Governor Rick Scott Announces Early Opening of Bay Scallop Season

Published: Sun, 05/25/14

For those of us who love harvesting and eating bay scallops, you may be interested in the following press release sent from Tallahassee on May 20th, 2014.
Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the bay scallop season will open three days early this year. Opening the season early and on a weekend will create additional recreational opportunities for Florida residents and visitors while recognizing the importance of economic benefits to coastal communities where this activity occurs.

Governor Scott said, "I requested the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission open the season early this year to benefit our communities who rely on our fisheries. The bay scallop fishery is especially important to Florida's Big Bend region and by opening the bay scallop season three days earlier, Floridians throughout this area will have more opportunities to enjoy our natural treasures and provide for their families."

Scallop Zone map

The Governor's letter requesting FWC to open the bay scallop season early can be viewed here.

The season, which usually opens July 1, will open Saturday, June 28, 2014. The FWC will also bring a proposal to its Commissioners at a future meeting to change future season openings to the Saturday before July 1, unless July 1 happens to be a Saturday.

The recreational season will open in Gulf of Mexico state waters (shore to 9 nautical miles) from the Pasco-Hernando county line to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County. The season will remain open through Sept. 24, with the first day of the closure on Sept. 25.

All other regulations, including bag and vessel limits, apply.

To learn more about the Bay Scallop and Florida's Recreational Regulations concerning them click below. 
The 'Big Bend' area of north Florida is one of the few places in the world where you can catch your own bay scallops.
In a couple of hours you can collect the legal limit of 2 gallons of whole scallops per person.
Although it helps to have a boat, canoe or a kayak to get out into the 3 to 4 foot water where they hang out, there are lots of places where you can wade out into the sea grass beds and snorkel for them.
 
Hagen's Cove, 13 miles north of Steinhatchee,  Steinhatchee, and Keaton Beach in the Big Bend area offer some of the best scalloping in Florida.
Give it a try!