Home | Scalloping
Our Dive Shop is conveniently located for all your Taylor County and Big
Scalloping needs. Season is only from July 1st 2009 until September 10th.

What you need for scalloping:

20" x 24" Regulation Boat Size Dive Flags - We have them for only $7.95!
Mask Fins and Snorkel Set - We have them for Kids starting at $29.95!
                                                  We have them for Adults too!
Scallop Collector Bag - We have them for only $2.00 or FREE with qualifying
                                       scallop set purchase!
Salt Water fishing license. Available at MyFWC.org.

    All of our Snorkeling gear are Quality Items so you can use them year after
    year!

We also carry Dive Apparel, Stickers, Scallop Knives, Gloves, Sunscreen, Mask
Defog, Rash guards and So Much More!

    Stop by on your way to make sure you have everything you need!

Rules for Scalloping:

    For complete official rules be sure to visit MyFWC.org.

Recreational harvesters are limited to two gallons of whole bay scallops in the
shell, or one pint of bay scallop meat, per day during the open season. In addition,
recreational scallopers may possess no more than 10 gallons of whole bay
scallops in the shell, or ½ gallon of bay scallop meat, aboard any vessel at any
time. Bay scallops may be harvested only by hand or with a landing or dip net.
They may not be harvested for commercial purposes.  Recreational harvesters
need a Florida saltwater fishing license to harvest bay scallops, even when
scalloping from shore. See Shoreline Fishing FAQS for more information.

How to scallop:

When July and August roll around, the hot sun makes midday fishing miserable in
Big Bend waters. However Big Bend anglers have a cooler alternative that will still
let them harvest the sea's bounty, scalloping! Scalloping is a cool activity in the
midsummer's heat because you actually get into the water and swim after them.
The scalloping here is very good at this time of year. In fact that is the only time of
year you can catch your own scallops, since scallop season is open only from July
1 until September 10 and only from the the Pasco County/Hernando County line to
Mexico Beach. The rest of the year scalloping is closed over the entire State of
Florida.
It does help to have a boat to get you to the scallops, but you can often hitch a ride
with experienced friends. Most scallopers go out the Steinhatchee or Keaton
Beach channels to the Gulf, and then go either north or south for several miles until
the inshore waters become clear. Favorite spots include Big Grassy Island, Rocky
Creek and Pepperfish Keys. You should slowly motor inshore to a water depth of 3
feet or so while staring at the bottom looking for scallops (It helps to wear
polarized sunglasses!). The immediate vicinity of any large collection of boats is
usually a good place to begin, for at peak scallop season 100 or more boats will
be on the best spots. Don't worry about all those boats. Scallops have been
abundant in recent years and limits are easy to come by. Just keep moving around
until you find an area that has not been picked over, all the while maintaining a
good lookout so you don't run over any snorkelers who often stray well away from
their anchored boats and dive flags.