There’s something special about scallop season in Florida. Maybe it’s the sun-drenched weekends. Maybe it’s the joy of diving face-first into Mother Nature’s salty treasure
🌴 Florida’s 2025 Bay Scallop Season: A Guide to Snorkels, Shells & Sweet Summer Hauls
Dated: June 16 2025
Views: 553
There’s something special about scallop season in Florida. Maybe it’s the sun-drenched weekends. Maybe it’s the joy of diving face-first into Mother Nature’s salty treasure chest. Or maybe—just maybe—it’s because nothing says “Florida summer” quite like surf, snorkels, and seafood dinners you caught yourself.
Welcome to the Herrell Group’s 2025 Bay Scallop Season Guide—your go-to for when, where, and how to responsibly harvest these sweet, tender sea morsels along Florida’s gorgeous Gulf Coast.
🗓️ Scallop Season by Zone: Know Before You Go
Florida’s not a one-date-fits-all kind of state. The bay scallop season is staggered across five coastal zones. Translation? More flexibility. More fun. More time in the water.
| Zone | Key Spots | Season Dates | Heads-Up! |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fenholloway–Suwannee Rivers | Keaton Beach, Steinhatchee | June 15 – Sept 1 | Half bag limit till June 30 |
| Franklin/NW Taylor | Carrabelle, St. Marks | July 1 – Sept 24 | Full bag limits all season |
| Levy–Hernando Counties | Cedar Key, Crystal River, Homosassa | July 1 – Sept 24 | Full steam ahead |
| Pasco Zone | Anclote Key to Hernando/Pasco Line | July 10 – Aug 18 | Blink and you’ll miss it |
| St. Joseph Bay & Gulf | Port St. Joe, Mexico Beach | Aug 16 – Sept 24 | Late start, strong finish |
📍Pro Tip: Planning a multi-zone summer scallop crawl? That’s legal—and brilliant.
🧺 How Many Scallops Can You Bag?
Not too many, not too few—just enough to keep it sustainable and delicious.
Most Zones:
2 gallons whole or 1 pint shucked per person
10 gallons whole or ½ gallon shucked per vessel
Fenholloway–Suwannee (June 15–30):
1 gallon whole or 1 cup shucked per person
5 gallons whole or 2 pints shucked per vessel
👮♀️ Zero tolerance for commercial harvesting. It’s strictly recreational—so keep it chill and by the book.
🛠️ Gear Up & License Check
Before diving in, you’ll need:
Florida Saltwater Fishing License (unless you’re under 16, over 65, or wading from shore)
Mask, snorkel, fins
Mesh bag or dip net
Gloves (because, well, shells)
Dive flag (not optional)
Cooler + ice for the post-dive feast
🧭 Scalloping Like a Pro: Safety + Conservation
Stay within 300 ft of your dive flag (100 ft in rivers/inlets)
Use marked boat channels—seagrass is precious
Idle near swimmers and popular scalloping spots
No scallop shell dumping in spring-fed rivers. Ever.
♻️ Be a waterway hero: Pack out every scrap, every shell, every time.
✅ Quick Trip Prep Checklist
Pick your zone & mark the dates
Get that fishing license
Pack all the gear (don’t forget ice!)
Know your limits (and respect ‘em)
Respect seagrass beds and fellow boaters
Trash bags. Always.
Dive flag = must-have
🏆 Why This Season Rocks
With staggered openings, you’ve got more chances to scallop-hop your way through summer. Early-season restrictions in the Big Bend ease by July 1, letting you fill those coolers a little higher. All it takes is a little planning—and maybe a killer potato salad back on shore.
🐚 Final Takeaway
Florida’s bay scallop season isn’t just a seafood event—it’s a salty, splashy, sun-drenched celebration of our Gulf Coast lifestyle. So dive in, harvest responsibly, and savor every sweet bite. The scallops are waiting. Your summer just got tastier.
From all of us at The Herrell Group—happy scalloping, and may your fins always find the fluffiest grass beds! 🌊
Carolyn Gomez
The Tampa Bay and Gulf Coast of Florida are not just where Carolyn Gomez works—they’re where she proudly calls home. Originally from Gig Harbor, Washington, Carolyn moved to Tampa/St. Pete in the ....
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All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Updated on September 25, 2026 11:45 AM UTC
