CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — This year's bay scallop season in Citrus and Hernando County, as well as other portions of Florida, is slated to begin July 1, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said in a release.
On top of Citrus and Hernando County, other areas experiencing bay scallop season come July are Franklin County through northwestern Taylor County ( including Carrabelle, Lanark and St. Marks) and portions of Levy County, FWC officials said.
The daily bag limit in all of these areas is two gallons of whole bay scallops or one pint of bay scallop meat per person, with a maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or half a gallon of shucked bay scallop meat per vessel, according to the press release.
While bay scallop season dates vary by region, FWC says boaters can transport them through closed areas. However, boaters reportedly can't stop their vessels in areas closed to harvest and should proceed directly to a dock or ramp to land their scallops.
In addition, recreational harvesters will need a Florida saltwater fishing license to harvest bay scallops, FWC says. Those swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving to catch their scallops will need a no-cost shoreline fishing license, according to the agency.
To purchase a saltwater fishing license, you can call 888-FISH-FLORIDA (888-347-4356). They can also be purchased through the Fish|Hunt FL app on Apple and Android devices, FWC said.
For more information on FWC's recreational bay scallop guidelines and other safety precautions, visit the official website.
