Best time to abalone dive?
Tony and I (Jeff) were discussing - When is the best time to dive for abalone. I thought it would be good to open it up for open discussion. I've always looked for lower tides, so that I can reach those areas that normally are impossible to reach during higher tides. Tony feels that normal or high tides are good because, (1) you don't have to climb over any slimy rocks and twist your feet up. and (2) the visibility is good at high tide, and (3) you should dive where the waves break at low tide, which is where you want to dive at for the trophy 9 an 10 inch abs. I'm open to your ideas. When do you think is the best time/condition to dive for abalone?
sleeping in is for suckers
personally, i dont care if its high tide or low tide as long as we get up there first thing in the morning. I like to dive just as the sun is coming up or within that hour so that we can enjoy the morning, do the dive, and drive back --all before 3pm... because of that, by default, i tend to dive low tides...
i can see the reasoning for a better dive during high tides, but i did an afternoon dive once and it totally shot any ability i might have had for a productive next day, so i dont do that anymore.
******
grab your iron and get wet
I think anytime is the best
I think anytime is the best time. I am new to this sport and just barely getting the hang of it, but it seems to me that if the seas are calm enough and you can get to the bottom where most people won't care to venture, then you are likely to have a successful and fulfilling outing.
I am curious to hear where most of you think that the realy fat abs may occur. It is an interesting point about where the waves crash. From my personal experience it seems to be that the more decent abs live deeper than most people will frequenstly dive. Or perhaps that is just the picked over sposts. At the spot I have been to a few times recently, there are many more decent abs in water over 20' than there are in water around 15'.
Mike N
PS: Bare with me if I posted to the wrong spot, I'll get it sooner or later. MN
In the Calm...
I notice this mostly due to my surfing background, but generally I've noticed that there is calm between the tides shifting which typically last longer at high tide. Wave and currents are obviously stronger when the tide is either going in or out. But it seems as though there is usually about a 15-30 min window between the tidal changes that is optimum.
Since my rock picking days we’ve typically always gone at low tides. Higher tides do provide easier access to the water. What I have noticed is that the deeper you dive the higher the chance that an abalone will be sitting on a rock yelling, “Take me!” Typically in shallower waters where the current is stronger the abalones are hiding to protect themselves from the current. Thinking about it, I must admit that I don’t think that I’ve ever gone diving on a really high tide. The best way to find out is try it. Dive for one abalone in the morning and then one in the afternoon. I’ll look forward to hearing your report on which was better.
I will note that it typically is rougher later in the day, so typically the earlier the better...
lets go divin ok
come dive with us on the 27th at point arena we can dive early an late an give everyone a report ok see ya all there 800am then we will head to moat creek from there ok
Tony
halloween party
I got a Halloween party friday night but i hate Halloween parties so more than likely i can go Tony. I got a going away party on Saturday at a friend's house who would go nuts if i brought him a fresh ab.. I would have to do an early meat run cause the party is at 5 or something like that and i would need time to prepare the ab.... lemme look at my schedule and get back to you by Thursday, but as is, i am in.
grab your iron and get wet
Work or Abalone?
I wish I could go, but it's a work day for me. However, the flu season is here, um? It's a bad day for me but good luck to anyone else that may go.