Abs from the Yak in Humboldt - 4/1/09 - Video Added

freshly caught abalone ... Will there be any
sample of that at GMSIII?

I'd be willing to bet there'll be plenty of fried ab to go around at the big potluck.  If you can do what I was doing in the video then you will be able to get some abs at Shelter Cove.  There are good low tides midday while we're there - the best on Thursday and Friday I think, but good all weekend really.  The vis should definitely be better than the video, but no guarantees - 3-4' is a good day there, in my experience, but 10 and even 20 are possible.  If asked I'll point any of my NCKA brothers in the direction of abs at the Cove.

(storytelling mode kicking in...   )

I know of one spot there that's extremely unique and incredible.  The bedrock reef at Shelter Cove is so dominant, and sometimes the channels very near shore are devoid of much life because of the wash in those bedrock chutes.  The treasure is a spot about the size of a swimming pool - maybe 20-30' in diameter, and it's a depression in what is bedrock all around it with some side channels entering it, but, and this is key, hardly any of the system of channels entering this "pool" are as deep as the bottom of the pool itself.  So this becomes a catchment for broken off kelp and has become an awesome abalone habitat in the middle of an area where there really are no abs because of the bedrock.  The walls of the pool are papered with abs - it's a cool sight.  I haven't been at that spot in many years.  What's really cool is my Dad told me about the spot a long time before I found it, and I wasn't looking for it when I did.  We were scouting a ton of territory on a great day (ah, to be young...     ), and we'd gotten out of a good kelpy, bouldery dive spot into the bedrocky area with big channels.  We weren't finding any abs along the reef and channels when we swam up on the big hole.  When I dropped down and saw the walls of that hole papered with abs I knew it was the spot my Dad had told me of years before.     Reality check:  you're hard-pressed to find a 9" or more in there, but it's an awesome sight to see.   

Eric, they're only getting better. Very fun to watch. Hard to believe you do all that with a simple little digital camera. What size card do you use to get all that footage? Ab tip for ya. Last year I was told about pounding them whole in a pant leg. Tie a knot in one end and start smacking it on a rock or pavement. Comes out like butter in a couple minutes. Much easier than a beer bottle... Oh and remind me NOT to loan you my yak!!!  Poor thing took a beatin"!

....  If asked I'll point any of my NCKA brothers in the direction of abs at the Cove.

I'll be asking count on it, Company welcome on Friday AM first light at the launch.  Once I get a little guidance from the King on Thursday Evening. 

Thread Jack this should be under GMS epic thread, I'll put out some abs deep fried in my standard Progresso Italian Bread crumbs with help from the Costco gallon of Olive oil on hand.

Eric, they're only getting better. Very fun to watch. Hard to believe you do all that with a simple little digital camera. What size card do you use to get all that footage? Ab tip for ya. Last year I was told about pounding them whole in a pant leg. Tie a knot in one end and start smacking it on a rock or pavement. Comes out like butter in a couple minutes. Much easier than a beer bottle... Oh and remind me NOT to loan you my yak!!!  Poor thing took a beatin"!

Glyn - thank you!     I use two cameras and I can't remember the size off-hand, but I can get about 45 minutes of video on my waterproof Olympus (stock card and battery is all I have) and about an hour on a 1 gig card I have for my Sony (I think...) and I have several partial-gig cards and an extra battery for it.  So I can get 45 minutes of all-weather video and a couple hours or more of take-your-chances or on land video. 

I've long heard of the pantleg trick, and, very ironically and perhaps even present in my video archive, I found a worn-out pant leg on the beach a few weeks back with one end sewn shut!     That's typical cutting room floor type stuff right there!  Trivia with commentary - I'm going to dig that one up...     That is so funny.  Sorry, back to the subject:  whacking it whole with a big iron or slung in a bag or pant leg is great, but I always pound each piece with my trusty beer bottle.  It's a near fool-proof quality guarantee, and really doesn't take so long when you get accustomed to it.  Most of us know how abalone can really be ruined when it's too tough.  The delicate flavor of tender ab is exquisite, but the same flavor, when combined with leather-like resilience in your mouth, is not desirable at all!  So it's really the consistency of the prepared ab that counts the most, IMHO.   

....  If asked I'll point any of my NCKA brothers in the direction of abs at the Cove.

I'll be asking count on it, Company welcome on Friday AM first light at the launch.  Once I get a little guidance from the King on Thursday Evening. 

Thread Jack this should be under GMS epic thread, I'll put out some abs deep fried in my standard Progresso Italian Bread crumbs with help from the Costco gallon of Olive oil on hand.

Bring it, AbMan!  Right on!     Friday first thing will be high tide, and I'm hoping to fish toward the midday low tide when I'll dive if the conditions are nice (some clarity and swell not out of hand on the points).  I look forward to trying your ab!   

That was the best video yet and you didn't even have to catch a fish.  Thanks

IMO your best work to date.
Thanks for gettin' me so stoked!

That video was awesome!  Way to go Abking!  I got to give ab diving a shot... 

Absolutely amazing!! Makes me want to get some dive equipment.

A friend brought some abs to our Tahoe trip this year. I had forgotten how good they taste when properly prepared. MMMMMmmmmmmmm

Thanks for the inspiration!!

-FF

Eric I just finished getting all my dive equipt yesterday!!! I cant wait to meet you in person !! We are going to have A blast!!!! I will be sending you over that shirt in the next couple of days...O and the video.... Was Off the f-in hook!!!.....Andy

Thanks, All.   

Eric I just finished getting all my dive equipt yesterday!!!

Cool, Andy - you're gonna love it!  Try to get some time in the water before the Cove trip because being in low vis or surgy water is very disconcerting and the only way to get used to it is with time in the water.  Hopefully we'll get flat and clear conditions, but you can't really count on that...

I also want to take this opportunity to thank a relatively new member, ocean_314, for inspiring me to make this video.  I wanted to show that not "anyone who goes out in conditions like that has a death wish"...  It's all about diversification.  I had someone comment on youtube that he was going to call me a pansy until he saw I wasn't wearing gloves, and that I'm pretty hardcore... for a rockpicker!     I say this:  if the water's that stained you cannot dive, so if you're not equipped with rockpicking skills too then you're SOL for fresh ab, Pal!   

Your video and story line was over the top Abking.  This will be my how-to-do clip for the newbees I'll be taking out this season.  I've often wanted to make my own video such as this.  Which Olympus model did you use for the water scenes?  What program did you use to edit and final your movie?  Well done! 

Your video and story line was over the top Abking.  This will be my how-to-do clip for the newbees I'll be taking out this season.  I've often wanted to make my own video such as this.  Which Olympus model did you use for the water scenes?  What program did you use to edit and final your movie?  Well done! 

Thank you much, mango, and welcome to the board.   

I have the Olympus Stylus 850 SW - it's OK, but I have my complaints.  The audio isn't great and the battery life's a pain in the neck, but having a waterproof digital has definitely been a springboard for my water related videos (like I do any other type!).  I've only ever used Windows Movie Maker which now comes with Vista and other versions have been included with most PC's for a while now I think. 

The keys for me:

- think of what you want to show and then try to capture that from multiple perspectives;
- edit for action - keeping the audience's attention is paramount;
- take lots of footage;
- translate your passion into communication.

Have fun, Bro, and be sure to report back here.   

Way cool, Eric. Doing that hunter-gatherer thing again!

Great report and great video!!!  What an amazing day!!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!

Badog

Living the Dream!  Yes
Thanks again for another great vid.

John