Searching for giant abs

SRJ, here is a link to a friends trophy hunter website. Look under abalone diving tips, study up.

http://abaloneten.googlepages.com/home

Hey Mark, those are some great necklaces you crafted in the pics there.  Thanks for the link.  Really helpful.  John

More info on getting a 10" ab:

- pass up the big 9.5+'s...;

That's a bold move...I passed up a few 8.75s on my last dive and ended up with an 8
I too am looking for my first 10, but am not sure I could pass up a 9.5!

I mean , really, when you are diving in places that haven't been scoured by umpteen thousand people I suppose you could pass up and 9.5 but not down here in Sonoma County or Marin County. Don't feel bad Andrew that big one is still waiting there and getting bigger.

It's all relative, guys.  There are certainly spots where I wouldn't pass up a 9" if I wanted to get a meal - like just below The Tides Inn!  I'm referring to times when you're at a spot where you might expect to get a 10.  A spot that you've sought out, researched, and that you've decided to actively search for a 10.  I have many spots like that, and I do appreciate having that luxury.  I'm just trying to help with my best advice about how to get it done.   

I guess it's perspective. Was checking out a couple of video tips on the abaloneten web site and one of the trophy guys made a good point, and that is to let those 9.5 and 9.75's stay on the rock for another year or so, then come back to check them.  Good call. I certainly don't need to come back with abs all the time and would be willing to pass a 9.5 while hunting something bigger.

I guess it's perspective. Was checking out a couple of video tips on the abaloneten web site and one of the trophy guys made a good point, and that is to let those 9.5 and 9.75's stay on the rock for another year or so, then come back to check them.  Good call. I certainly don't need to come back with abs all the time and would be willing to pass a 9.5 while hunting something bigger.

I don't think they grow that fast by any means. I think they grow exponentially slower as they get older and bigger. From what I understand, they reach 7" in 7 yrs or so and then their growth rate drops off dramatically. Keeping their growth rate in mind, I think we have a good regulation system in place - 24 per year. Some rockfish grow just as slow, and we're allowed 10 PER DAY!!! I've said it before, but I think there should be tight seasonal limits on rockies...sorry for the thread hijack.

My experience is the 10s are in places few people go either because it's unexpected, difficult, or downright scary - or all three.  Abking brought me to a spot like that once.....it was heavy on the scary.

According to the study by F&G, it could take a red Abalone 45-50 years to reach 10 inches!

Q. How fast do abalone grow?
A. Abalone are relatively slow growing. Tagging studies indicate northern California red abalone take about 12 years to reach 7 inches but growth rates are highly variable. Abalone grow nearly one inch per year for the first few years and much slower after that. It takes about 5 years for red abalone to grow from 7 inches to 8 inches. At 8 inches, growth rates are so slow it takes about 13 years to grow another inch.

Hey SRJ:    Goat Rock is way easier to launch a kayak from and its an easy paddle to Shell Beach.  That whole area has nice Abs.  You don't need to go too far away from Goat Rock.  This area also doesn't have any outside reefs that Abs can migrate in from .  You should spread your hunting around so as to not deplete an area, IMO.  DcBatt

He is talking Shell Beach at the Sea Ranch

DcBatt,

Thanks for the tip. I AM talking about the Shell Beach south of Goat Rock. Actually going to dive it tomorrow. Ocean forcast looks nice. The water was dirty today when I did a recon from land. Have a friend diving with me tomorrow, but he's got a tube, so I'll have to drag the yak down the steps. There's a ton of good looking habitat between Goat Rock and Shell Beach, so I'll launch there when not encumbererd by a tube diver. Despite other advice, have it on good word that there are some BIG abs in that area. Thanks for the help,

Shannon

keep flappingyourlips and there wont. dont be a fool

Start your own thread, Craig.  Maybe call it:  don't ruin the world by sharing the beautiful experiences you have.

If it's getting ruined let's do something to fix or save it - like well-thought preserves, changes to limits...etc.

If one's fulfillment is based on hoarding then too bad for that person...

 

Is it not totally obvious that we're going down a road that we cannot turn back from?  Where's the half-full part for you?

Secret beauty may be one of the ugliest things around...

Craig,

Was really disappointed to see that in addition to you sending me a "personal" message this morning, you posted the same disrespectful message on the forum. I sent you a  PRIVATE and respectful reply to that message. I am not a thin skinned person, but your message was edgy and harsh.

I would be remiss if I didn't advise the viewing public on this site that YOU posted several messages AND photos of the exact same location(you even name it!), you did it on this site and the whole world saw it. You showed them all your GIANT abalone, not me.  Now, all get to know that you failed to apply the same set of rules to yourself that you applied to me, and that is called HYPOCRISY.

I do want the same as you, to keep special places special and to reveal them to special people only. Wish you hadn't slammed me in a mean spirited way in a public forum and hope we can avoid this sort of discord in the future. I wish you well,

Shannon

I have realized that by sharing a place that was not visited by every Tom, Dick and Harry I have failed myself. Ask others who have disclosed prime spots only to watch them be overun by pepole and stripped bare. So Abking are you willing to give up that little pinnacle where there are nothing but 10's everywhere? Didn't think so. Craig. Shannon when there are none left there I will see you at FT ross where we will all end up someday.

I've had some thoughtful personal correspondence with Shannon over the past few weeks and he and I are planning an ab trip together.  I'm hoping to take him to a spot where I've found some 10's.  That's our business, but I thought I'd share it in hopes of helping others to have an open mind.

Craig, I'm curious - are 10 inch abs so easy to get at your secret spot that it's not even a challenge?

that little pinnacle where there are nothing but 10's everywhere

If so, why even bother?  I'm pretty sure there are people like me, with lots of 10's, and they are very guarded about sharing anything because they want them all for themselves.  How sad and empty is that?

I've managed to change the way I look at the world, and I feel good about it.  If I can change the way others look at the world, and it makes the world a better place, then I'll feel good about that too.  I'm far from perfect, as we all are, and I'm finding that I'm most content when I'm navigating my path through life with others along to share in the learning and appreciation.  You and I might even end up as travel partners, Craig.  Give it time, Bro.