Scallop hunting is the underwater adventure of a lifetime.

It is just about time to kick off another summer scalloping season here in Citrus County, and this is an annual activity in which our residents here at the Villages of Citrus Hills love to partake. 

This year, the season starts on June 27 and runs through September 24. During that time, you are going to want to take full advantage of this popular local activity. 

Scalloping allows you to really explore what lies under the surface of our local waters and have a blast doing it! It’s fun for the entire family. 

If you already have your own boat, then all you need is a Florida Saltwater Fishing License and some basic gear to get out and start harvesting scallops. However, if you want to make the entire process as easy as possible, hiring a scalloping charter is the way to go.

 Luckily, we have more than a few to pick from here in Citrus County: 

River Ventures

Based in Crystal River, River Ventures is one of the most popular scalloping charter companies because they take care of literally everything for you. In addition to the boat and licenses, they also provide you with all of the gear you will need including masks, fins, snorkels, and mesh bags. 

They run daily scalloping charters at two different times and charge a rate of $75/person. 

http://www.riverventures.com/scallopingcharters.html 

Captain Z 

Another popular option for scalloping charters is Captain Z, who is based out of Homosassa. He charges a rate of $300 for up to 4 people, which includes all the licenses and equipment you will need. 

Captain Z also suggests paying locals to clean your scallops for you. Since this is the part of the adventure that no one really want to take part in, it just makes sense to let someone skilled do it quickly for a fair price. 

http://www.captainmarkzorn.com/Scalloping%202012.html 

Red Ed’s Adventures 

Captain Red Ed is famous for referring to scalloping as an “underwater Easter Egg hunt.” His scalloping charters generally target the clear waters of the Homosassa River. 

You will have to bring your own mask, fins, snorkel, and bag for this one, but Captain Red Ed has one of the nicest boats on the water. He charges a rate of $300 for licenses and a 4 hour scalloping charter with up to 4 people. 

http://homosassaredfish.com/scalloping.htm

 Mission Fishin Charters

If you are looking to explore outside of Citrus County, Captain Shawn from Mission Fishin Charters offers scalloping tours in Hernando and Pasco Counties as well. His boat is beautiful and he provides all the necessary equipment and licenses, so his rate of $250 for a 4 hour scalloping charter with up to 4 people is great. 

http://www.missionfishincharters.com/charter-options/scallop-charters 

No matter who you choose as your guide, there is unlimited fun to be had searching our local waterways for scallops. With state limits of one gallon per person per day, you can walk away from any charter with a pretty hefty haul! 

Since scalloping season is a very busy time for all of our local charter companies, you will want to book your adventure as soon as possible to make sure that you get the trip in before scalloping season ends in September.

Happy Harvesting!