Annual Florida Bay Scallop Seasons Opening Soon
Eugene L. 06.16.22
The summer tradition of scalloping in the big bend region of Florida is about to start again. The 2022 recreational bay scallop seasons are almost here. The first region that will allow harvest for 2022 is the Fenholloway River – Suwannee River Zone. This zone includes all state waters in Dixie County, part of state waters in Taylor County, and includes the towns of Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee.
Starting there from June 15th people are allowed a daily limit of 1 gallon of whole bay scallops or 1 cup of shucked bay scallop meat per person. The vessel limit is a maximum of 5 gallons of whole bay scallops or 2 pints (4 cups) of shucked bay scallop meat per vessel. Then, from July 1st to Labor Day in this area and the rest of the open seasons in the other zones, the regular bag and vessel limits apply.
Regular season limits are 2 gallons of whole bay scallops or 1 pint (2 cups) of shucked bay scallop meat per person. A maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1/2 gallon (4 pints) shucked bay scallop meat per vessel. Throughout the season and region-wide, vessel limits do not allow an individual to exceed their personal bag limit.
Bay scallops may only be harvested in state waters from the following zones:
- St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County
- Aug. 16-Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters from the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County to the westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County. NOTE: The area marked with FWC buoys south of Black’s Island is a Bay Scallop Restoration Area and no scalloping or anchoring is allowed there.
- Franklin County through northwestern Taylor County (including Carrabelle, Lanark and St. Marks)
- July 1 through Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters from the westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County to Rock Island near the mouth of the Fenholloway River in Taylor County.
- Fenholloway through Suwannee Rivers Zone (including Keaton Beach and the Steinhatchee area)
- June 15 through Labor Day. This region includes all state waters east of Rock Island near the mouth of the Fenholloway River in Taylor County and north of Alligator Pass daybeacon #4 near the mouth of the Suwannee River in Levy County. This area has a lowered bag limit June 15-30. See bag limit section for more.
- Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties (including Cedar Key, Crystal River and Homosassa)
- July 1 through Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters south of Alligator Pass daybeacon #4 near the mouth of the Suwannee River in Levy County and north of the Hernando – Pasco county line.
