Abalone anyone...?

[gj62]

About 20 yrs ago, we used to dive out on Salt Point (we called it the "Eggbeater") and could easily limit in just a few dives. My buddy once limited in a single dive, but he's a fish.

Once we took a whole ab (out of the shell and "cleaned"), and made 3 deep pockets, stuffed with squash and put in butter, white wine, herbs etc. Baked it for awhile in foil and it came out tender enough to eat with a fork. Tried again and again to recreate, and all we got was shoe leather (tough shoe leather at that!).

Used to be an urban legend about shocking them to make them go flaccid - no luck with that either...

 

[Drewpy]

April 1st is opening day for Abalone!
Hey Gj62 that sounds familiar-a friend did something similar; wrapped it in bacon(whole ab)seasoned it then into foil and onto the BBQ coals( I thought it would be tough as nails)cooked for about 45mins then sliced it thin-perfect and tasty!
I was told to put them shell down on the ground(lawn) and let them rest for a few hours-in time the muscle decontracts and relaxes. Then you smack it with a shovel and kill it!No need to pound it ,the meat will be soft and tender. The owner of my LDS swears by this???! I have always been a pound it and saute it guy but I will try it this year!

 

[gj62]

Drewpy - I must not have had the right kind of lawn - tried that a bunch and it never worked. Let me know if you have more luck!

We used to go up every weekend with our class (that was back when a snorkel dive was pretty much a requirement). The class would all try for them, but my DM and I would limit for anyone who wanted to stay in the water - they we'd have a big picnic, weather permitting.

Haven't been back in too long...

 

[Alfredo]

I'm surprised there isn't any activity on this thread.

Is anyone going this weekend? If you do, please fill us in on how you did.

I might try to go later in the month.

 

[diverrick]

Beating your dinner with a shovel before you eat it?
I didn't know it was opening week. I am available on Thurs/Fri, but all I have to use is a dry suit. I am attempting to get my buddy to take me out to an island I know about that might have abs right near the surface, so I could kinda wade around and find them shallow. Short of that I'd need another suit to go. Some folks say it can be done in a bag suit, but others say it is not reasonable.

 

[renpirate]

I have been out twice since the season opened and limited each time at Ft. Ross. There are plenty of abalone out there. Be careful about measuring, the rangers are out and about and it's a $450 fine for taking an under sized one. My buddy had one that was real close to being undersized. All the ones I took were at least 71/2" and I did find a nice 9" too all in 15' or less.

 

[luvabdivin']

abalone season is opening this weekend. Anyone from redding area looking for dive partner? I love to dive mendicino coastline on weekend. Looking forward to 06 season.

 

[abman]

i was there for the opener. the water was a little rough but it was diveable. vis was 7-8' we got in at the mendcino headlands. a few of the other spots were blown out, or you could walk out to deep water across all of the floatubes(van damn st beach). got my limit in less than 12' of water. i couldn't get my zodiac in the water- it was a bit rough at noyo harbor. so i had little choice but to crawl down the rocks.... it's all good.... fresh ab... nothing better. ken