How to Measure Abalone Correctly to Avoid a Ticket

October 30, 2014

Question: I know a guy who was abalone diving off his kayak recently and took three nice abalone that all measured around nine inches. He was diving for the big abs and so was using a 9-inch gauge, but had his required 7-inch gauge in his goody bag on the kayak. When he finished up and got back to the beach with his tagged abalone and his gauges in his goody bag, there was a wildlife officer waiting there who had been watching him and wrote him a ticket for using a 9-inch gauge instead of a 7-inch gauge. Why did he get a ticket? (Tim S.)

Answer: Abalone divers are required to “… carry a fixed-caliper measuring gauge capable of accurately measuring seven inches” (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 29.15[f]) and are required to retain any legal-sized abalone they detach and add them to their bag (CCR Title 14, section 29.15[d].) It is fine to use a gauge larger than the required 7-inch gauge to measure over-sized abalone when trophy hunting. The problem occurs when a diver detaches and brings an abalone to the surface, measures it with only a 9-inch gauge, and then rejects it for being smaller than their personal target size even though the abalone may still be of the minimum legal size (seven inches or larger). This practice puts the diver in violation of the above sections and this practice is considered “high-grading.”

To avoid this kind of ticket, divers should not return any abalone before first measuring with a 7-inch gauge to be sure they are smaller than legal size. A 7-inch gauge should be in the immediate vicinity of where the diver surfaces (in hand, float tube or kayak) so that the abalone can be readily measured, and if they then turn out to be short, the diver can then return it to the same location where originally taken. The violation occurs when divers detach and then reject legal-sized abalone because they are seeking only the oversized ones.

 

That seems like a good explanation to me.

I have an ab bar with a built in 7 inch "gauge".

I read recently that technically these do not satisfy the requirements of a 7 inch gauge (the stubby arms aren't long enough or something?), but if you are hunting with a 9 or 10 inch gauge and pop an ab that is shorter than that it will at least let you know that it is for sure legal and that you must keep it.

http://www.neptonicsystems.com/ab-grab.php

I keep a regular 7 inch gauge in my goodie bag as well to be totally legal. 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

From original post "but had his required 7-inch gauge in his goody bag"

basically what you just said

From original post "but had his required 7-inch gauge in his goody bag"

basically what you just said

Yeah...I guess I "assumed" that he had put some abalone back (that were under 9 but maybe over 7?) without checking with his 7 inch gauge in his goodie bag.

If he didn't put any abalone back then I don't think he should have gotten a ticket?

I dunno. I'm cool with my method and haven't had any problems.

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Yeah I do pretty much the same thing and also have that unapproved ab gauge on my ab iron.
I carry a 7" inch gauge, the unapproved gauge and a trophy gauge.
I'm hoping they actually caught him high grading and not just for assuming he did.

I hang a 7 from my tube or kayak and use a 10" gauge.  I heard that would help me find 10s but it hasn't been the case. 

I heard that would help me find 10s but it hasn't been the case.

It's one of the three most important things you need to do in order to get 10's.  Let's get together and I'll teach you the other two and take you to a spot where I've gotten 10's - you'll have to come to Humboldt though. 

This topic is upsetting because it does sound like they ticketed this guy just for using the guage - I didn't see anything about highgrading.  If the ticket was for highgrading they should clearly state that, because having the discipline to challenge yourself to find larger abs (WITHOUT pulling them to see first!) is very sporting, IMO.

I've met multiple wardens who assume all trophy hunters are highgraders - it makes me sick that the upper echelon of sportsmen are grouped with the bottom rung of the sportsmanship ladder.  Highgraders suck - their trophies mean nothing, and they live in a world where honor is a lie.

I saw this I. The column yesterday. I read the question. I read the answer. I red the question again. I didn't feel like she answered the question. She just assumed some facts and answered an easier question than the one that was asked.

Shrug

It's one of the three most important things you need to do in order to get 10's.  Let's get together and I'll teach you the other two and take you to a spot where I've gotten 10's - you'll have to come to Humboldt though. 

I do need to get up that way before the season closes. 

Went out today before water gets worse and gauged about 30 abs but none were over 9.5" My biggest so far I think was 9.654 and I want one at least that size for the DOTY entry.  Never once did I remove an ab from the rock nor would I ever upgrade one that was smaller than I wanted.  I did find another pry bar/ gauge on the bottom.  Going to start a surplus dive center if I keep finding stuff.  I do look at posts to see if I can return stuff to owners but not always possible. 

I know DFW browses this forum so if they cited for something else that was not explained they should clarify.  I want to have faith they will weigh all circumstances before citing and not do it based on false assumptions or screwy interpretation of a law. 

If something measures 9 or 10 then it obviously measures the min of 7.   Common sense. 

I hang a 7 from my tube or kayak and use a 10" gauge.  I heard that would help me find 10s but it hasn't been the case.

yep I do the same thing.keep an approved 7 gauge and carry a 9".hey loletaeric if that offer is open id like to plan a trip up there for some spearing and abbn.only thing is im a novice and my bottom time is not that long also don't really know my dept limit yet im sure its not very much

hey loletaeric if that offer is open id like to plan a trip up there for some spearing and abbn

Open invite, but I'm a guide - I'm not looking to get rich from them, but I do charge for the trips.

hey loletaeric if that offer is open id like to plan a trip up there for some spearing and abbn

Open invite, but I'm a guide - I'm not looking to get rich from them, but I do charge for the trips.

all good, you have a donkey that we can stow all the gear to hike to the water? Jk