside the shell" because he prepared the abs in the campground (Paul Dimmick on the Navarro) and didn't end up cooking it all...so he put the remaining few slices in a ziplock in the freezer of the RV. In my opinion, his mistake was being honest with the warden at the checkpoint. Lesson learned...either cook it all in camp or throw it away before driving home

+1

In these types of operations, they are usually trying to find reasons to cite people...more so than during a regular encounter at the beach. I'm not making excuses for people who are not in compliance with the regs, but sometimes it ticky-tacky BS that they feel compelled to enforce (to justify the expense & effort of their roadside checkpoint). For example, about 20yrs ago...someone I know...got cited for "transporting abalone outside the shell" because he prepared the abs in the campground (Paul Dimmick on the Navarro) and didn't end up cooking it all...so he put the remaining few slices in a ziplock in the freezer of the RV. In my opinion, his mistake was being honest with the warden at the checkpoint. Lesson learned...either cook it all in camp or throw it away before driving home    

Throwing it away is waste of a game animal, a violation. It was prepared for immediate consumption. That's the rule. It could be consumed immediately. The reg doesn't say that it has to be immediately consumed if it is out of the shell, just prepared for immediate consumption. I'm fighting that one all day long.

good luck fighting anything from cal wild.my friend got a littering ticket cause his emptys wasn't in a container of some sorts.he fought it 2000$ still lost tge case it was a 1200$ ticket.I ask him why he said it was the principle.he wasn't littering

In these types of operations, they are usually trying to find reasons to cite people...more so than during a regular encounter at the beach. I'm not making excuses for people who are not in compliance with the regs, but sometimes it ticky-tacky BS that they feel compelled to enforce (to justify the expense & effort of their roadside checkpoint). For example, about 20yrs ago...someone I know...got cited for "transporting abalone outside the shell" because he prepared the abs in the campground (Paul Dimmick on the Navarro) and didn't end up cooking it all...so he put the remaining few slices in a ziplock in the freezer of the RV. In my opinion, his mistake was being honest with the warden at the checkpoint. Lesson learned...either cook it all in camp or throw it away before driving home    

Throwing it away is waste of a game animal, a violation. It was prepared for immediate consumption. That's the rule. It could be consumed immediately. The reg doesn't say that it has to be immediately consumed if it is out of the shell, just prepared for immediate consumption. I'm fighting that one all day long.

good luck fighting anything from cal wild.my friend got a littering ticket cause his emptys wasn't in a container of some sorts.he fought it 2000$ still lost tge case it was a 1200$ ticket.I ask him why he said it was the principle.he wasn't littering

Luck has nothing to do with it. I have mad skills.