Sea Urchin Diving in So California

[seansrs36]

Does anyone know of good areas to dive for Sea Urchin? I love Sea Urchin Roe and would love to find areas where I can for these yummy creatures here in southern California. I tried Catalina but when I cracked them open, the roe was old. Any suggestions anyone?

Thanks

 

[Otter]

Does anyone know of good areas to dive for Sea Urchin? I love Sea Urchin Roe and would love to find areas where I can for these yummy creatures here in southern California. I tried Catalina but when I cracked them open, the roe was old. Any suggestions anyone?

Thanks

Sean,
Ross got some at Deadman's and said it was tasty. God knows we have tons of em out there....and little kelp because of them

Craig

 

[seansrs36]

I will have to get with Ross and ask him which one he gets..I tried getting some at Catalina and they were bad..the Roe was old and yucky..

 

[dpbishop]

You must have been in the Sea Urchin Retirement Community on Catalina (Shady Spikes?) Commercial divers take them from the Point Loma and La Jolla kelp beds and ship them to Japan, so they must be OK. Ive dined on a few and they were young and zesty.

 

[drbill]

Make sure you have the appropriate license and avoid areas like the Invertebrate Reserve on Catalina's west end leeward coast.

 

[Mr.X]

Make sure you have the appropriate license and avoid areas like the Invertebrate Reserve on Catalina's west end leeward coast.

As Dr. Bill mentions - very important to have licenses in order. Fines can be hefty.

As per roe (gonads) - the Red variety seems to have better eats. Strongylocentrotus franciscanus vs. the purple's? Also, hitting it in season never hurts.

 

[Ironcat]

Yuck Yuck Yuck... Please come to South florida and eat every sea urchin you find. That stuf is nasty!
Sea Urchin tastes like Dania Beach smells in August...
Sea Urchin tastes like you dislocated your bottom jaw and scraped your teeth along a seawall...
Sea urchin tastes... well, you get the idea.

 

[seansrs36]

When is the best season for Sea Urchin here in southern California? DrBill what license is needed? I thought only a standard Ocean License is required.

Thanks

 

[Mr.X]

Yuck Yuck Yuck... Please come to South florida and eat every sea urchin you find. That stuf is nasty!
Sea Urchin tastes like Dania Beach smells in August...
Sea Urchin tastes like you dislocated your bottom jaw and scraped your teeth along a seawall...
Sea urchin tastes... well, you get the idea.

I would suggest a 'real' Japanese sushi bar. Many of the bars I see these days are run by people who have no business even putting up a sign saying Sushi. grrrrh.

Here's the first sign that let's you know you've walked into a true sushi bar:

The head chef recognizes you the minute you enter the establishment from the sushi counter and says "Ira-Shai Masae" (this is butchered Japanese of course). This means welcome. Doesn't matter how busy they may be...real sushi chefs are always supposed to say this. If not, turn around and walk out. The place is not authentic. You'll get served the scraped urchin mentioned above.

The best roe is delicate in flavor, sweet on first the first sensation, and when combined with properly seasoned and prepared rice, a pickled plum, quail egg topper can be an ethereal combination. X

 

[Ironcat]

Mr. X,
I rear your other sushi bar thread, and no, sometimes it does not matter where you eat it, how it is prepared, or what color the plate under it is, sometimes you just don't like things.
I don't like blood pudding.
I don't like Mate soda.
I don't like Uni.

"My" well trained and very professional chef greets me in English and says "Hi Mike" which roughly translates into "Greetings to the person named Michael". This sushi chef recognizes me when I walk in, we discuss work, family, the weather and all sorts of other things. He makes a point to greet and usually remembers each guest I bring in.
I have been to "real" sushi bars in Miami, San Francisco, and New York. The best sushi place I have ever been to was in a town called Davie, Florida where they have (among other claims to fame) a hitching post and watering trough in front of their McDonalds.

I mean this with no disrespect but you need to lighten up. The absolute BEST sushi, just like the absolutely best wine, cigar, steak, or dive site... is the one you like best.