Scalloping Season Dates: July 1st – September 24th
Many people in Florida look forward to July for the beautiful fireworks over the water every year, for the Independence Day celebrations around the state. The locals in Citrus County have many more reasons to be excited for July, as the 1st of the month marks the start of the annual Scalloping Season along the unspoiled coast of Citrus County!
Rules
This underwater Easter-Egg hunt lasts almost 3 whole months along the Gulf Coast of Florida. (It may be longer or shorter in other counties along the Gulf Coast.) That being said, there are many fun times to be had while out scalloping with your friends and family, but there are also many guidelines and rules to follow to ensure a safe and legal trip out on the water!
If you’re planning on going scalloping this season, you want to make sure you don’t take too many scallops! Like any other seasonal fishing, there are limits to how many you can take. Each person is allowed 2 gallons of whole scallops (in their shell), OR 1-pint of scallop meat per day. You’re also only allowed to acquire scallops by hand or with a landing or dip net! Also, there can’t be more than 10 gallons of whole scallops or ½ gallon of scallop meat aboard any vessel.
Equipment
You may think it’s easy to jump in the Gulf and grab scallops! The truth is, you actually don’t need much to find them. They’re even right on top of the sand sometimes! Usually, you don’t need to dig too far to see their shells sticking out of the sand.
Like and other fishing sport, there are some things you’re going to need to get your scalloping adventure started… First and most important, you need a Saltwater Fishing License! Time after time, this gets confused with something that does not require a license in Florida, but it does. Second, you need a mask and snorkel to stay underwater long enough to find your scallops.
Third, you need some bag to put your scallops in. Many scallopers will use a netted bag and attach it to their wrist to not drop it. Last, it’s smart to bring a pair of flippers too! These will not only help you move faster through the water, but you can cover more ground and find more scallops this way.
