Scallop season tips from Boat and Motor Superstores

Florida has many reasons to celebrate summer as well as many reasons that you may not enjoy it. However, one of the best treats of the summer season in Florida is the opening of scallop season. In Palm Harbor, the season begins in July. In the beautiful Florida coastline, there aren’t many better things to do during the day than to snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico and hunt for delicious scallops. There are, of course, certain things that you should keep in mind when hunting for scallops. Read on to learn more about the tips that we at Boat and Motor Superstores have for you so that you can enjoy an amazing season of scallop-hunting! Boat and Motor Superstores is a top provider of boats at Palm Harbor. We have boats for sale Tampa residents love! Call Boat and Motor Superstores today for your boat and marine motor needs, so that you can enjoy a lovely scallop season out on the water. 

Facts About Scallops

Now that scallop season is here, there are many adventurous fishermen looking for an opportunity to practice. So what is a scallop? Bay scallops have the technical name of Argopecten Irradians. These bivalves are bottom-dwellers who hang out on grass flats. Bivalves have two shells joined by a hinge, and can get as big as 3 inches in Florida, living for around a year. The distinguishing characteristic of such scallops are the tiny blue eyes lining the outer shell, which detect motion and act as a warning signal. The water has to be just right for them to survive, as scallops are fragile, and too much rain can mess up the balance of saltwater and freshwater they need and kill the scallops. 

There are a few things that you should keep in mind when hunting for scallops. When scallop season opens in July, it stays open through September 24. There are three zones in Florida which reach from Gulf County in Port St. Joe, to the Hernando-Pasco county line. The area that is closest to Tampa Bay is Zone 3, which includes Crystal River and Homosassa. You cannot hunt for scallops outside of the open harvest area, so make sure to dock your boats in the open harvest area and not another area, even if you are just hunting in the open area. Moreover, you must have a special saltwater fishing license to hunt scallops, and it is legal to harvest up to two gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or one pint of scallop meat per person. Of course, you also can’t sell them commercially without a license. You can read up on all of the regulations online at myfwc.com.

Scallop Season Tips

Unfortunately, the number of scallops have dwindled, and now they can only be found in certain places. Boat and Motor Superstores, who provides boats for sale Tampa fishermen love, note that it takes a boat to reach the swath of water that holds scallops. The best time to dive for them is when there is a slack tide, as the water isn’t as deep and the grass blades are standing up, so that it is easier to dive to the bottom and spot them. The best time to go scalloping is on an early weekday, as it can get crowded on the weekends, thus limiting the scalloping grounds. Moreover, the later you go, the more chance there is that an afternoon shower may pop up.

Contact Us Today

Boat and Motor Superstores provide boats for sale Tampa scallopers rave about. Start your scallop season with equipment from Boat and Motor Superstores in Palm Harbor today!