diving for abalone

[Simplyeman]

I was reading WON and read something interest that most people don't know. When diving for abalone you cannot SCUBA for abalone rather only free dive. You also cannot be accompanied by a SCUBA and a free diver. This means that if you are scouting for abalone you cannot have another person with you with a diving apparatus looking for abalone and pointing it out to you where it is =).....just thought id share.

[Evilone]

29.15. Abalone.
(a) Geographical Area: Abalone may only be taken north of a line drawn due west magnetic from
the center of the mouth of San Francisco Bay. No abalone may be taken, landed, or possessed
if landed south of this line.
(b) Open Season and Hours: Abalone may be taken only during the months of April, May,
June, August, September, October and November from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half
hour after sunset.
(c) Bag Limit and Yearly Trip Limit: Three red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, may be taken per
day. No more than three abalone may be possessed at any time. No other species of abalone
may be taken or possessed. Each person taking abalone shall stop detaching abalone when the
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For up-to-date groundfish regulation information, call the DFG Groundfish Hotline at (831) 649-2801
For up-to-date ocean salmon regulation information, call the DFG Ocean Salmon Hotline at (707) 576-3429
limit of three is reached. No person shall take more than 24 abalone during a calendar year.
(d) Minimum Abalone Size: All red abalone must be seven inches or greater measured along the
longest shell diameter. All legal-sized abalone detached must be retained. No undersize abalone
may be brought ashore or aboard any boat, placed in any type of receiver, kept on the person,
or retained in any person’s possession or under his control. Undersize abalone must be replaced
immediately to the same surface of the rock from which detached. Abalone brought ashore shall
be in such a condition that the size can be determined.
(e) Special Gear Provisions: The use of SCUBA gear or surface-supplied air to take abalone
is prohibited. Abalone may not be taken or possessed aboard any boat, vessel, or floating device
in the water containing SCUBA or surface-supplied air. Abalone may be taken only by hand or
by devices commonly known as abalone irons. Abalone irons must be less than 36 inches long,
straight or with a curve having a radius of not less than 18 inches, and must not be less than
3/4 inch wide nor less than 1/16 inch thick. All edges must be rounded and free of sharp edges.
Knives, screwdrivers and sharp instruments are prohibited.
(f) Measuring Device: Every person while taking abalone shall carry a fixed-caliper measuring
gauge capable of accurately measuring seven inches. The measuring device shall have fixed
opposing arms of sufficient length to measure the abalone by placing the gauge over the shell.
(g) Abalone Possession and Transportation: Abalones shall not be removed from their shell,
except when being prepared for immediate consumption.
(h) Report Card Required: Any person fishing for or taking abalone shall have in their possession
a non-transferable Abalone Report Card issued by the department and shall adhere to all reporting
and tagging requirements for abalone defined in Sections 1.74 and 29.16, Title 14, CCR.
29.16. Abalone Report Card and Tagging Requirements
(a) Abalone Report Card Required. All individuals including divers must have an Abalone
Report Card in their immediate possession while fishing for or taking red abalone. Individuals
must complete and return the card pursuant to regulations in this Section and in Section 1.74.
(b) Tagging Requirements. An Abalone Report Card includes detachable tags that shall be
used to tag any abalone that is taken and retained in the sport fishery. Any red abalone possessed
by any person shall be tagged.
(1) Cardholders shall tag any red abalone either immediately upon exiting the water or
immediately upon boarding a vessel, whichever occurs first. For the purposes of this section a
vessel is defined as any watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation
on water (reference Section 9840(a) CVC). Cardholders shall not wait to return to their vehicle,
beach site or other location to tag any abalone in possession.
EXCEPTION: Cardholders who dive from a non-motorized vessel such as a kayak that is in the
water may wait until immediately after disembarking from the non-motorized vessel to tag and
record any abalone in possession, but shall not transfer any abalone from his or her immediate
Important Reminder: Abalone Report Cards are Now
Required for Children and on Free Fishing Days
Abalone divers and rock-pickers will need to have • their card in their
immediate possession while diving and rock-picking, and will be required
to tag each abalone they take in addition to recording their catches
immediately after the exiting the water.
• Every abalone retained or possessed must be tagged, regardless of
whether the person retaining or possessing the abalone is the person
who actually caught the abalone.
• Each tag must be securely fastened to the shell of the abalone by passing
a “zip tie”, string, line or other suitable material through a siphon hole on
the abalone shell and also through the tag itself.
• Used abalone tags must be left affixed to the shell until the abalone is
processed for immediate consumption.
original full-color
2009-2010 California Ocean Fishing Regulations
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possession unless they are first tagged and recorded on the report card.
(2) The cardholder shall fill in the month, day, time of catch, and fishing location on the
abalone tag, remove and completely detach the tag from the card, and affix it to the shell
of the abalone.
(3) The tag shall be securely fastened to the shell of the abalone. To affix the tag, a
“zip tie”, string, line or other suitable material shall be passed through a siphon hole on the
abalone shell and through the tag at the location specified on the abalone tag.
(4) Tags shall be used in sequential order, and shall not be removed from the report
card until immediately prior to affixing to an abalone. Any tags detached from the report card
and not affixed to an abalone shall be considered used and therefore invalid.
(5) No person shall possess any used or otherwise invalid abalone tags not attached
to an abalone shell.
(c) Reporting Requirements. Immediately upon tagging all abalone in possession, the
cardholder shall record the month, day, time of catch, and fishing location in the appropriate
spaces on the numbered line on the Abalone Report Card which corresponds to the number
on the tag attached to the abalone.
(d) Records of Prior Activity. All tags must be accounted for at all times by entry of a
record on the Abalone Report Card corresponding to all tags that are not in possession.
Any tag that was lost or destroyed shall be recorded as such on the corresponding line on
the Abalone Report Card. Any tag that was inadvertently removed and is still in possession
shall be recorded as void on both the tag and the corresponding line on the Abalone Report
Card.
(e) Abalone tags must be left affixed to the shell, including while stored at a residence or
non-transient location, until the abalone is processed for immediate consumption.
(f) The annual fee for the Abalone Report Card is specified in Section 7149.8 of the Fish
and Game Code.