Hunting Giants in the far north 5/1-5/2

Hey all,

took the kayak up to the far north to a super secret squirrel location and had my best ever day abalone diving. Entered the water and paddled to the spot. Water kept getting cleaner the further I paddled. Got in and started to see a few abs. First one I gauged was 9 3/4. This was a good sign. On dive number fifteen, I found a giant. I pulled him after he passed the 10 inch gauge test and he was a beautiful old growth ab over 10 1/4". Kept at it and a couple of hours later on dive number 60'ish, I found another giant, this one would go a hair under the other at 10.237". Took a breather for a bit and thought, hey, this could be the day that I pull a limit of tens. I was feeling good and kept at it.

On dive number 72, the unthinkable happened. I love chasing big abs and had set a goal this year of finding one over 10 1/2, as I'd not hit that number yet. I'm ever grateful to be able to get in the water and ANY ten inch ab is a treasure. Anyhow, I looked under a shallow ledge and saw an abalone that looked really, really big. I wouldn't know just how big until l later that night. I pulled him on my second attempt and he went way past the ten inch gauge. He looked easily like 10 ¾”. I was jacked to say the least. A limit of tens(my first)and a super giant to boot.  Headed over to my brother in law’s house, who let me stay with him while up north. Drank some beers and called a friend who told me to put the big one on a tape measure and see. I did and my jaw dropped to the floor as the abalone was at the 11 inch mark. Ran him down to Bucksport in Eureka to have Reed put him on the calipers.  I couldn’t stand the suspense as Reed manipulated the calipers very carefully to get an accurate measurement. Final measurement is 11.054 inches. Never in a million years did I expect this would happen, but it did. Attached a couple of pics to show off the ab. I dove the next day and found another giant abalone that went 10.20”. So excited and humbled that this happened. A special thank you to the Abking, who showed me the way just about two years ago.
See you all at GS5. I’ll be the one driving a blue Toyota Tundra with an  11 inch abalone for a hood ornament.

Shannon

WTG Shannon!!!!!!!!!!

Those are beautiful abalone for sure!!

I know from reading your reports how hard you work to find those big ones, and am very happy (and not surprised at all) that your dedication and perserverance paid off.

Looking forward to seeing you up at Shelter...my biggest ab so far has been 9 inches and I still look at the shell every day and think it is a monster, and love how beautiful it is...hope you and I can dive together up at GS5 and maybe I can find my second 9!!

Congrats again bro.

 

Sincerely,

Jim

 STUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  .....Wow! Great Job Shannon! Damn! You better bring the shell to Shelter!

that is awe inspiring!  Thank you!

I think I'll need to get a 7mil one of these days and start hunting the great red snail as well

Jim

Awesome job! Way to get the big ones! Those look so nice, I'm very jealous.
Later
JIm

Slug snails! Great job!


-Eliot

Shannon - you've become a machine!  Nice work.  Congrats on getting your 11 - that's a big deal, as you know.  Keep honing your focus.   

Hey Guys,

thanks so much for the  pats on the back. You all know when something flips your switch and lights off your passion. I'll bring him to the cove and we'll all fondle him whilst eating and drinking ourselves into a blissful state(that means getting a heat on boys!).

SRJ

That's incredible! Stoked for you man! I haven't been able to Ab dive this year yet, GS5 might be my first time this season! See you guys there!

Jeff

Wow,
Very nice and the conditons look great too.
Congrats on a excellent day of diving.

Congratulations Shannon! Well deserve after all that many dives.  Can't wait to see that shell.  Watch out we might put a tracking device on you to find out where that super secret spot is. 

Fantastic job! Keep that spot a safe secret!
Those are big beautiful abs!

Nice work,

too bad about not getting your limit of 10 inchers... lol, thats about the only thing better

Hey Shannon
its great to see that youre still enjoying that boat.
strong work and nice job of reporting responsibly.
hope to see you soon

Congrat on the great accomplishment!  Thanks for the report and pictures Shannon.