Bay scallop season opens, Franklin-Jefferson, a portion of Taylor & Levy-Hernando counties, July 1-Sept. 24
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
Recreational bay scallop season for Franklin County through the northwestern portion of Taylor County, as well as Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties opens July 1 and will remain open through Sept. 24. This includes Carrabelle, Lanark, St. Marks, Cedar Key, Crystal River and Homosassa (see the two blue areas on the map).
Please do not discard scallop shells in inshore waters, such as the Homosassa River or Crystal River, which are commonly used for recreational activities. Piles of discarded scallop shells can create hazards for swimmers and damage seagrass habitat. Scallop shells can be discarded in a trash receptacle or offshore where they are more likely to disperse.
Bag limits and other regulations
The daily bag limits in these areas are 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat per person, with a maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1/2 gallon (4 pints) shucked bay scallop meat per vessel. Throughout the season and region-wide, vessel limits do not allow an individual to exceed their personal bag limit.
Reduced bag limits apply in the Fenholloway River through Suwannee River zone from June 15-30 (see the yellow dotted area on the map).
Other 2021 Bay Scallop Season dates (see Scallop Season Map)
St. Joseph Bay/Gulf County: Aug. 16 through Sept. 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 (see the green lined area of the map).
Fenholloway through Suwannee rivers (including Keaton Beach and the Steinhatchee area): June 15 through Labor Day (Sept. 6, 2021). 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 daybeacon #4 near the mouth of the Suwannee River in Levy County. This area has a lowered bag limit June 15-30 (see the yellow dotted area on the map).
Pasco County: Open for 10 days starting the third Friday in July (July 16-25, 2021). This region includes all state waters south of the Hernando/Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse including all waters of the Anclote River (see the orange area on the map).
Other regulations
Scallops may be collected by hand or with a landing or dip net.
There is no commercial harvest allowed for bay scallops in Florida.
Direct and continuous transit of legally harvested bay scallops is allowed through closed areas. Boaters may not stop their vessels in waters that are closed to harvest and must proceed directly to the dock or ramp to land scallops in a closed area.
For information on bay scallop regulations, visit myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/bay-scallops or download the Fish Rules App: app.fishrulesapp.com.
Boater and scalloper safety
Be safe when diving for scallops. Wear a life jacket when underway and do not drink and boat. When scalloping in open water, divers should stay within 300 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag or device, and within 100 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag or device if on a river, inlet or navigation channel. Boat operators traveling within 300 feet of a divers-down flag or device in open water or within 100 feet of one on a river, inlet or navigational channel must slow to idle speed. For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Boating/Regulations and click on “Divers-down Warning Devices.”
Citizen Science
Done for the day? Help FWC’s scallop researchers by completing an online survey at svy.mk/bayscallops. Harvesters can indicate where they harvested scallops, how many they collected and how long it took to harvest them. Participants can email BayScallops@MyFWC.com to ask questions or send additional information.
Learn more about how FWC scientists monitor Florida’s scallops by visiting myfwc.com/research/saltwater/mollusc/bay-scallops/season.