Saltwater · Northern
Abalone - Red
Ocean regulations can change in-season. Confirm with the 2026 Ocean Sport Fishing Guide and CDFW before you fish.
Species group
ABALONE
Season
**Closed till 2021**
Depth limit
NA
Daily bag limit
3 may be taken per day. No more than 3 abalone may be possessed at any time. No person shall take more than 12 abalone during a calendar year. - No abalone may be taken in the Fort Ross area.
Minimum size
7 inches or greater measured along the longest shell diameter.
Gear restrictions
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. -Measuring Device. Every person while taking abalone shall carry a fixed caliper measuring gauge capable of accurately measuring 7 inches. The measuring device shall have fixed opposing arms of sufficient length to measure the abalone by placing the gauge over the shell. -Abalone Possession and Transportation: Abalones shall not be removed from their shell, except when being prepared for immediate consumption. -Individuals taking abalone shall maintain separate possession of their abalone. Abalone may not be commingled in a float tube, dive board, dive bag, or any other container or device, until properly tagged. Only after abalones are properly tagged. -Report Card Required: Any person fishing for or taking abalone shall have in their posses- sion a nontransferable Abalone Report Card issued by the department and shall adhere to all reporting and tagging requirements for abalone
Identification
The red abalone's shell length can reach a maximum of 31 cm (12 in), making it the largest species of abalone in the world. The shell is large, thick, and dome-shaped. It is usually a brick red color externally. Typically the shell has three or four oval holes or respiratory pores. These holes collectively make up what is known as the selenizone which form as the shell grows. The inside of the shell is strongly iridescent and has a large central muscle. **Report Card Required** (a) All individ- uals 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. (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 de- fined as any watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water. 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 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 num- ber 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.