The Best Place To Go Scalloping In Florida

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll show you the best places to go scalloping in Florida. We also give you some tips on what to bring and what to expect. Whether you’re a first-time scalloper or a seasoned pro, this guide will help you make the most of your scalloping adventure.

Scallops are a popular food item and are often served grilled, baked, or fried. They can also be eaten raw, but it is important to make sure that they are properly cleaned before consumption.

1. The scalloping season in Florida is a great time to get out on the Gulf of Mexico and enjoy the sun and the shallow water. You don’t need your own boat. Scalloping is done within just a few feet of water. florida’s gulf coast is the best place to go.

The scalloping season in Florida is a great time to get out on the Gulf of Mexico and enjoy the sun and the water. This annual event takes place from July to September and scallopers can expect to find plenty of Gulf scallops during this time.

If you’re thinking about going scalloping this year, here are a few tips to help you enjoy the scalloping season.

Getting Prepared For The Hunt

First, make sure you have a valid Florida fishing license. You can purchase a license online or at most bait and tackle shops. Second, be sure to check the scalloping regulations before you head out.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission sets the scalloping limits each year. Make sure you know how many scallops you’re allowed to take home. Third, be prepared for the heat. The weather in Florida can be quite hot.

2. Scalloping is a great activity for the whole family. With all the popular destinations you may want to consider hiring a boat captain or someone really familiar with the waters to help you find the perfect spot.

Scalloping is a great activity for the whole family. It’s a fun way to bond with your kids, and it’s also a great way to get some exercise. Scalloping is a type of swimming where you move your arms in a circular motion to propel yourself forward. It’s a great workout for your upper body, and it’s also a great way to cool off on a hot day.

If you’re looking for a new activity to try with your family, scalloping is a great option. It’s a fun, healthy, and affordable way to spend time together. It’s like an Easter egg hunt.

Where to Go

3. The best place to go scalloping in Florida is the Nature Coast area.

The Nature Coast area is well-known for its scalloping grounds. However, the areas located in what is commonly referred to as the Nature Coast seem to offer the best opportunities for scalloping.

Areas like the Homosassa River, and Crystal River including Bay County, Franklin County, and the Florida panhandle are very popular as well and offer some of the best spots. Every year, thousands of people come to the area to enjoy scalloping season.

If you’re thinking about going scalloping in Florida, the Nature Coast Area area is the best place to do it.

4. The Nature coast has some of the best scalloping grounds in the state.

For those who love scallops, The Nature Coast is the place to be. The Nature Coast area is home to some of the best scalloping grounds in the state, making it a popular destination for scallop lovers from all over.

If you’re thinking of heading to the Nature Coast for a scalloping adventure, there are a few things you should know. First, the season runs from July to September, ( Schedules in detail below) so plan your trip accordingly. Second, you’ll need a Florida saltwater fishing license to harvest scallops. Furthermore, be sure to check the scalloping regulations before you head out, as they can change from year to year.

Planning Your Trip Is Key

With a little planning and preparation, scalloping on the Nature Coast can be a fun and rewarding experience. Here’s what are you waiting for? Grab your license and head on out to the state waters with your dive flag and mesh bag and start fishing.

5. You can find scallops in many different areas of Florida The Nature Coast consists of Pasco County, Taylor County, Levy, Citrus, Franklin to Bay, and Hernando County.

Scallops are bivalve mollusks that can be found in many different areas of Florida. Additionally, they are commonly found in the Gulf of Mexico, but can also be found in the Indian River Lagoon and other coastal waters. Scallops are an important part of the ecosystem and are a popular food source for many different animals.

Scallops are easy to identify due to their distinctive shape. They have two symmetrical halves that are connected by a hinge. Scallops also have a large adductor muscle that is used to open and close the shell. This muscle is what is harvested and eaten by humans.

There are limits and restrictions placed on fishing as follows:

According to the law, bay scallops that have been harvested legally are allowed to pass through closed areas. However, Bay scallops can only be harvested in state waters from the following zones: St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County from August 16 to September 24.

This region includes all state waters from the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County to the westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County. Please note that the area marked with FWC buoys south of Black’s Island is a Bay Scallop Restoration Area where no scalloping or anchoring is allowed.

In Franklin County and northwestern Taylor County (including Carrabelle, Lanark, and St. Marks), the period from July 1 through September 24 each year is designated as the time when recreational harvesting of oysters is allowed. This region includes all state waters from the westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County to Rock Island near the mouth of the Fenholloway River in Taylor County.

The Fenholloway through Suwannee Rivers Zone (including Keaton Beach and the Steinhatchee area) will be open for fishing from June 15 through Labor Day. This region includes all state waters east of Rock Island near the mouth of the Fenholloway River in Taylor County and north of Alligator Pass day beacon #4 near the mouth of the Suwannee River in Levy County.

Know The Rules of The Waters

This area has a lowered bag limit from June 15-30. See the bag limit section for more.Levy, Citrus, and Hernando counties (including Cedar Key, Crystal River, and Homosassa): July 1 through Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters south of Alligator Pass day beacon #4 near the mouth of the Suwannee River in Levy County and north of the Hernando Pasco County Line.

The State waters are defined as the waters of the Gulf of Mexico from the mean high tide line to a distance of nine nautical miles seaward of the coast of Florida.

Discarding scallop shells in inshore waters is discouraged as it can create hazards for swimmers and damage the seagrass habitat. Scallop shells should be discarded in a trash receptacle or in larger bodies of water where they are more likely to disperse.

Pasco County: July 15-24, 2022 (opens third Friday in July and continues for 10 days).

This region includes all state waters south of the Hernando – Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County and includes all waters of the Anclote River.

Here Are The Limits

Daily Bag Limit(s): (provided by the FWC)

https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/bay-scallops/

• Gulf-NW Taylor County and Levy-Pasco County:

• Per person: 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat

• Per vessel: Maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in shell or 1/2 gallon of bay scallop meat (1/2 gallon = 4 pints)

• Fenholloway through Suwannee River Zone:

• June 15-30:

• Per person: 1 gallon whole bay scallops in shell or one cup shucked

• Per vessel: 5 gallons whole or two pints shucked

• July 1-Labor Day

• Per person: 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat

• Per vessel: Maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in shell, or 1/2 gallon of scallop meat (1/2 gallon = 4 pints)

NOTE: Vessel limits do not allow an individual to exceed their personal bag limit.

Minimum Size Limit: None

Gear Requirements:

• Legal Gear: Harvest permitted only by hand or by using a landing or dip net

Commercial harvest is prohibited.

NOTE: Recreational harvesters need a Florida saltwater fishing license to harvest bay scallops unless they are 1. exempt from needing a license or

2. have a no-cost shoreline fishing license and are wading from shore to collect scallops (i.e. feet do not leave the bottom to swim, snorkel, or SCUBA and harvesters do not use a vessel to reach or return from the harvest location). Additional information can be found on the FWC website.