Sea Ranch, Part II

Sunday/Monday:

I went out solo for quick dives both days while the family slept.

Limits of decent abs both days, half of which were 9’s or better.  On Monday, I also picked up a half doz of Urchin for the in laws.  1 trip (4 days of diving) and I’ve burned through half the annual limit of abs.

Here's a pict of the black I shot on Sat.  I was pleasantly surprised that it was bigger than I thought.  



Stuart

Cool... but did you save me any uni?

Chuck,
Saved you a ton of uni.  

Its all off Sea Ranch, getting bigger as I type.  Bring your dive gear to Elk and we'll have a blast with the abs and urchin.

Stuart

Dear Stu and fellow Yakers

            I'm happy for you  but, your only allowed 3 in your possession at any time.  I'm glad you didn't get a ticket .  You could have had your gear taked and fined $1, 500. I got my ass reamed by the DFG in Mendo for keeping my punch card in my Car( I was a Local at the time). Be carefull because the DFG needs the Money and, will not give you any breaks.
                                                                              Ernie

Abalone

The recreational fishery for red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) north of the mouth of San Francisco Bay is open from April 1, 2005 through June 30, 2005, and from August 1, 2005 through November 30, 2005. The fishery is closed for the month of July. The following regulations apply:

    * Only red abalone may be taken; no other species of abalone may be taken or possessed
    * No more than three red abalone may be taken per day or possessed at any one time. Each person taking abalone shall stop detaching abalone when the limit of three is reached
    * No person shall take more than 24 red abalone during a calendar year
    * All red abalone must be seven inches or greater measured along the longest shell diameter
    * The use of SCUBA gear or surface-supplied air to take abalone is prohibited. Abalone may not be taken or possessed aboard any boat, vessel, or floating device in the water containing SCUBA or surface-supplied air
    * Abalone may be taken only by hand or by devices commonly known as abalone irons
    * Red abalone may only be taken from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset
    * All persons taking abalone are required to carry a fixed caliper measuring gauge capable of accurately measuring seven inches
    * All persons required to possess a sport fishing license must also have an Abalone Permit Report Card, and complete it as required in the sport fishing regulations.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/oceanfish2005.pdf see pg 37

Ernie,
I was well within the law.

I took 3/day and correctly filled out the card (on shore,  AND in the boat when we dove Pt Arena).  

I had my whole family up there, so we were never over the possession limit of 3/person.

You can legally gift abalone to other people, even those without fishing licenses.  

This would apply to fish, fowl, etc. (fishing/hunting).

Stuart

10. You may not have more than one day's limit in your possession. Though you are allowed only one day's limit in your possession, you can give away your limit or portion thereof as long as you do not retain "constructive possession" of it. Giving the abalone to your three year old child, for example, would not be giving up "constructive possession." After you give away your abalone you can then be in the possession of another limit as long as it wasn't taken on the same day. The person to whom you give your abalone does not have to possess a fishing license.

http://www.cencal.org/abregs.html

This is a little dated (2003), but if the regs haven't changed, no harm no foul...

Nice job Stu!  I am in the same boat as you, half of the card is already gone.   Thankfully Chris can now get his own limit...bonus abs!

Dear Fellow Yakers:

                           Your right about giving away Abs. I was confused and would only take home 3 Abs when, I could have given away Abs to family members. I guess I'm a little paranoid about Ab Limits.
                                                                                 Ernie

I find that we eat one or more/night, so the most my family has ever come home with was about 4..  They're best fresh, and IMO it's suspicious if you are coming back with 3 days limits without having eaten a single one while you were up there.