Van Damme Rock fish abalone perch aug 18/19

I went out to Van Damme, about 10 miles south of Fort Bragg to ab dive with my brother. While waiting for low tide I went out and caught some rock fish from my kayak. It was our first time ab diving and we didn't know if we were going to be successful; we didn't want to go home empty handed so I kept a few rock fish that I would normally have thrown back. I kept 8 rock fish and both he and I got our ab limits. None of the abs were impressive but like I said it was our first go. The visibility was about 8-10 ft and the abs we got were 10-15 feet deep.


My brother went home the second night but I stuck around and went out again. The visibility was a bit worse but I tried going a little deeper and got some slightly larger abs this time, still nothing over 8 1/2 inches though. I also speared two perch, my first time spearfishing.

Way to go, Asa!  Glad you had a good trip. 

Remember that abs are 3 in possession... 

 

will be up there labor day.  van Damme is a great park and cove.  where did you dive/fish, to the north or south?  JR

Pat yourselves on the backs! First time out and you scored. Way to go!!!!!!!

My brother and his wife and kids were in Ft. Bragg with me and I gave the three I got the first day to my brothers wife.
I found a web page with rule clarifications: http://www.sonic.net/~rocky/abregslimits.htm before I went and noted that one does not need a fishing license to possess abalone, only to take them.

Another rule that could have bitten me was that I needed my abalone card in my kayak while diving from it. I didn't the first day but did the second day when a DFG official asked for it. I wasn't clear wether a kayak counted as a vessel since it doesn't have a hull number but luckily I decided to put the card in my dry bag. The DFG guy even opened my hatch and dry bag to check and gave me a thumbs up for having a pen in there as well.

I kayaked straight out and then slightly south to the big rock formation flipskid. The coast gaurd/DFG boat was at the couple of rocks to the north tagging abalone using SCUBA to collect and return them.

Ah yes, even out on the Lost Coast I've been checked for ab card on board the yak, Asa - watch out for that one for sure.  Way to go on being up on the regs and being able to get yourself and your crew on the fish and abs.  You're a quick study!  Call me to go out of Trinidad or other nearby spots if you're free.  Good luck with your classes and keep in touch.