Scalloping Season- This is the End!

This is the End!

44 BETTER OFF WET | SEPTEMBER 2022

"Scalloping is a great way to get your friends and family on and in the water. You don’t need much to head out and get some.”

All good things must come to an end. And, Scallop Season is no different, we guess. We have had good days and slow days, this year scalloping on Florida’s Nature Coast. But, one thing is for sure we are always having fun when we are in the water looking for those delicious creatures, and thinking about them wrapped in bacon or cooked in a buttery sauce...hmmm yummy Scallops! Scalloping is a great way to get your friends and family on and in the water. You don’t need much to head out and get some. We suggest a B.O.W. shirt, mask, snorkel, fins, and mesh bag (be sure to put a little baby shampoo in the mask to maintain good visibility). Also, don’t forget that dive flag. Be sure to put the flag at the highest point on your vessel and take it down when no one is in the water. Please, follow your boating basics when approaching other vessels. A dive flag is supposed to give 300 feet of clearance for vessels approaching said flag.

But, during Scallop season, boats tend to be anchored much closer together. Remember to approach other vessels slowly and have someone on your vessel be on lookout for others who may be scalloping in the area. Below are the regulations found on myfwc.com, for scalloping in Florida State waters. Rules of the Scallop Road Daily Bag Limit:

• 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 bay scallop meat (1/2 gallon = 4 pints)

• Fenholloway through Suwannee River Zone:

• 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 bay 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 prohibited. Recreational harvesters need a Florida saltwater fishing license to harvest Bay Scallops, unless they are exempt from needing a license or have a no-cost shoreline fishing license and are wading from shore to collect Scallops (i.e. feet do not leave bottom to swim, snorkel, or SCUBA and harvesters do not use a vessel to reach or return from the harvest location).

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