Sonoma Abalone season not closed as of 9/25/2011

I just came back from Timber Cove and as I was leaving from fishing, two guys were gearing up for abalone diving.  I told them the season was closed.  They said they just talked to Ocean Cove, and
they were told abalone season is opened.  As I was leaving, I saw a large hand painted sign
in front of Timer Cove that ABALONE SEASON IS OPEN. 

I drove to Gerstle Cove and talk to a ranger who told me the season is closed --but not officially.  Yeah, that's right.  He said the DFG recommended that the season be closed due to the algae bloom, but
it had not yet become law.  So, he goes on to say that if a person has a valid license they are
able to pick.

I talk to several people up there, and there is a lot of confusion.    Be current on the news from DFG before you go after abalone in Sonoma Coast.

Thanks for the info raydon. Gotta look a little further into this.

I seen that same sign today. Very confusing. I hope no one gets into trouble over the confusion.

On Sept. 15, the Fish and Game Commission voted to close the Sonoma abalone season two months early in urgent response to an algae bloom that killed shell fish along the coast, most notably at Fort Ross where the death rate of abalone likely exceeded 30 percent.

The closure won't become effective until review by the state Office of Administrative Law, expected some time in the next two weeks.

From the Press on Sat.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110923/ARTICLES/110929705