Land of the giants- Lost Coast Nov. 26

Hey all,

Been back for a couple of days and needed every bit of it to recover from the latest venture.  As most of you did, we watched the ocean forecast for endless, mind numbing weeks waiting for one last shot. Mother Nature relented and gave us the chance we had impatiently waited for. Part one was a couple of months ago when Zack and I headed north to the wild country of the lost coast. We both got big abs and I left a giant behind.

Fast forward to part two. Headed up late into the evening and got a couple of hours sleep at best. Add that to the fact I had slept poorly(4 hours average)for the prior three evenings, AND  that I was sick and getting more so by the minute. Now, let’s put four days of bad sleep together with being sick and add a physically brutal trip into the abalone grounds to the tune of 6 miles of wheeling the kayaks up and back in terribly steep terrain and paddling on the water and you have the makings of a very demanding trip. A maniac when it comes to pushing myself, this trip took the cake. The possibility of a giant abalone can make a trophy diver do insane things. Like the Indians said of gold fever- “The yellow metal that makes the white man crazy”.  Need I say more?

Pre dawn greeted us with flat seas not seen. I knew by the deafening silence below the bluffs that she would be good to us. Barely visible on the horizon was the leading edge of the front coming later in the day, a gentle south breeze in our faces. Told Zack that the south wind makes magic when it comes to cleaning up the water, something I learned from Eric, “Abking”.  Didn’t want to make promises but was giddy with the possibilities. Wheeled the kayaks to the water and upon arrival saw the Valhalla of abalone diving in this remote and always dirty region. The small waves breaking were transparent. The misery of fatigue and sickness faded to nothingness as I realized we were seeing conditions that should not have been possible in this place.  I later saw the fresh tracks of a momma and baby black bear on the beach. This is why I come here.

Quickly geared up and launched. Upon arrival at the chosen location, the visibility was well over 15 feet and may have approached 20 in some spots. It stayed that way for the entire day, until the wind chop picked up and murked things up a little in the surf zone.   We both gauged several abs at or over 9 ¾”. After finding one that was 9 7/8, I accidently found it again about fifteen minutes later and noticed the distinct shape of another abalone further into the hole, hiding behind some urchins.  Got the urchins out of the way and took a look. The ab was tight in and against the sand and I couldn’t get the ten gauge behind him, but he had the look. Popped him after a few rounds and he went past the ten gauge. Later put him on the calipers at 10.08” X 8.65”, a real beauty.

After getting our first ten under our belts, it was time to help Zack find a giant. Our plan had been to find a ten, then team up and help the other guy find his ten. Gauged more big ones, and I tried like hell to find the hole I had left the giant behind on the last trip, but to no avail. Zack came up and said he’d found a big one.  He came up and said he was pretty sure the ab was over 10. I dove to take a meaure and the  ab was WAY past the gauge. After calling Zack Ray Charles for his apparent blindness, he went to work on the giant. After several tries, including the use of the “Green Hornet”, his 22” ab iron, Zack came up with a true monster abalone, biggest live abalone I’ve ever touched. He looked at or over 10 ¾. The abalone would later be measured by Matt with my calipers at 10.836”.

We took a break, fueled up and went back out for another couple of hours, finding no other tens. We reveled in the amazing day we had experienced.  Both of us spent, it took everything and more to make it back to the truck in the darkness and rain. What a ripping adventure to the land of the giants.  Got some great footage and will put together a movie for you all as soon as possible.
Later,
SRJ

Hardcore trip all the way from the seasonal gate?!  Nice work - congrats on the nice abs and a hell of a hump.   

Eric,

ya, all the looonnnggg way from the gate. Insanity and idiocy all rolled into one. The water was otherworldly, didn't want to leave that magic place. Til next season, hope you are well

SRJ

Oh my....

Nice looking abs

Way to go bro !!! I knew as soon as I heard you and Zach were heading up you come back with some giants.

   Thanks for the Ab porns Shannon.

WTG Shannon!!!!!!

Super stoked you got out there with Zach and had a great time!!!

Those abs are HUGE!!!!!!
 

Congrats again and thanks for sharing!!
 
Sincerely,

Jim

Great write up Shanon! Thanks for the report beautiful slugs bro! Beautiful!

Those are huge even with the semi fishsniffer pose!

But how did they taste!

Nice report.

Totally Awesome report!!! WTG !

VERY NICE!!

What a great adventure worth all the sweat and work. Congrats.

Thanks for the inspiring report!

-Eliot