How easy/difficult is it to pry off a hunkered-down ab?

I have always tried to "surprise" abs by dislogding them very quickly, before they knew what is coming.  But I'm wondering, since the ab iron is like a chisel, can't I always stick the iron into an hunkered-down ab and pry it open?

         Sometimes it works...      Just got to be careful about puncturing them when you go for those quick attacks.   If it's undersize,   even a small cut can cause them to bleed out and die.
    Ever try hitting them sideways  with the palm of your hand ?   It won't work if they're already hunkered down though.

A hunkered down ab can be extremely strong - I've bent irons on them.

It's a standard part of abalone diving. Usually it's easy, but as Eric says, they can be tough to pry off. Just be sure you have a good angle on it. I commit myself to an ab once the iron touches the foot because you can kill it by gouging it.

Once they suck down, it's best just to move along... More pain and suffering if you try to work them off. I have dropped a marker, and come back after 15 min to have them come off easy. Least then you have already measured them.

And easy DIY marker is a 3-4' length of caution tape with a fishing weight tied to the end. This also helps keep you on a spot when the surge/current is strong (it all can look the same down there...)


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When you are deep into a cave the ab iron is great, more focused on breathe hold rather than sneaking up on it. Also when the abalone is in a reefy, rocky, obstructed area.

Let them go, too many times I have gotten too excited about grabbing a big one that is hunkered down only to seem to fight for my life at the end.  Now days if I don't get it first time just let it live another day!

I always try and get them before they are sucked down too. Shit burns your tongue, but you have to strike while the iron is hot, or go without.

Just think of an abalone as one of those old-school Tupperware containers... may be difficult to open, but once you pop the seal, it's quite a bit easier to peel the lid off.

Most of the time it will come off right away... other times you may need to clear a bit more of the foot surface area before prying.   

Look for ab that have meat sticking out of the bottom when it's clamped down.  If they do you can slide the iron right under about 3 or 4 inches and lift.  They come right off.  If it's a big shell and you want it even if it's not as meaty, put the iron under as far as  you can, then drive it in farther by hitting it with the heel of your hand or a rock then lift it off.  If you do it right it should be easy.  When ever possible insert the iron under the head, which is the tapered end.  If they are in a crack where there isn't much space they can be a little more difficult, especially if you are prying from the side, but the same technique will get almost any ab easily.
 

if you got your mind set on that ab , leave the iron on the floor next to it attached to a float line and go up for air , give it time to settle.

if you got your mind set on that ab , leave the iron on the floor next to it attached to a float line and go up for air , give it time to settle.

Yes I do that from time to time, if I'm at a place that's more picked out.

But a funny story:  One time I did that, and when I got back, that sucker had moved deeper into the hole, out of my reach.

Unless it is a trophy ab, if it is already sucked down just leave it for later and look for another one. You should never have to "pry" an ab off a rock....  Just a tip...