TALLAHASSEE -- Bay scallop season, which opens on different dates in different counties, begins in Pasco County July 10th (Wednesday). It runs until August 18th. Pasco waters are considered to run from the Hernando-Pasco County line to the Anclote Key lighthouse, which is slightly into Pinellas County.
If you haven't been scalloping before, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has a few tips.
First, you need a saltwater fishing license, unless you have a free shoreline license and are just wading from the beach. Scallops can only be collected by hand or with a hand net (dip net).
Daily bag limits are two gallons of whole bay scallops still in the shell, or one pint of scallop meat, per person. That's up to a maixmum of 10 gallons in-shell or four pints of scallop meat per vessel.
Follow safe boating regulations if using a boat, and use a divers down flag.
More information at this link, or listen to a podcast with FWC marine biologist Nancy Sheridan below.
Photo: Canva