The search for abalone is the most important thing that motivates
divers in Northern California, and Sonoma and Mendocino counties
continue to produce a bountiful harvest of these mollusks. Last year
I discussed how to pluck trophy abs. In this issue I will describe
how beginners can bag their limit.
Abalone can only be taken by breath-hold diving&emdash;no scuba allowed&emdash;so having you and your gear in good physical shape is important. It is a good idea to tune up your gear long before you head for the coast. Replace old or cracked straps, snorkel keepers, etc. and repair holes in your wetsuit. It is also important to tune up your body. If you haven't dived since last fall, it would be a good idea to begin by swimming laps, with fins, several times a week for a month before opening day.
In addition to a full 1/4 inch wetsuit, weightbelt, and mask, fins and snorkel, you will need a fishing license with an abalone stamp and the new punch card, a legal abalone iron, a legal abalone gauge, and a float to hold your catch. Fish and Game regulations should be consulted for what "legal" means, and your local dive shop can outfit you with the rest.
New divers are always looking for abalone "hot spots." The truth is that abalone are very plentiful in Northern California. If you can free-dive to 40 feet you will have absolutely no trouble getting your limit of abalone at any of the most popular Nor Cal beaches. If you can only free dive to 10 feet, you'll have to think about where you dive a little more.
Years of diving pressure have taken their toll on abalone that are just off the beach and in shallow water. New divers should try to concentrate their diving in shallow water just north or south of the popular coves, or swim up or down the coast as far as their endurance and skill will permit. If you have access to a boat, kayak, or privately-owned beach you are in luck. In remote areas abalone may still be found in abundance in very shallow water.
Ab divers should avoid looking along the tops of rocks, the ab hunter before you pulled those abs. Try looking at the base of rocks and in cracks. Abalone are often found upside down, back in the deepest cracks on the reef. They are often found looking like buttons as they cling to a rocky reef just above a sandy area. There is often a thick layer of palm kelp growing just off the bottom in springtime. Try parting the kelp to find the abs underneath.
Instead of immediately attacking the ab with your iron, first try grabbing on to a rock or a piece of kelp. This has two effects: it calms you so your breath lasts longer. It allows you time to study how the ab is sitting on the rock and to determine the best place to insert your iron. You should measure the abalone prior to attempting to remove it.
The abalone iron is inserted between the foot of the ab and the rock and rotated outward, all in one smooth motion. You are not "prying" the ab off the rock, but rather breaking the suction. Remeasure your ab and if it is undersized put it back where you found it, or at least in a protected crack where it has time to suck down on a rock. An abalone thrown overboard will sit on the bottom, shell down, and die. They cannot turn themselves over.
Remember, the single most important factor in being a good free-diver and abalone hunter is your ability to relax. The more time you spend in the water, the more comfortable you'll be, and the longer your breath will last. Happy hunting!
Editor's Note: Fish & Game laws have changed! Please consult the new regulations before venturing forth to hunt abalone.
Bruce Watkins is a frequent contributor to California Diving News. He will be giving seminars at SCUBA Show 2000, June 3 & 4 at the Long Beach Convention Center. And he is author of the book A Diver's Guide to Monterey County and soon to be released book A Diver's Guide to Northern California.
