Recreational bay scallop harvesting season is open along several Big Bend area counties.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials this week formally opened the season for harvesting bay scallops in portions of Franklin, Taylor, Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties. The scallop season in those areas runs through Sept. 24.
In Taylor County, scallop harvesting areas include Carrabelle, Lanark and St. Marks along the Nature Coast. Harvesting areas along Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties include Cedar Key, Crystal River and Homosassa.
The daily “bag limit” is two gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or one pint of scallop meat per person. The maximum of total harvest per group is 10 gallons of scallops in the shell and a half-gallon of shucked scallop meat per water vessel.
Bay scallop harvesting can only be done by using a landing or dip net. The state prohibits commercial harvesting during the season.
FWC officials say those seeking scallops should adhere to some safety tips for divers and boaters. They should maintain a 360-degree awareness surrounding “diver-down” flags deployed in the water. Divers should keep proximity to the flags within 300 feet in the open Gulf and 100 feet if they’re diving in a river, inlet or navigation channel.
Boats should operate at idle speed when the vessels are within 300 feet of a diver-down flag in open water and within 100 feet when they’re in rivers and inlets.
FWC officials are also advising bay scallop harvesting vessel operators that it’s a violation of Florida law to damage areas with seagrass beds in state waters. Officials advise to stay within navigation channels when possible. They warn that discarding scallop shells in inshore waters is likely to damage seagrass areas and could bring additional hazards for swimmers. Shells should be discarded in larger bodies of water.
While recreational harvesting is encouraged by the state, those participating in bay scallop season need a Florida saltwater fishing license unless they are wading near shore. Licenses can be purchased online.
