Searching for giant abs

I wouldn't say That Shell Beach just below Goat Rock is filthy with abalone. They are here and there. Its not the best habitat for abalone. Being that its dirty and cloudy most of the time which doesn't go well with marine plant life. The big abs are well back into hiding spots and not real easy to find. The dau i got 3 my friend who was diving with me found none. So suffice to say they are very infrequent. I lost my cool and my maturity went way before that. Apologies all around. Craig

That feels better, Craig - thank you, and I'm glad we were able to have this discussion.  A big factor, in my (nutty) mind, for getting big abs is your karma...  Maintain that and you'll be set, big ab or no.     (Shannon, you still in?   )

I've been following this thread a bit and I'm on the fence here.

Eric, I agree that it's great to share spots with friends and there's huge reward in bringing someone to my favorite dive location and seeing them enjoy it as much as I do. I appreciate general advice like what kind of habitat to look for, how deep in general, different techniques, etc, but I also think that revealing exact locations on the web is a big mistake. A favorite dive spot of mine has become overrun in recent years because people love to post on the web about it. NOTHING good comes from it, IMO.

My brother has some prime porcini patches that he found himself and he would never post about them for the same reason...the whole country would show up the next day if they knew how easily porcini mushrooms can be gathered. The same goes for diving.

There's nothing easy about watching our resources get devoured.  It's gone from a "natural" part of being an animal to a tragedy - it's called the "tragedy of the commons"...  I'm known to post details that could lead someone to one of my "spots", but I'm lucky - I live where the conditions and remoteness basically make my sharing a moot point.  You want to try to tap into what I have to work my ass off to enjoy, go for it.  So I agree, publicizing easily accessed areas with vulnerable resources isn't necessarily all that wise.  There's no pinnacle with 10's all over it - believe me!   

What is wise, in my trying-to-be humble opinion, is to let your heart help you decide how to share, instead of just your ego.  I didn't give anything up when I saw this thread, but I was intrigued because it's an area that I've devoted a big part of my life to.  When Shannon contacted me by email I hit him with one of my mini-novels full of Love, Passion, Guilt, and Challenge.  If you can sit through that kind of crap and keep coming back then I'm intrigued for another reason.  I can be as choosy as I want to be about sharing, and I've decided to base it on a process of information exchange where I "test" people to find their motivations, and I share how my motivations have changed.  It's really my hope to share those changes that keeps me pounding my head against this wall.  I am interested in developing myself into a better person.  Fish and abs are just part of the wallpaper here.   

Shannon, Pm me and I will show you the holy grail

Craig,

just sent you a PM stating what I'll re-state here. I am in your camp and want good spots to remain healthy and pristine.  Appreciate your words here and now, as well as your last PM to me. Will use discretion about these areas to the best of my ability. I learned about the area from another, very reliable source. The area is close-by for me I had planned on being a student and learning about the resources there. Take care and hope to meet you one day.

Shannon
Eric,

appreciate your perspective on this thread. Am really not a lip flapper, hope you understand that and trust me on that. Looking forward to our dive.

Shannon

Interesting discussion.  I guess I'm with M-2 on this one, I'm not a big fan of posting all spots on the internet.  There are some spots that can handle the publicity because they recruit new abalone faster than people can pick them.  Van Damme is an example of that:  many abs, but few trophies.

On the other hand there are spots that can't handle the load.  I like to share these spots as well, but I think discretion is in order.  I prefer to keep it on a personal basis for these areas.  People I have a connection with and feel that they will honor their words and my intentions when I ask them to not broadcast it.  This type of personal relationship is not possible on the web; it needs to be face to face.

We don't need to have a cookie cutter approach, where either we broadcast all sites or we hide all sites.  Some places are OK for the web and others are not appropriate.....IMHO.

I'm not broadcasting where I got that good one the other day because a few divers could clean off that rock it one day.  I'd like it to remain like that.  I'm not taking any more off it.

Dave, that my friend is honoring the enviroment and the resource.

I agree with M2. I will never ever show anyone when i dive again. Or where i fish or find shrooms. I have learned the hard way, if you want your paradise spot to be a paradise spot tell no one.

My greatest joy is to share good things with my friends.  It's great feeling and spirit that I've been practicing and enjoying.  I love to spread this spirit around to make this world a better place to live.

My greatest joy is to share good things with my friends.  It's great feeling and spirit that I've been practicing and enjoying.  I love to spread this spirit around to make this world a better place to live.

Amen, Brother.  I'm looking forward to spending some time with you at Shelter Cove.   

OK I gave one of them up and thats it. Goodwill is overated. When you keep a little spot all to yourself you hold something very special and unique. When you give it away all power of the uniqueness of your discovery is gone forever. Remember that. Thats the truth.

Ego is the enemy that propels us to disclose special spots to gain praise. I am guilty but no more.

But if you have time today and want to see a cool spot. PM me and meet me at Portuguese Beach at 5:30pm today

OK I gave one of them up and thats it. Goodwill is overated. When you keep a little spot all to yourself you hold something very special and unique. When you give it away all power of the uniqueness of your discovery is gone forever. Remember that. Thats the truth.
Ego is the enemy that propels us to disclose special spots to gain praise. I am guilty but no more.

Craig,

No one is forcing anyone to do anything against his/her will.  I'm sharing my good things with my friends because I believe in good Karma and friendships not because of my ego.  I don't let some bad experiences influent my believe.  I know you're a good person and I'm not judging or trying to change your ways of thinking.

Sonny

Ego is the enemy that propels us to disclose special spots to gain praise.

But if you have time today and want to see a cool spot. PM me and meet me at Portuguese Beach at 5:30pm today