Bay Scallop
Seasons and Harvest Zones
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. 4. The 2025 bay scallop season for the Gulf County Zone is temporarily closed to the harvest of bay scallops effective September 4, 2025. The FWC is tasked with proactively testing and acting to keep Floridians safe. This precautionary measure is due to the detection of toxin-producing algae Pseudo-nitzschia and Pyrodinium bahamanse and coincident with a precautionary shellfish harvesting area closure issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that includes St. Joseph Bay. The Gulf County Zone may reopen for scallop harvesting once tests show levels have decreased to safe limits. The area is still open for other recreational activities like fishing, boating, and swimming. For more information on the closure, see Executive Order 25-20. For more information on Pyrodinium, see the FWC factsheet.
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 - Aug 6., 2025; Sep.6 - Sep. 21, 2025. The 2025 Regional Bay scallop season in the Pasco Zone will reopen to recreational harvest on September 6, 2025 and will remain open through September 21, 2025 following a temporary closure. The FWC continues to monitor scallop and water samples to keep Floridians safe.
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.
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)
- June 15-30:
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).