Option B

Not all of us take 7" Abs just cause we can. Not all of us take 3 every time we go either.

I prefer getting larger Abs and diving more days, so I usually take less per outing. I enjoy spending time hunting and exploring.

It is fine by my if there is a minimum size increase. Agreed that November can offer stellar conditions.

I prefer getting larger Abs and diving more days, so I usually take less per outing. I enjoy spending time hunting and exploring.

The more I think about this the more that this makes sense. Keep the limits and seasons the same and increase the ab minimum size to 9 inches. There are plenty of 9 + inch abs out there you just need to search harder for them. I haven't taken an ab smaller than 9" in three seasons.

In fact my boy harvested his first ab at the ripe age of 11 and it was 9 inches.

I would like this to be considered as another option.

Two replies: offering one day licenses (or any multiple of 3) is VOLUNTARY reduced catch.

Why can't we try this first? Anyone who is only planning on diving once, say at a family camping trip, can show DFG a reduced expected take. And for that matter, there are people who would VOLUNTARILY only buy 12, if they were allowed to pay less. Why don't we try this first, see how much reduction occurs, then consider things more drastic, like the proposal that everyone be limited.

Second on the increased size limit. I would oppose it. Yes, I try to get bigger abs and don't mind looking for them. But I over the years I have turned on some complete rookies, including international visitors, to ab diving.  We already have a sport in which even experienced N Cal divers lose their lives. Let's not put unnecessary difficulties out there that might cause a new diver or even an experienced diver on a rough day, to risk her/his life just for a bigger ab. This should be entirely a matter of personal pride. If you are able and the day and conditions permit, go for the biggest you can find. But let's not risk any lives.

I'll wager money that most of the deaths from ab diving were not from people attempting to pop a 9 inch ab.

If it's too rough you have no business in the water in the first place regardless of the limit size.

And I could careless (haha) as far as a visitor diving in our waters not being able to get an abalone.

Your idea of a one day tag makes no sense. Since as someone stated before that you are required to report your catch at the end of the year and that's how they acquire their data.

If you buy a full report card you would only state that you harvested 3 if you went once and got your limit.

They benefit more if you buy a full as opposed to a 1 day report card. They lose money on your idea therefor it doesn't make sense.

How do people feel about increasing size limit? Does the department have data on size and not just number? Ice seen many abs a little over seven inches be taken and everywhere I dive, but the larger ones are not as common. I feel like I could dive in the same area and get 18 legal abs easily because getting a 7 incher is easy, they don't run away that fast and are not deep. Filling your tags is not a challenge. It's not really fishing or hunting, it's getting. If the size limit was increased, it would be more challenging and I would not be getting three a day.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

This.... change the minimum size limit to 8.5 or 9 inches.

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes! I've been saying this forever. Nobody wants a dinky 7" ab anyway. 8.5" to 9" would reduce the take significantly. It shouldn't be so easy to pull a limit anyway. With salmon, halibut, and lings, shakers are common. It should be the same with abs. Would this allow us to continue taking 18? If not, I still support a size limit increase.

And Josh, thanks for your efforts.

They're all good ideas.  I hope to see you guys at the meeting in Fort Bragg December 3rd to discuss them with the department