Cooking abalone fresh

[AsahinaKimi]

Last edited Sun Jul 28, 2013, 05:08 PM - Edit history (1)

never had this before, and not sure when its in season here in San Francisco but many people love
this.. wow.

[Denninmi]

1. Would love to try it, but it is so ungodly expensive.

I have seen it frozen once or twice at horrible prices. I understand it is amazing when truly fresh. I guess the West Coast equivalent of the Conch in the Carribean.

[RevStPatrick]

2. OMG! I haven't had abalone in forever!

I remember climbing around during low tide in Mendocino at dawn with my grandfather and prying it off the rocks. The last time I did that, a guy got his arm bitten off by a great white shark about a mile up the coast the same morning we were in the water.

Grampa would pound it paper thin, bread it, and fry it for ONE MINUTE on each side. No more, no less.

This method here seems a bit cruel...

[RebelOne]

3. When I lived in California, my husband and my friend's husband

went fishing off Catalina Island and brought home abalone. I would not eat it as the smell when it was raw was awful.

[Locut0s]

18. My understanding is fresh seafood shouldn't smell fishy...

It's only after it's sat for a bit and the quality is starting to go that it smells. At least that's what I've heard.

[jakeXT]

4. I've only seen documentaries about Ama divers from Japan or played the board game

(This one seems to exist only in French or German)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abalone_%28board_game%29

[AnotherMcIntosh]

5. Are you in Calif? Isn't the legal limit of self-caught only 3? And isn't commercial fishing illegal?

[AsahinaKimi]

6. Commercial fishing illegal?

In a city that prides itself on its Seafood? Fisherman's Wharf has some of the top Seafood restaurants in the world, with some rather famous chefs. Also for legal limit of Abalone, I don't know what it is, however there is a season allowed for it, and anyone getting some after or before the season, who get caught could receive fines and jail time. I used to know some guys who did sneak out and get Abalone during off season.. they were lucky not to be caught.. and of course off the Ocean side, there are large number of Seals and Sealions. Where they are, are a great many Great White Sharks. I certainly wouldn't want to dive there.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

7. In the context of a discussion about abalone, it would seem that you would readily understand that

the issue is the commercial fishing of abalone.

The limit of 3 was imposed as a way to help with the recovery of abalone.

Unless I am mistaken, it is not just the commercial fishing of abalone that is disallowed, the sale of abalone is as well.

"Of particular concern to DFG law enforcement is the illegal take or poaching of abalone, primarily for commercial sale to consumers."
http://www.fgc.ca.gov/public/reports/DFGissues/Northern%20California%20Recreational%20Red%20Abalone%20Fishery.pdf

[AsahinaKimi]

8. Maybe the Abalone comes from Japan...

Having just watched this video, it is very likely;

[AnotherMcIntosh]

9. More information here:

Even their sport fishing license did not provide these women with the authority to sell their abalone:

"State game wardens arrested three northern California women on Jan. 27 on charges of buying and selling abalone harvested under the authority of a sport fishing license.

"In California, it is illegal to buy or sell sport-caught abalone, or any other fish or wildlife, because it leads to the over-harvest of the resource. There is no commercial abalone harvest from California’s coast.

“The arrests remove another threat to California’s precious abalone resource,” said Captain Bob Farrell of the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Law Enforcement Division. “The illegal harvest and commercialization of our abalone resource can devastate the abalone population if left unchecked.”

http://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/wardens-bust-three-on-charges-of-buying-selling-abalone/

[AsahinaKimi]

10. Abalone Diving Is Legal, But There Are Limits

By Brett Snider, Esq. on April 29, 2013 10:28 AM

Abalone are prized for their beautiful iridescent shells and clam-like meat, but divers who hunt these mollusks may be biting off more than they can chew.

This weekend proved fatal for three divers hoping to get a jump on the legal diving season for abalone in California, and state park authorities hope that more divers avoid the dangerous rip currents, reports The Press Democrat.

Divers who are unaware of the state's fishing regulations may also find themselves in murky legal waters. Here are some common questions and answers about legal limits to abalone diving in California:

When Is Abalone Season? Generally, the season for hunting abalone starts in April and ends in November. However, there is no abalone hunting allowed during the month of July, and in certain bounded areas the season does not begin until June.

Where Can I Dive for Abalone? Divers are legally allowed to take abalone from any point north of the center of the mouth of the San Francisco Bay. Any diving south of this line is illegal.

How Many Abalone Can I Take? Any person may take up to three abalone per day and up to 24 per year.

Which Ones Can I Take? All divers are required to have a measuring device in their possession to measure the shell diameter of any abalone they catch. Any abalone under 7 inches in shell diameter must be released and is illegal to keep.

more..http://blogs.findlaw.com/law_and_life/2013/04/abalone-diving-is-legal-but-there-are-limits.html

[AnotherMcIntosh]

11. It looked like more than three in your pot.

[AsahinaKimi]

12. My pot?

DO you think that belonged to me? Wow..that is rich..

I get videos off youtube.. it does not mean I MADE THEM!! ...NICE try!! Nice Assumption.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

13. OK. Point taken. Somebody's pot.

[AsahinaKimi]

14. Both Videos were filmed in Japan

and have little to do with California and California laws.

[petronius]

15. There is farmed abalone in California as well, and it may be served in restaurants

and sold commercially. I've never had the farmed, but our wild abalone can be delicious.

Wild abalone has a limited season, can only be taken north of San Francisco Bay, has a bag/possession limit of 3, size restrictions, can only be taken by hand while free-diving, and can't be sold. Wardens up there are rather strict and observant.

I believe however - but don't rely on me - that you can take a legally-possessed abalone to a restaurant and have a willing chef prepare it for you...

[AnotherMcIntosh]

16. Farmed abalone? Thanks for the information. When I get to California again, I'll have to try it.

[Xyzse]

17. Looks good.

Mmmm, abalone in garlic sauce.
Dangit, I'm hungry all of a sudden.