Scalloping in Crystal River starts
July 1st to September 25th.Scallop season starts a
week early this year and runs two extra weeks!
Scalloping in Crystal River is great this season. Very
large Scallops and big numbers. Come get your limit on
Scallops.
With just a mask, snorkel and fins you, too, can jump in
and experience the adventure of diving for scallops. You
will float along the surface quietly, patiently, over a
sand bar in the Gulf of Mexico, off Florida’s beautiful
Nature Coast, and take in the wonderful world of various
fishes, plants and coral.
Then suddenly you will see one. A scallop! Take a deep
breath, dive down and grab it before someone else does!
Be sure to look close around and you just might see
more. Remember, scallop beds are located mostly in
shallow water and may only be harvested by hand or net.
Scallops in Crystal River Florida are hard to spot
because their natural coloring allows them to camouflage
themselves on the bottom among the tall grasses. Most of
the time their shells are open to feed and breath, but
as soon as they sense an intruder they slam their shells
shut and hide. When threatened, the scallop can swim
backwards or up by clapping its shell halves together
and rapidly expelling water.
The bay scallop is a member of the shellfish family.
Spawning occurs at 1 year of age and in the fall, when
the weather is cool. Unfortunately, only 1 egg out of 12
million will survive to live a full life, and in Florida
they usually only live 1 year.
In the past, Florida’s coasts were brimming with
scallops, but recently they have vanished in many areas.
Scientists believe this shortfall could be due to poor
water quality since scallops are highly sensitive to
changes in water. One could say scallops play an
important part within the ecosystem, and observing
scallops is a good way to evaluate the quality of the
marine environment. In 1998, the Fish and Wildlife
Commission (FWC) teamed up with the University of South
Florida in an effort to enhance the population of the
scallops in certain areas, as well as eventually
launching restrictions to allow only recreational
harvesting. This seems to have worked. From 2000 through
2001, the scallop population has increased
significantly, after harvesting was banned for several
years. In 2002, scallop harvesting was reopened in the
Crystal River area, which has become one of the most
popular scallop harvesting destinations in Florida.
What can one say about one of the most exciting seasons
in Florida. Starting July 1st to September 10th you can
get together with your family and friends for a fun
filled day on the water scalloping, in Crystal River or
Homosassa Florida. Scalloping it is like easter egg
hunting in the water, while you are snorkeling around
gathering scallops you will be looking at other wildlife
that the gulf has to offer.
To Scallop in Florida each person is required to have a
fishing license. However by going with a Licensed and
Insured Captain, the captain provides all license, so
you do won't need one.
Enjoy the ride with Captain Charlie and he will take you
to where the scallops are. While going to the Scallop
grounds you will get to enjoy the abundance of wildlife
and Natural beauty the Nature Coast has to offer.
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