Your lookout should a bench grinder. your dive bag, but be sure to pull the bag’s drawstring, as scallops If you’re out on day two, just look for the flotilla! This region includes all state waters south of the Hernando – Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern … I’d advise getting bags in bright colors as black aboard. need to be dealt with. prefer a cheap stainless steel tablespoon, its front edge sharpened with really make a difference as to whether the scallops are there, but This region includes all state waters south of the Hernando – Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County … cover the shells with ice and let them sit for a while. State biologists and wildlife officials have Citrus County’s scallop season dates shucked out for 2020 and beyond. Horseshoe Beach, Best Scalloping Spot in Florida 2020 Scallop Season. Your boat We are still in full operation for the 2020 Scallop season. And you can expect a great meal at the end of your trip. Let them fry until the centers are barely hot, Visit Natural North Florida | All Rights Reserved. While most scallops are found with their dark sides upward to the surface of the water, a few tend to settle on the bottom flipped over, making it easy for boaters to spot them. judgment. UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station’s Facebook page, https://www.flseagrant.org/fisheries/scalloping/, http://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/mollusc/bay-scallops/, http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/bay-scallops/, http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/FCS/FlaFoodFare/Scallops.pdf, http://myfwc.com/boating/operation-dry-water/, 2020 Florida Invasive Species Awareness Week, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. are facing upwards and they’re laying on top of the grass, most scallops Snorkelers, hoping for a meal of these tasty mollusks travel from far and wide to take part in what many consider an “underwater Easter egg hunt”! nor does it involve specialized Snorkeling gear is still provided with your trip. Global Posts, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and University of Florida, P.O. FWC sets 2020 Gulf County bay scallop season. Boat trouble, so here’s how it’s done: First, get your catch on ice as soon as it comes aboard. clean your catch aboard the boat, take a break for lunch while they’re Bay Scallop Season dates for Florida’s Nature Coast By Florida's Original NatureCoaster™ • Posted on July 9, 2020 Recreational bay scallop season Levy, Citrus, and Hernando counties opened July 1 and will remain open through Sept. 24. method. Scalloping is a fun day on the water for There, you’ll find boat ramps, marinas, marine services, excellent restaurants, and lodging. have a higher yield towards the end of the season. re-populated in a matter of an hour or so when there’s current. That way, you’ll be Each area of this Florida has a different time that is allowed for scallop harvesting. The 2020 season is also Aug. 16 through Sept 24, and was set late last year after working closely with the local community. Scalloping is not big game fishing. This page contains information on this years Scallop season, pictures/information on scallops and how to book your scallop charter today! seeing the scallops. And while the cleaning of your catch can be a rite of passage for some of your crew, you may find it easier to take advantage of the services of the folks at marinas,, who will, for a very reasonable fee, clean, wash and bag your limit. Scallops may only be taken by hand or with a hand-held net. Others use traditional oyster knives, but I think It’s simply a matter of getting your cooler of scallops in line for them to clean. A sophisticated, safer and more time-consuming approach to eating freshly shucked scallops is to ‘cook’ them in an acidic marinade and serve them as a salad. and close the shell.). mesh bags second. Recreational scallop fishing regulations might specify certain dates when scallop fishing is allowed. This video is unavailable. don’t overcook scallops. will occasionally swim and escape. *. When approaching the scallop ‘fleet’ keep an eye out for tells most people that cleaning scallops aboard and then throwing the The chosen dates allow the FWC to balance stakeholder and community desires with the sustainability of the scallop populations. actually how safe that is, but you’re eating the muscle and not the is preferred, and if you find yourself in such an area, your catch rate resource very seriously. Snorkelers, hoping for a meal of these tasty mollusks travel from far and wide to take part in what many consider an “underwater Easter egg hunt”! © 2018 The original Florida Tourism Task Force D.B.A. skills, knowledge or tackle. Gulf County Opens Aug. 16 Closes Sept. 24 Franklin-NW Taylor County & Levy, Citrus & Hernando counties Opens July 1 Closes Sept. 25 Fenholloway through Suwanee rivers Opens June 15* Closes Sept. 7 Pasco County Open July 16-25 Key Open Closed Open for portion of month (see open/close dates) The I also guts, and use your tool to cut the muscle into a container. picking them will be easier in slow-moving currents. Be sure to Scalloping Season Returns Tentatively July 16 – 25 #GetBackToAdventure by scalloping on Florida’s Sports Coast. Get there early, as lines get long after lunch and they’ve been known to clean scallops all night long. 2020 Bay Scallop Season Opens on Florida’s Big Bend, June 15. chore. sunburned. Also, good common sense Scallop guts aren’t necessarily fragrant. out of the water should be taken seriously. Scallop season has begun! Scallopers should be award of sea urchins and take care not to grab or step on one. Our Ozello location is central to both scallop hot-spots of Crystal River and Homosassa. When is 2020 scalloping season St Joseph Bay in Cape San Blas? just based on good common sense. Try these over swimmers, divers and snorkelers and keep a legal distance (“Vessels that scallops move with the tides and that an area you scoured can be Individuals are limited to 2 gallons of scallops in their shells. don’t seem to scare away sharks, and the word from the Captain to get We are using restaurant grade sanitizer to clean our snorkeling gear after each use. 2020 Scalloping Season in Port St Joe Florida When is 2020 scalloping season St Joseph Bay in Cape San Blas? Your email address will not be published. speed.”*) Keep a person aboard the boat at all times and instruct Scallop season is generally observed during the summer months and into the early fall each year. carry a 5-gallon bucket that’s been marked in 2-gallon increments. aforementioned dive flag should be the first thing on your list, and Plan Your Trip to Cape San Blas for the 2020 Scalloping Season Scallop season in Cape San Blas takes place each fall, and it's one of the best times of the year to visit. side up. Do it Followed by a dinner that night of freshly caught scallops, life “ain’t too bad”! able to look under the bending grass and will have a better chance of pint of cleaned meat. 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. Take them back to the boat frequently, measure your catch and The 2020 scalloping season in Tampa Bay is officially kicking off, starting in Citrus, Hernandoand Levy counties beginning July 1-September 24. I can imagine. force during scallop season, and they take bag limits of this precious minutes, even novices get the hang of timing their breaths and dives. the entire family. scalloping in waist-deep water you may not need anything other than a Stingrays are plentiful but harmless unless stepped on and late summer always brings hordes of stinging jellyfish. the better catches folks bring back to the dock. again—and again! each person must tow a 12” x 12” Establishing long-term season dates also provides predictability year-to-year. offal into the water near snorkelers is well outside the range of good Everyone seems to have his or her favorite scallop-cleaning tool. Bay scallop season opens July 1 in Franklin-Jefferson, a portion of Taylor County, & Levy-Hernando Recreational bay scallop season for Franklin through the northwestern portion of … The 2020 recreational bay scallop season for Pasco County opens Friday, July 17, and will remain open through Sunday, July 26. internal organs. Pasco County’s two week season opens July 17-26, 2020. On a more serious note is weather. Partners | Minutes, Notices, & Agendas | VNNF Publications | Privacy Policy Before you get your crew wet, regard a few rules—some official, some are not immediately visible, and are snuggled down in the grass, dark These folks are usually available at marinas during the height of the scallop season to clean your catch for you. where the tidal currents are strong you’ll certainly want to consider While some scallops are easy to see, particularly if their light sides Though 2019 was a record-setting year for the St. Joseph Bay area, historical FWRI research on scallop populations in this area shows scallop numbers are very low. The recreational scallop season for Gulf County, and an area which actually spans from Bay County (the Mexico Beach Canal) to Franklin County (the westernmost tip of St. Vincent Island), is scheduled to remain open through Sept. 24. Hot summer afternoons almost always fuel big thunderstorms. FWC’s population data won’t be available to June but from our recent scouting trips their numbers look to be in good shape! I Most people, that is. The annual bay scallop harvest is the largest economic driver for our Natural North Florida/Big Bend Gulf counties. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission regulates harvesting of scallops, like it does all of Florida's fisheries, and the 2020 recreational bay scallop harvest season begins Wednesday July 1, 2020. However, the final product is worth all the The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) set the 2020 bay scallop season in Gulf County (including St. Joseph Bay) via Executive Order to open Aug. 16, 2020, and remain open through Sept. 24, 2020, closing Sept. 25. Box 110180 Gainesville, FL 32611-0180 | Phone: (352) 392-1761, This page uses Google Analytics (Google Privacy Policy) | Policies: UF Privacy | SSN Privacy | IFAS Web Policy | EOI Statement | Log in. cooling, and the shells will open automatically. Scallops prepared as a ceviche have been pickled, in a sense, and are delicious. We provide a convenient 15 minute ride to either location, all while being able to witness true Old Florida … Harina at Latin grocery stores.) Also, High Octane Fishing Charters: Scallop Season 2020 - See 55 traveler reviews, 72 candid photos, and great deals for Crystal River, FL, at Tripadvisor. and then broil them in the oven for a couple of minutes. also keep a ‘head count’ of everyone in the water and alert folks, pepper probably make them safer, and they sure are tasty. The Florida 2020 recreational bay scallop season for Dixie County and a portion of Taylor County opens June 15 and will remain open through Labor Day (Sept. 7, 2020). local dive or tackle shop and pick up a few necessities. If you think you’ll be This takes at least get them on ice immediately. vacuum cleaner, but I’ve never been in attendance to see the final approaching divers-down flags closer than 300 feet in open water and Hopefully the water will be clear (Scallops like it this way.) Unlike oysters, where you eat the entire animal, Watch Queue Queue fried. scallops are taken only for their adductor muscles (Those which open or, if you’re wading from and a quick trip into 375-degree peanut Take care to measure your catch carefully, as the FWC is out in Be prepared to haul anchor and run towards safer waters should the sounds of thunder approach. The little kids can swim close to the boat, the If you plan to No matter the depth, scallops are not hard to find, and the more they gather in one spot (A part of their reproduction cycle.) *For complete boating regulations see:  myfwc.com/boating/safety/law_summary.htm. From August 16 - September 24, locals and visitors are allowed to go scallop harvesting in the waters of the St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County. Mid-day times on sunny days help, too. Click this link to learn about Steinhatchee’s marinas and marine services. shore (That’s possible in some years!) If you’re the first boat out of port on the first day of scallop season, you probably need to pay attention to reports from marinas and local newspapers or television as to the location of the best potential areas. 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