Detaching Scallops from Rocks

[Kryssa]

Hello,

On our next Channel Islands trip, I'd like to bring some scallops back up with me. I have no idea what is the best strategy to detach them from the rocks. I'd like to bring it up with me and shuck topside.

Can you pull them off or knock them off without a tool? I don't currently carry a knife as I have a line cutter, but would consider purchasing an inexpensive one if that is what I need. I've heard they can be sharp and rip through 5 mm gloves and into your hand... is that true?

Thanks for any info you can share

 

[Kiwi303]

Scallops (here anyway) are free swimming sandy bottom dwelling molluscs... They don't attach to rocks...

Do you mean Oysters, Mussels or Clams?

 

[Kryssa]

Here in California they attach to rocks.... I believe the common name for them is Rock Scallops.

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk

 

[oly5050user]

maybe she means abalone's?

 

[VooDooGasMan]

Three of what I use

Actually we have scallops that attach to objects, kryssa there are scallop bars the one pictured is from national divers in freemont ca, the one above it is a vintage one more for abalone made in japan, in second pic it has scale for length.

The third is a blunt dive knife. The scallop bar is not sharp and no need for sheath, attach to goody bag for storage and pull out during use.


I can pick mine off bottom with 7mill glove but will tear them up.



Happy Diving

 

[Akimbo]

maybe she means abalone's?

Nope, rock scallops. Similar in size, shape, and taste to the free-swimming scallops but the back half of the shell is cemented to a rock. Mass helps a lot. A heavy 1960s era diving knives work well. The closest thing I have seen sold today is the Cressi Orca

Cressi Sub Orca Knife @ Divers-Supply.com

The bag limit in California is 10/day and you can take them in Scuba. Abalone are 3/day, 24/year max, must be individually tagged, and can only be taken freediving.

 

[VooDooGasMan]

dacor vintage is same as new cressie

Here is a 60's vintage dacor,it does not have a line cutter like akimbo cressie knife, and here is an XS scuba blunt you can get today.



Happy Diving

 

[Akimbo]

I compared the XS-Scuba knife. It is not nearly as heavy and that weight makes the old "Mike Nelson swords" way more useful for getting scallops chipped off rocks.

I have heard that lot of game wardens will write you up if you use a hammer to “assist” any kind of knife. The California Fish & Game regulations are a little fuzzy. We used hammers all the time in the 1960s.