The 2024 recreational bay scallop season, spanning from Franklin County through northwestern Taylor County (including Carrabelle, Lanark, and St. Marks) as well as portions of Levy County and all of Citrus and Hernando counties (including Cedar Key, Crystal River, and Homosassa), opens on July 1 and will remain open until September 24.
The daily bag limit in these areas is set at 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat per person. The maximum limit per vessel is 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1/2 gallon (4 pints) of shucked bay scallop meat. Vessel limits do not allow an individual to exceed their personal bag limit throughout the season.
Although the dates for bay scallop season may vary by region, regulations permit the direct and continuous transit of legally harvested bay scallops through closed areas. Boaters must not stop their vessels in waters closed to harvest but should proceed directly to the dock or ramp to land scallops in a closed area.
Recreational harvesters are required to have a Florida saltwater fishing license unless they are exempt or possess a no-cost shoreline fishing license and are wading from shore to collect scallops without using a vessel. Licenses can be purchased at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, by calling toll-free 888-FISH-FLORIDA (888-347-4356), or via the Fish|Hunt FL app available on Apple and Android devices. For more information on current recreational bay scallop regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Scallops.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) emphasizes boater safety during this period. Boaters are reminded to designate an operator who will remain sober to ensure safety for everyone onboard. Operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal across all bodies of water in Florida and carries severe consequences. It is unlawful to operate a vessel with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher, akin to motor vehicle regulations.
For further details on boating safety, visit MyFWC.com/Boating, click on “Boating Regulations,” and select “Boating Under the Influence.”
Additionally, boaters should be aware that damaging seagrass beds within state waters is against Florida law. It is advised that boaters stay within marked navigation channels whenever possible and avoid motoring through seagrass beds in shallow water to prevent propeller scars. Seagrasses serve as vital habitats for marine life such as manatees, green sea turtles, and bay scallops while also acting as natural water filters.
More information on seagrass protection can be found at MyFWC.com/Boating under “Seagrass Awareness.”
The FWC also advises against discarding scallop shells inshore near recreational areas like boat ramps or swimming zones due to potential hazards for swimmers and damage to seagrass habitats. Scallop shells should be discarded either in trash receptacles or larger bodies of water where they can disperse more easily. Additionally, trash should be securely stowed on vessels to prevent it from blowing overboard.
In other initiatives aimed at preserving marine life, volunteers known as "Scallop Sitters" help maintain cages with up to 50 bay scallops from June through January across St George Sound, St Joseph Bay, and St Andrews Bay. These volunteers check, count, clean their cages monthly and receive necessary tools along with instructional materials.
For those interested in becoming a Scallop Sitter volunteer program participant, more information is available at MyFWC.com/Research under “Saltwater” then “Bay Scallops” under Molluscs by selecting “Become a Scallop-Sitter.”