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Florida Scalloping season opens July 1

Scalloping from a boat Florida Steinhatchee

                                                               Photo Fiona Sunquist ©

Scallop season is here! Begining July 1 and continuing through Sept. 10 you can harvest scallops by hand or with a landing net. The daily limit is 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat per person.

Scalloping by wading in Florida Steinhatchee

                                                                       Photo Fiona Sunquist ©

Most people use a boat to get out to the good scalloping areas, but the water is so shallow you can also collect them by wading and searching for them with a mask and snorkel. While the FWC has reported that numbers of scallops are down from last year, there are still plenty to be found in the areas around Steinhatchee in anywhere from 3 to 7 feet of water. The scallops further south near Homosassa and Crystal River appear to have moved out to deeper waters.

Scalloping snorkeling in the water

                                                                      Photo Claire Sunquist ©

The scallops are easiest to see around midday when they move up to sit on top of the sea grass. Divers and snorkelers must display a "divers-down" flag (red with a white diagonal stripe) while in the water.

Scallop in the hand in the sea grass

                                                                  Photo Claire Sunquist ©

If you are scalloping from a boat, you will need a Florida saltwater fishing license. If you are wading from shore, you need a regular Florida saltwater fishing license or the new shore-based license.

Bag of Scallops Gulf of Mexico Florida

                                                                    Photo Claire Sunquist ©

If you don't feel like shucking your own scallops, there are plenty of people willing who are willing to do it for you!

Scallops Shucked in Florida Steinhatchee

                                                                         Photo Fiona Sunquist ©

Click here for more information about scallops.

 

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Wildlife of Florida 2011
Fiona Sunquist
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