Bay Scallop

Bay scallops may only be harvested in state waters from the following zones:

Direct transit of legally-harvested bay scallops is allowed through closed areas.

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.

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.

• Please do not discard scallop shells in inshore waters commonly used for recreational activities such as the Homosassa River or Crystal River. Piles of discarded scallop shells can create hazards for swimmers and damage seagrass habitat. Scallop shells can be discarded in a trash receptacle or in larger bodies of water where they are more likely to disperse.

Pasco Zone: July 10 through July 24 and August 28 through September 24, 2024. This region includes all state waters south of the Hernando – Pasco County line and north of Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, and includes all waters of the Anclote River.

The 2024 season began on July 10 and closed temporarily due to the presence of saxitoxins in scallop meat. Continuous testing during the precautionary closure showed that both the algae (Pyrodinium bahamense) and the toxin it produces (saxitoxin) have returned to safe levels based on the safety thresholds established by the National Shellfish Sanitation Program. Out of an abundance of caution, it is recommended that you only consume the scallop muscle and not the roe or whole scallop.

Daily Bag Limit:

• Gulf through NW Taylor County and Levy through Pasco County:
  • Per person: 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat
  • Per vessel: Maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in shell or 1/2 gallon bay scallop meat (1/2 gallon = 4 pints)
• Fenholloway through Suwannee River Zone:
  • June 15-30:
    • Per person: 1 gallon whole bay scallops in shell or one cup shucked 
    • Per vessel: 5 gallons whole or two pints shucked
  • July 1-Labor Day
    • Per person: 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat
    • Per vessel: Maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in shell, or 1/2 gallon bay scallop meat (1/2 gallon = 4 pints)

NOTE: Vessel limits do not allow an individual to exceed their personal bag limit.

Minimum Size Limit: None

Gear Requirements:

• Legal Gear: Harvest permitted only by hand or by using a landing or dip net

Commercial harvest prohibited.

Recreational harvesters need a Florida saltwater fishing license to harvest bay scallops unless they are 1. exempt from needing a license or 2. have a no-cost shoreline fishing license and are wading from shore to collect scallops (i.e. feet do not leave bottom to swim, snorkel, or SCUBA and harvesters do not use a vessel to reach or return from the harvest location).