Game
BagsIn gathering seafood underwater, you have to have a place to put it all. Lobster, abalone, scallops, fish - the proper receptacle is required. Game bags, also sometimes called "goodie bags", come in all shapes and sizes, made with a variety of material. Choice of the right game bag for you depends on its intended use.
LOBSTER
Catching and bagging lobster can be quite a challenge. Technique is
most important. Since they swim backwards, always bag them tail
first. But they have this predisposition to grab on to things. Your
hands, the edge of bag - all is fair and they will not go in without
a fight. And they are always trying to get out. If you already have
one or more lobster in a bag, getting another in, without losing
another, may be a challenge. Here is where you can use a lobster's
predisposition to grab on to things to your advantage. With a mesh
bag, they will hook their legs in firm and the spines with become
entangled in the mesh, holding them in solid even when the bag is
open. Mesh bags, however, are not as durable as fabric bags. Fabric
bags will hold up longer to abuse. The best compromise is a bag with
mesh on the bottom and fabric on the top.
The opening is important with bags for lobster hunting. A large opening is a must. Worthy of consideration are those that have some sort of one-way device where the lobster goes in but it can't get out.
ROCK SCALLOPS
Hunting rock scallops can be done in one of two ways. Some prefer to
clean the scallops where they are found, underwater, taking up only
the meat that is desired. The thinking here is by leaving the shell
behind, less damage is done to the environment and there is much less
weight to carry. Disadvantage to this approach is the meat will not
stay as fresh as long and the risk that one scallop may be counted as
two by Fish & Game (limit is 10 per day). If you use this
approach, however, choice of bag is not that important because the
load is small.
The second technique takes the scallop shell and all. The scallop stays fresher, longer, and there is no chance Fish & Game will miscount how many you have. The disadvantage is if you get your limit of 10 large scallops, you will have quite a load. And that load can be hard on a game bag. A sturdy fabric bag is best in this circumstance and a good, comfortable handle and sturdy "D" ring or rings are a big plus.
ABALONE
Because abalone can be taken only by free divers on the North Coast,
an entirely different approach to game storage is needed. The
traditional approach of attaching a game bag to a weight belt is just
too cumbersome for the free diver. Most North Coast ab divers use an
inner tube in a fabric bag. The tube stays on the surface while the
diver free dives. A zippered entrance give access to the inside of
the bag to storage of captured abalone and other gear and the
considerable flotation provides a place for the diver to rest.
URCHINS
Yes, people do collect and eat urchins. The egg sack or "roe" is an
acquired taste but very good. The daily bag limit is 35 (try finding
a bag that big!). Tough, puncturing spines require a bag made
entirely of fabric, the toughest you can find. With mesh, the urchin
spines will tangle and you will spend your whole dive cursing.
Remember, though, the outer red of the urchin stains some fabrics.
FISH
Not recommended. A fish "clip" or stringer works much better. The
clip or stinger threads through the eyes or gills. Small speared fish
can be put into bags but they thrash, often escaping or tear up the
bag. And eventually you'll get a fish too big for the bag.
A final note: you'll need a place to store game between dives. A second bag is necessary. I like a compact simple bag with a drawstring that can hang off in the live game wells aboard the charter boats.
