Can’t wait for scallop season in Crystal River? You don’t have to…

Saga CommunicationsA snorkeler searches for bay scallops in shallow Gulf waters in Crystal River, FL. Kathy Dugan/352today

LEVY COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Bay scallop season opens June 15 in the Fenholloway–Suwannee River Zone, covering parts of Taylor, Dixie, and Levy counties, including Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee. The season runs through Labor Day, Sept. 1.

Bag limits:

  • June 15–30: 1 gallon whole or 1 cup shucked per person; 5 gallons whole or 2 pints shucked per vessel.
  • July 1–Sept. 1: 2 gallons whole or 1 pint shucked per person; 10 gallons whole or ½ gallon shucked per vessel.
    Limits apply even if multiple people are on board.
Bucket of live bay scallops partially submerged in water on a boat during Florida scalloping season.
Pile of freshly caught bay scallops in a green strainer inside a kitchen sink, ready for cleaning.
From boat to kitchen, bay scallops harvested along Florida’s Gulf Coast are rinsed, cleaned, and prepared after a successful day on the water. Courtesy: Kathy Dugan/352today

Know before you go:

  • Only hand-harvesting or using a dip net is allowed.
  • No commercial harvesting.
  • A Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless exempt or shore wading without gear.

Scalloping safety tips:

  • Stay within 300 feet of a divers-down flag (100 feet in rivers/inlets).
  • Idle speed only near flags.
  • Discard scallop shells in trash or deep water—never at boat ramps or swim areas.
  • Avoid damaging seagrass beds—stick to marked channels.

For more, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.