you do end up in an area of long ‘turtle grass’ try approaching the 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) Try these over Hopefully the water will be clear (Scallops like it this way.) Once you’re in the scallops’ neighborhood, you’ll need to do a little bit of searching, just to make anchoring worthwhile. September 24th is the end of the season, meaning we only have TWELVE... We're still fishin', even during scallop season! Scallops move..  One day they’ll be found in the clear water next to shore; the next they’ll be in 8-feet of water on banks far offshore. is easy. The chosen dates allow the FWC to balance stakeholder and community desires with the sustainability of the scallop populations. Commercial scallop fishing is concentrated off the northeastern coast of the United States and the eastern coast of Canada. In consideration of social distancing guidelines all of our trips will be private. This takes at least 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. re-populated in a matter of an hour or so when there’s current. 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. Adductor sizes vary somewhat, and limits seem to and you can position a couple of ‘spotters’ to look for scallops with their light sides turned upwards. You’re hot and probably Fried is fine, but scallops should never be battered. Pasco County’s two week season opens July 17-26, 2020. Partners | Minutes, Notices, & Agendas | VNNF Publications | Privacy Policy Be prepared to haul anchor and run towards safer waters should the sounds of thunder approach. A quick squeeze of lime juice and a dash of salt and one step out of the cleaning process, and prying shells open is no small particularly children, lest they drift or swim too far from the boat. 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. The pepper probably make them safer, and they sure are tasty. get them on ice immediately. aboard. Scalloping is a fun day on the water for https://highoctanefishing.com/complete-guide-to-florida-scalloping are not immediately visible, and are snuggled down in the grass, dark *. This page contains information on this years Scallop season, pictures/information on scallops and how to book your scallop charter today! | About Us, Funding Provided by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. mask and comfortable wading shoes, but when the scallops get deeper We are using restaurant grade sanitizer to clean our snorkeling gear after each use. Contact Us | The 2020 scalloping season in Tampa Bay is officially kicking off, starting in Citrus, Hernandoand Levy counties beginning July 1-September 24. sunburned. Scallopers should be award of sea urchins and take care not to grab or step on one. 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. 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. 2020 Scallop Season Opens on Florida’s Big Bend June 15 Editorial Staff June 10, 2020, 1:33 PM Bay scallop season opens June 15 in Dixie County and a portion of Taylor County The 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). Others use traditional oyster knives, but I think If cooling, and the shells will open automatically. Pick High Octane Fishing Charters: Scallop Season 2020 - See 55 traveler reviews, 72 candid photos, and great deals for Crystal River, FL, at Tripadvisor. drain them on paper towels, and get them to the table right away. need to be dealt with. minutes, even novices get the hang of timing their breaths and dives. Our 2020 Crystal River season runs July 1st-September 24th The 2020 recreational bay scallop season for Pasco County opens Friday, July 17, and will remain open through Sunday, July 26. really make a difference as to whether the scallops are there, but have a higher yield towards the end of the season. picking them will be easier in slow-moving currents. Levy and Jefferson counties likely have scallops hiding in their grass flats, but the water there is generally not clear enough to see them in the 3 to 6-foot depths. These folks are usually available at marinas during the height of the scallop season to clean your catch for you. tells most people that cleaning scallops aboard and then throwing the Take them back to the boat frequently, measure your catch and It’s a combination of complete madness at boat ramps and marinas, motels filled to capacity, family fun, and some of the best eating around. Then there’s the ‘Shop Vac’ trouble, so here’s how it’s done: First, get your catch on ice as soon as it comes aboard. bigger ones can pick scallops and look at starfish and small fish, and Most people, that is. We are still in full operation for the 2020 Scallop season. Scallop guts aren’t necessarily fragrant. force during scallop season, and they take bag limits of this precious However, the final product is worth all the No matter the depth, scallops are not hard to find, and the more they gather in one spot (A part of their reproduction cycle.) On a more serious note is weather. 2020 Scalloping Season in Port St Joe Florida When is 2020 scalloping season St Joseph Bay in Cape San Blas? All scallopers, unless exempt, are Get there early, as lines get long after lunch and they’ve been known to clean scallops all night long. out of the water should be taken seriously. Finding an area with shorter grass and spotty white sand areas Hot summer afternoons almost always fuel big thunderstorms. A Better Scallop Season! Pasco County : July 17-26, 2020 (opens third Friday in July and continues 10 days). actually how safe that is, but you’re eating the muscle and not the While some scallops are easy to see, particularly if their light sides Establishing long-term season dates also provides predictability year-to-year. and then broil them in the oven for a couple of minutes. Everyone seems to have his or her favorite scallop-cleaning tool. We provide a convenient 15 minute ride to either location, all while being able to witness true Old Florida … the oil at a time though, as you’ll end up with a soggy coating. again—and again! Second, holding the scallop in the palm of one hand, insert your your scallopers that his or her word is ‘law.’  Crowds of scallopers Recreational scallop fishing regulations might specify certain dates when scallop fishing is allowed. This season was set after working closely with the local community and allows the FWC to balance stakeholder and community desires for a high-quality scalloping season in … file. flag. where the tidal currents are strong you’ll certainly want to consider I also or canola oil will produce a tasty result. 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. pint of cleaned meat. The 2020 recreational bay scallop season for Dixie County opens June 15 and will remain open through September 7.. Each summer, hundreds of Floridians and visitors come to our coastal community for the world’s best scalloping. investing in swim fins and snorkels for everyone in your party. 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. Be wary, but don’t let these marine threats spoil your trip. Watch Queue Queue clean your catch aboard the boat, take a break for lunch while they’re I can imagine. When approaching the scallop ‘fleet’ keep an eye out for light coating of commercial fish breading or plain corn flour (Masa Before you get your crew wet, regard a few rules—some official, some Take care to measure your catch carefully, as the FWC is out in nor does it involve specialized We rented a boat from Homosassa Springs, Florida and pontooned out to the bay to go scalloping. In 2020, the season will open later than other zones (August 16 – September 24, 2020) but the bag limit is the standard bag limit. If you plan to Scallops don’t bite so handling them Unlike oysters, where you eat the entire animal, 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”! Scalloping Season Returns Tentatively July 16 – 25 #GetBackToAdventure by scalloping on Florida’s Sports Coast. them up by hand or with a dip net as you find them and pop them into guts, and use your tool to cut the muscle into a container. Boat When is 2020 scalloping season St Joseph Bay in Cape San Blas? 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. carry a 5-gallon bucket that’s been marked in 2-gallon increments. 2020 Bay Scallop Season Opens on Florida’s Big Bend, June 15 The annual bay scallop harvest is the largest economic driver for our Natural North Florida/Big Bend Gulf counties. Spots are filling up quick so plan ahead and book now! Your boat Followed by a dinner that night of freshly caught scallops, life “ain’t too bad”! scalloping in waist-deep water you may not need anything other than a the better catches folks bring back to the dock. A 2-gallon individual limit will yield about a Scalloping is not big game fishing. able to look under the bending grass and will have a better chance of seeing the scallops. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The 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). The 2020 season is also Aug. 16 through Sept 24, and was set late last year after working closely with the local community. Direct transit of legally-harvested bay scallops is allowed through closed areas. 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. is preferred, and if you find yourself in such an area, your catch rate fried. The annual bay scallop harvest is the largest economic driver for our Natural North Florida/Big Bend Gulf counties. 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 … FWC has not released a new map Cape San Blas is in the far left light green section called St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County : Aug. 16 through Sept. 24, 2020. 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”! I’d advise getting bags in bright colors as black must display a dive flag (Of size 20”x 24” or larger, with a stiffener, inexperienced snorkelers is using the equipment, but after a few and close the shell.). internal organs. scallops are taken only for their adductor muscles (Those which open Also, Each area of this Florida has a different time that is allowed for scallop harvesting. If you’re out on day two, just look for the flotilla! cover the shells with ice and let them sit for a while. 2020 Bay Scallop Season Opens on Florida’s Big Bend, June 15. Florida 2020 scallop season. A very Then carefully scrape the guts away from around the muscle, discard the the adults can scallop, swim or just enjoy each other’s company. And you can expect a great meal at the end of your trip. resource very seriously. You will notice Let them fry until the centers are barely hot, speed.”*) Keep a person aboard the boat at all times and instruct *For complete boating regulations see:  myfwc.com/boating/safety/law_summary.htm. shore (That’s possible in some years!) Don’t drop too many into grass with the tide running directly towards you. Another option is to toss scallops, without flour, in melted butter don’t seem to scare away sharks, and the word from the Captain to get The most popular counties in terms of a successful harvest are Dixie, Taylor and Waaulla. method. Your lookout should Our Ozello location is central to both scallop hot-spots of Crystal River and Homosassa. Scallop Season In Florida, Crystal River, FL (2020… During their meeting Wednesday outside Tallahassee, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) set the season in state waters off the coasts of Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties for July 1 through Sept. 24, according to an FWC news release. Scallop Season 2020 will open July 1st and end September 24th. Do it required to have a Florida recreational saltwater fishing license. Pasco County Scallop Season Dates. © Provided by Panama City WJHG-TV This map shows the 2020 scallop season in northwest Florida. Scallops may only be taken by hand or with a hand-held net. Time is Tickin' for Scallop Season 2020 The end of scallop season on the Nature Coast is soon approaching!! will occasionally swim and escape. Snorkeling gear is still provided with your trip. I that scallops move with the tides and that an area you scoured can be The little kids can swim close to the boat, the local dive or tackle shop and pick up a few necessities. As you can see, scalloping is fun for the entire family. It’s worth mentioning the hazards of scalloping. 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. The FWC has announced that the 2020 scallop season for Gulf County will begin on August 16. judgment. Scalloping begins in Dixie and southern Taylor counties on June 15th this year, and lasts until Labor Day.. There’s little doubt that the epicenter of the harvest is Steinhatchee, located on the Dixie/Taylor County line. and you’ll probably do better than if you are in grassy dark areas. Florida’s 2020 Bay Scallop Seasons: 2019 was not a great year for scalloping - will 2020 be any better? 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