Abalone 2012 regs, Including Fort Ross Closure Map

Just found this in the Inbox:


Question: What are the new abalone regulations that will go into effect this year?

Answer: When the abalone harvest season opens on April 1, the following two new abalone regulations are going into effect:

1) The Fort Ross area will be closed for the first two months, so abalone in this area may be taken only during the months of June, August, September, October and November (CCR Title 14, Section 29.15(b)(1)). A map showing the abalone closure area around Fort Ross can be found at http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=42101&inline=true
2) Individuals taking abalone shall maintain separate possession of their abalone. Abalone may not be commingled in a float tube, dive board, dive bag, or any other container or device, until properly tagged. Only after abalones are properly tagged (as described in CCR Title 14, Section 29.16 (b)), may they be commingled with other abalone taken by another person (CCR Title 14, Section 29.15(g)(1)).

The Fish and Game Commission (FGC) lifted the emergency closure off the Sonoma County coast so abalone season will open there on April 1 just like everywhere else, except for the Fort Ross area.

What happened to July?

What happened to July?

They're busy making baby Abs 

Thanks for the info Dale. No more red barn dives

Thanks for the info Dale. No more red barn dives

That's what I thought at first too, but that closure is just for April, May.

What happened to July?

July has always been closed as far as I know, I asked a DFG rep about it once and they said it wasn't for spawning but to extend the length of the season from begining to end they just closed a month in the middle.   But who really knows why?

Thanks for the info Dale. No more red barn dives

That's what I thought at first too, but that closure is just for April, May.

What happened to July?

July has always been closed as far as I know, I asked a DFG rep about it once and they said it wasn't for spawning but to extend the length of the season from begining to end they just closed a month in the middle.   But who really knows why?

I agree Dale...just April and May are closed for FortRoss/Red Barn.

I had heard July was historically closed because that was the month that got the most pressure due to summer vacationers etc...but I really have no clue!!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Huh, never knew!  Just figured my ab diving friends are lazy in July 

July has always been closed that I can remember. I never knew exactly why but I assumed that with lots of low tides they broke it up for a respite for the population. I dunno though. Good question.