By Rick Patrick Riverbend News
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has set the dates for this summer's bay scallop season on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The season varies depending on the section of coastline where the scallops are sought.
The season along the coastline in Franklin County and the northwestern part of Taylor County, from St. Vincent Island to Rock Island at the mouth of the Fenholloway River begins on Thursday, July 1, and runs until Friday, Sept. 24. The bag limits for this area are two gallons whole scallops in the shell or one pint shucked per individual. The limit for the entire vessel is five gallons whole in the shell or one-half gallon shucked.
On the coastline for the rest of Taylor County and all of Dixie County (including Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee), the season begins on Tuesday, June 15, and continues until Monday, Sept. 6. In this area, there are different bag limits during the first two weeks of the season. From Tuesday, June 15, until Wednesday, June 30, the bag limits are one gallon whole in shell or one cup shucked, per person. The per vessel limit during this time is five gallons whole in the shell or two pints shucked. After Wednesday, June 30, until the end of the season, the bag limits are the same as the Franklin County coastline.
There is no minimum size for the scallops. Harvesting is permitted by hand or with a landing or dip net.
Recreational harvesters need a Florida saltwater fishing license to harvest bay scallops unless they are exempt from needing a license or have a no-cost shoreline fishing license and are wading from shore to collect scallops (i.e. feet do not leave bottom to swim, snorkel or SCUBA and harvesters do not use a vessel to reach or return from the harvest location).
Please adhere to all safe-boating rules and regulations and never drink and boat.