“The land that time forgot” was how I was sold the secret
location where ormers were in abundance. Turn a few stones and I would be rewarded with
the mother of all “feeds”. I was seduced.
This afternoon I visited this patch of coastline which the
entire island had overlooked in their folly to rush to the lowest tide point. Located
a few moments from a slipway (I say no more lest I reveal the whereabouts of
these most secret rocks) I would be richly rewarded.
Needless to say it was not quite as described by the old
hand at the low water fishing game. Turning boulders produced only one ormer.
At least it was of a respectable size. Its measurements were above the
statutory minimum of 9cm, which coincidentally is the length of my index
finger. That’s always a handy guide when struggling to decide if the catch is
undersize and should be left to reproduce and for another day.
Ah! So the real secret is out ,ormers often thrive high on the shoreline often above the mean mid water line. I have a spot that I can get ormers on any low tide.At a technical level this is due to the relationship with pink coralline encrustations.If you look up a research project I undertook for SEAFISH called Novel Abalone Hatchery System. In 2006 you will see the mechanism.Also look at www.sudevab.eu for a major research on ormers.PS don't tell fisheries about this they know best ;)
ReplyDeleteTony
Www.abblox.com
You can always see my exact spot on maretv a German film made last year and seen by millions of German! Search for jersey on www.maretv.com
Tony,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information. Here is the link direct to the German TV with its ormers http://www.ndr.de/fernsehen/sendungen/mare_tv/media/maretv453.html
and you research is here:
http://www.seafish.org/media/Publications/Aquaculture_Project_10750_Final.pdf