Season
Bay scallops may be taken from July 1 through September 10.
Area
The zone for scallop harvesting stretches along Florida's Gulf coast from the Mexico Beach Canal's west bank in Bay County to the Pasco-Hernando County line.
Bag Limit
The individual daily limit for bay scallops is one pint of meat or two gallons of whole scallops. The boat limit for bay scallops is one-half gallon of meat or 10 gallons of whole scallops.
Collection
Bay scallops must be collected by hand or with a dip net. Fishing by hand is typically done while using snorkeling gear in the coastal shallows, which average five to 10 feet deep.
Commercial Harvesting
The commercial harvesting of bay scallops is prohibited.
Appearance
Bay scallops in Florida are usually less than three inches long and more commonly one to two inches. The upper shell is darkly mottled. An interesting characteristic are the blue eyes located along the shell opening.
Article Written By David Chandler
David Chandler has been a freelance writer since 2006 whose work has appeared in various print and online publications. A former reconnaissance Marine, he is an active hiker, diver, kayaker, sailor and angler. He has traveled extensively and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of South Florida where he was educated in international studies and microbiology.
