I hadn't heard of Abalone until the news yesterday so thought I would share this story with others. I don't know if this also occurs in other parts of OZ.

TWO men face fines of up to $5000 and mandatory penalties of $30 per animal for taking more than the maximum 20 abalone from metropolitan beaches yesterday.

One man was caught at a fisheries roadblock near Burns Beach with 19 above the limit.

The other had 16 too many when his bag was checked at North Beach.

Fisheries officer Todd A'Vard said a dozen $200 infringement notices were issued for smaller infringements.

But for most of the estimated 4000 people who took to the water between Trigg and Yanchep for the 90-minute scramble for the reef delicacy, it was a perfect start to the abalone season.

Laurie Bartlett, of Doubleview, and Gary Davis, of City Beach, were among the first out of the water after the season opened at 7am with sunny skies, low swell and an easterly breeze. The pair, who have been collecting abalone every year for the past decade, took 15 minutes to bag their 20 Roe's abalone each.

"This is probably the easiest fishing we have ever had," Mr Bartlett said. "The water is clear and there's no shortage of abalone."

Italo Paganin, of Churchlands, and Walter Nardi, of Dianella, have been collecting abalone for 40 years.

"I am of Italian extraction and my father used to take me fishing," he said.

"Italian and Slav people used to call it mutton fish but other people used it for bait."

Mr Nardi said he cooked it like squid.

Mr Paganin said there was plenty of abalone but he resented the greed of some people and had threatened to call fisheries officers when he realised a man was using his children to ferry batches back to his car.

Fisheries officer Nathan Harrison said last year about 5000 fishers took an estimated 28 tonnes of abalone in the metropolitan zone.

Professional fishermen had a quota of 36 tonnes and research showed the harvest to be sustainable compared with overseas abalone fisheries where overfishing caused the stocks to crash.

Last year, 14 people were fined from $600 to $7000 for abalone offences including exceeding bag limits, not having licences and fishing out of season.

Safety during yesterday's opening was boosted by Scarborough and Trigg Surf Lifesaving Clubs, which ran patrols between Trigg and Marmion funded by a $3000 grant from the Fisheries Department. A 52-year-old Winthrop man died on the first day of the season last year at Burns Beach.

The west coast zone open season continues for the next five Sundays from 7am to 8.30am.

In the metropolitan area, abalone fishing is restricted in conservation areas including Cottesloe Groyne to Rous Head and Watermans Reef observation area.

For Abalone recipes take a look at

http://www.sea-ex.com/recipes/abalone.htm

has anyone eaten abalone?

I have quite a few times. The wife and I used to snorkle for abalone in SE SA, more because the MIL likes it than we did. Its nothing special.

The shells are pretty though

Yes its the bloody best thing you can do with your clothes on,! an Epicurian Orgasm.......... MM

Pete y , you need to learn how to cook, or your MI.L does ....... MM

Quite possibly!!!

Took me about 4 attempts to get squid right, but now.....wow!! I LOVE fresh squid!