PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Get ready for a summer-long scallop season in Pasco County.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officially approved an expansion to bay scallop season from 10 days to 40 days.
Starting this year, people can go scalloping in Pasco County from July 10 through Aug. 18.
The scalloping zone includes all state waters between the Hernando-Pasco county line and the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, plus all waters of the Anclote River.
"Along with moving away from the Independence Day holiday, the longer season will increase both the public’s safety and access to one of our state’s most fun family resources,” FWC Commissioner Preston Farrior said. “There will be many positive impacts for the local communities.”
While boat charter captains agreed the expansion would be good for their bottom line, some fear a longer season could lead to scallop overharvesting.
“Obviously, I profit when the season is extended longer,” Captain Jason Dozier of Fishn FL Charters said. “But also we want to make sure that my kids and their kids and the next generation can enjoy doing what we're doing.”
If you're thinking about going out and shucking some of your own scallops this summer, those captains have another piece of advice for you: Limit your catch, don't catch your limit. Even though you can take up to two gallons of scallops, they say even a gallon will give you plenty of meat to enjoy.
Since 2018, it's been a 10-day season in Pasco for bay scallops. In 2023, an executive order from Gov. DeSantis made it 37 days. The FWC studied the change, heard from the public, and this month made a formal recommendation to commissioners to permanently change the Pasco season for scallops to 40 days.
10 Tampa Bay's Chris Hurst contributed to this report.