July Ab Hunting?
Dear Kim,
Like you, I love to dive for abalone with my son. However, we prefer to do it legally; not in July when they are out of season. Or did you just put that in your editorial to see how many people would catch it?
Guy Hinrichs
Leggett, CA
Dear Guy,
Oops, You caught me, but not how you think. We left our home in So. CA in the last week in July. We drove straight up to Southern Oregon and spent a full week visiting my Grandparents. On August 3 we left Oregon and arrived at Russian Gulch, and from there we spent five wonderful days ab diving with our sons.
As most vacations go, I lost track of days and from my memory my vacation started in July. Thanks for noticing the discrepancy. I assure you we always follow Fish and Game laws and conservation ideals. In California, abalone hunting is legal the months of April, May, June, August, September, October and November (notice the hole at July). In addition, abalone may be taken only north of San Francisco and only by breath-hold diving. See California Fish and Game regulations for further details.
Kim Sheckler
"Secret Spot" Revealed to Much Anger
To Bruce Watkins, c/o California Diving News:
Bruce - you (expletive deleted) up. I was happily reading the latest issue of California Diving News when I came across a very familiar diagram of a place called serenisea, up in Gualala. For years only a few tight-knit divers dove this spot. This place was considered semi-secret because whenever I went out, I never, and I mean never, saw anyone out there. What I'm trying to get at is that you really pissed me off and I'm sure the locals are too, for exposing this place. As a result of so few divers knowing about this place the abs grew healthy and large for many years, and yes, like you said , there are hubcaps out there in 15 feet or less. Now that half a million people know about it, it will soon be picked clean. It's a prime location for late night scuba poachers also. You couldn't have given a better description of the layout there. I know a few extra twists to that spot, yet someone will now soon find it, too. Now, everyone is going to be trying to find this spot with "abs piled on top of each other," this weekend and the years to come. I've been involved with the ocean for a long time, so I know that places like this should be left to the few who knew, for there are many other places to dive along the coast. How were you supposed to know it was a secret spot?
Well, it seemed pretty (expletive deleted) obvious in your article that you acknowledge only the locals know about and few, if ever any, out-of- towners. In the surfing industry, if a reporter did any more than take a picture (without distinguishing features for identification) of a secret spot along the coast, someone would be sure to kick his (expletive deleted). It's a matter of respect. The ocean is there for everyone, yet certain magical spots like serenisea need to be kept quiet. I hope you learned a lesson - and if you didn't and you don't care, and all you care about is making the boss happy with a great story then go (expletive deleted) yourself.
Robert Baird
via email
Who Saw the Whale at the Chocolate Lobster Dive?
Dear CDN,
The chocolate lobster dive was fun. I found my limit in less than 10 minutes with a couple of search patterns. Even though I didn't win that new reg or computer or dive trip, I did do better than last year. I came away with three prize's - mask, snorkel, and a $200 savings bond. My third prize was during the auction. I had no money so I left. While everyone's attention was on buying a camera, mine was on the 20-foot gray whale in the surf zone, literally feet from the shoreline. It was probably eating the dead squid and chocolate lobsters that weren't found. I wonder if anyone would pay to see that at the auction.
P.S. Need "real" dive buddies for nite dive's O.C. area.
Ted Pomona
(909) 622-4262
No "Catch & Release" of Lobster
Dale:
I need to comment on your lobster article. You should not encourage folks to catch and release bugs out of season. First it is illegal. Fish and Game defines "take" as "pursue and capture" along with kill.
Second, should the released lobster loose a leg or antennae, it will soon molt. The bug puts more energy into repairing the damage instead of growing big and fat. Also, if the injured bug is with eggs, the season's reproductive cycle will be lost with the molt.
Bruce Watkins
via email
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