Changing the standard in which we detrimne a trophy abalone !!!!

Abking says...

- 10" is the standard for a trophy ab because they're very hard to find;
- Weight is a cool stat, but once you eat (or give away...) the meat all you have is a shell;
- Getting large or unique abs was, for me, a personal accomplishment tied to several other aspects of the journey such as:
     - Researching the locations;
     - Studying the tides and ocean factors;
     - Hiking a long distance down the beach with all my gear on my back;
     - Carefully searching for and measuring big abs; and
     - Honoring the species and my fellow sportsmen through the use of highest ethics, including:
           - Never upgrading;
           - Never trying to pull an ab that I didn't think I could get;
           - Never killing an ab without an intended use for the meat;
           - Never getting so wrapped up in the "personal accomplishment" factor that I would become a game hog over it.

If just getting and having a 10" or 10 pound ab is so cool then people will eventually do whatever they can, with or without ethics, to get them.  That's what turned me off to the pursuit.  When people admire you for what you have, it feels good and probably leads to you wanting more of it.  When people admire you for how you got what you have, it makes you realize that having it isn't nearly as important as getting it through the use of highest ethics. 

When you "retire" from trophy ab hunting do you want to have as many 10's as possible, or do you want to have as many people as possible admiring and following your lead, teaching others about it, and appreciating you for sharing that growth?

Abs might as well be Easter eggs.  It's food for thought - not criticism of every trophy hunter. 

Well Eric for me it use to be about numbers and how many tens I can get but  I am going back to the what matters enjoying the adventure and challenge but do not get me wrong I still love to find the big ones it is my thing. I have taken so many abalone in my 30 years of diving I do not need the meat it is about the hunt and reward of finding something rare. Like I stated in the beginning I started this discussion cause it had crossed my mind and other trophy divers I know. Hey it got every one thinking and talking ? What it boils down to is  to each there own what ever your enjoyment level is in the sport as long as you are following the regs and are ethical and respectful to the animal you are hunting.

I like abs!

Here are the standards I have always used:

*as close to the Golden Gate Bridge as possible
*closest I can park to the water
*least amount of climbing or scrambling
*least amount of breath holds to get a limit
*most meat yield after trimming

Nate

Dude, you got that right.  Except for me its as close to my house as possible.

+1

Here are the standards I have always used:

*as close to the Golden Gate Bridge as possible
*closest I can park to the water
*least amount of climbing or scrambling
*least amount of breath holds to get a limit
*most meat yield after trimming

Nate

Dude, you got that right.  Except for me its as close to my house as possible.

+1

Hmmmm, perheps therein lies the biggest reasons I've never got a 10 and likely never will. What I really like tho, are the ones that are so fat they overflow their shell in all directions and can't even clamp themselves down tight anymore.