Easter Weekend Report-Mendocino

April 22nd Friday:  Went camping for the weekend up at Van damme, arrived at 9am and decide to dive at Caspar.  Went out on a kayak and dove in solo.  Grabbed 3x 8" abalone, 2 sea urchins and 1 fish for dinner for the campsite.  25ft vis (video)

April 23rd Sat: Was supposed to meet IslandYak at 7am, but woke up late, tired from the previous day.  Went out at 9am with Jen (new free diver from our camp group) to help her get acquainted with free diving in the shallows for Abs.   Worked in around 5-10ft, a little surge.  She was excited to see Ab's from top of the water   (video)

Met up with Tim and Jonathan on the same day and we decide to hit up Mendocino, we kayaked out to around 22-25ft depth. There were plentiful of Ab's (8.5" everywhere)  So I took a homemade gauge that Milo (SCAN) gave me (9.50" gauge) and planned to take my time and look for big abalone.  At the same time, I had Tim follow me around as he had some nasal congestion, and I wanted to help him out also on looking for big Ab's.  I pulled a 9.75" and a 9" YAHOO!!! those Ab's had a lot of meat on them.   My last one I thought was 10.50", and I was super excited.. and came out of the water to show Tim... turned out to be a 8.50".  NEVER hold two gauges in the same hand!  I used the bottom of one gauge and the top of another, and thought I had something really big... damn it.  LOL.   Tim pulled his abalone and we headed back in with Jonathan, who had 5 crab traps out.  We were able to pull close to 2 limits of crabs.   NICE! (no video, was too busy looking for big Ab's)

April 24th Easter Sun:  Brad showed up the night before and I promised him that I would take him out snorkeling for the first time in our coast.  He had a great time, was able to spot abalone, fish, and even brought his own camera to add to my video.  I shot at my first ling, but it ran the shaft into the wall and it got out, and the ling took off. At least Brad got to see that i shot it, or no one would believe me.  LOL 

Looks like a great time. Can't beat that vis. Thanks for sharing the video!

Nice! Can't beat family camping, and sneaking in a few dives.  Way to be a good sport and spend some time with beginning divers. Thx for sharing

Peace, y'all

...  Tim pulled his abalone and we headed back in with Jonathan, who had 5 crab traps out.  We were able to pull close to 2 limits of crabs.   NICE! (no video, was too busy looking for big Ab's)

Sounds like a nice weekend Chaeki.  Your friend dropped the traps inside of that bay in Van Damme?  I know it's sandy in the middle. 

Nate

Man those were some nice eggs u guys were finding......   Looked like great conditions for abs/uni/fish/ and crabs........Nice....Congrats on your multi-day-speices Hunt!!!

Nice report/vid, Chaeki. Looks like an awesome weekend!

...  Tim pulled his abalone and we headed back in with Jonathan, who had 5 crab traps out.  We were able to pull close to 2 limits of crabs.   NICE! (no video, was too busy looking for big Ab's)

Sounds like a nice weekend Chaeki.  Your friend dropped the traps inside of that bay in Van Damme?  I know it's sandy in the middle. 

Nate

We left the traps at the mouth of noyo harbor, right in front of the beach launch, like you would doran.

WTG Chaeki!!!!!

Those are fat abs bro...super stoked for you!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Super cool vid! Ive yet to have those epic diving conditions up North! Seems everytime I go out vis is like two feet on good days.

Thanks everyone!!!   

My pet peeve since I started free diving is.... when you go down with abalone gear, and you see a big fish, or you go down with a spear gun and see a big abalone.. UGH!!!!!

I almost want to make a spear gun ab iron.. LOL with built in guage...

WTG Chaeki,  super good conditions and Big Jim is right.  those abs were nice and plump.  thanks for the vid to.
hotplate

Thanks everyone!!!   

My pet peeve since I started free diving is.... when you go down with abalone gear, and you see a big fish, or you go down with a spear gun and see a big abalone.. UGH!!!!!

I almost want to make a spear gun ab iron.. LOL with built in guage...

hate that too...i seen a big as ling but my gun was with my diveboard hella far away. i went back but coudnt find it ;(

Awesome way to spend Easter.
Congrats on the catches. As always, superb video.

D

Thanks everyone!!!   

My pet peeve since I started free diving is.... when you go down with abalone gear, and you see a big fish, or you go down with a spear gun and see a big abalone.. UGH!!!!!

I almost want to make a spear gun ab iron.. LOL with built in guage...

hate that too...i seen a big as ling but my gun was with my diveboard hella far away. i went back but coudnt find it ;(

Easy solution.  Dive with a gun attached to a easy to see floatline (I use white) with no float (or very small and streamlined) on the end.  If you come across a big ab, leave the gun in a position that will identify the location of the fish easily ( I point the gun at where I saw it) and go back to get your iron and gauge.  Follow your line down and pop the ab. 

Great vid, Chaeki.  Spinal tap has it right - the anchor is a big help in getting back on a big ab and sometimes fish too.  Don't tell anyone - it's a secret!