Posted by CalAbDiver on June 12, 2001 at 17:55:03:
Abalone season will end in NorCal in just under 3 more weeks. Right now, the more well known spots are picked clean of legal sizers, whereas the less travelled trails lead to good 8" and 9" abs still.
For some unknown to me reason, there are very few abs in the 3" to 4" range now. The abs will start their breeding in July. It may be best for everyone to wait to ab dive until after July. That will give the abs more of a chance to reproduce between now and August.
It takes about a year for an ab to grow an inch. So the glut in smaller abs could afflict NorCal for several years, once all the larger abs have been picked clean.
So dont take a bunch. Dont limit out at 4. Take only one or two, if you do go ab diving this year, after August begins. The abs in NorCal seem to be in trouble for some unknown reason, from all appearances, or actually from their conspicuous absence.
End of news flash.