The Situation The red abalone is the shining star of the mollusk family. It is to shellfish what the morel is to mushrooms, what saffron is to spices; a rare delicacy coveted throughout the world, and they can be found right here on the Northern California coast. Even better, you now have the opportunity to dive for them yourself. The Lowdown Sonoma Cost Bamboo Reef's Abalone Diving Class is a one-two punch of awesome adventure: first, you get to explore the waters of the Sonoma Coast (just north of Jenner) in free-diving style. You'll learn the fundamentals of free-diving and how to find and catch abalone before you suit up to get rid of any pre-game jitters. Once you're ready to go, you'll split up into buddies and try your luck at finding abalone on your own and popping them from the rocks. Which brings us to the second part of the adventure: the diving class will be followed up by a potluck picnic on the beach where you'll learn how to prepare the abalone (cleaning, pounding, slicing) and share a delicious feast with new friends. Sonoma Coast Bamboo Reef DOES NOT provide the abalone, nor do they guarantee that you will find any, but they have never not had abalone on the picnic. They will provide chips, cookies, and lemonade to your hearts content, but it's up to you to bring the abalone up from the ocean and onto the table. It's like hunter-gatherer days all over again! Only this time, you're harvesting some of the most coveted seafood on the planet, which tastes all the more delicious knowing that you pulled those hard-shelled babies up from the rock with your own two hands. While Sonoma Coast Bamboo Reef won't provide the abalone, they will provide excellent diving instruction and all the equipment and supplies, not to mention your abalone prep-course if (and when) you do bring in the goods. You'll enter the water feeling prepared, safe, and cozy in your top-of-the-line wetsuit - the perfect mindset for finding and harvesting the day's meal. It takes farm, er, sea to table to a whole new level.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You must have a fishing license and abalone report card in order to participate. A one-day fishing license and abalone report card is $40 and can be purchased at most sporting goods and fishing tackle stores, or online at the CA Department of Fish and Game website. Read More... Want to make $10? Forward this email. Forward it to a friend who's new to HomeRun. We'll track it. If they buy, you win! |