When Does Scallop Season Start in Florida?
It depends on the zone. The earliest zone opens June 15, most open July 1, Pasco opens July 10, and Gulf County opens August 16.
The standard dates, set by FWC:
- Fenholloway through Suwannee River (Keaton Beach, Steinhatchee): June 15 through Labor Day
- Franklin through northwestern Taylor County (Carrabelle, St. Marks): July 1 through September 24
- Levy, Citrus & Hernando (Cedar Key, Crystal River, Homosassa): July 1 through September 24
- Pasco: July 10 through August 18
- Gulf County (St. Joseph Bay, Port St. Joe): August 16 through September 24
FWC can change a season on short notice, so check the FWC bay scallop page before you go.
When Does Scallop Season End?
September 24 in most zones, Labor Day in the Fenholloway-Suwannee Zone, and August 18 in Pasco. A zone can also close early. In 2026, Pasco closed August 6 for toxic algae.
When Is the 2027 Scallop Season?
2027 dates haven't been announced as of October 25, 2026. Unless FWC changes them, the standard dates above apply. We'll update this page as soon as they're out. Gulf County's 2027 season is the one to watch: FWC kept it closed for all of 2026 and said it will work with the community on restoration.
Do I Need a License to Go Scalloping in Florida?
Yes, a Florida recreational saltwater fishing license, unless you're exempt. The common exemptions are kids under 16, Florida residents 65 and older, and customers on a licensed charter boat.
A resident annual license is $17, and nonresidents can buy a 3-day ($17), 7-day ($30) or annual ($47) license. Buy at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or in the FishHunt FL app, or start from FWC's saltwater license page.
Do I Need a License on a Scallop Charter?
No, as long as the charter boat holds a valid charter license. Ask the captain to confirm when you book.
How Many Scallops Can You Keep?
2 gallons of whole scallops in the shell, or 1 pint of meat, per person per day. A boat can hold no more than 10 gallons in the shell or 1/2 gallon of meat, no matter how many people are aboard.
In the Fenholloway-Suwannee Zone from June 15 through June 30, the limits drop to 1 gallon (or 1 cup of meat) per person and 5 gallons (or 2 pints of meat) per boat.
Is There a Size Limit on Scallops?
No. Still, it's good practice to release scallops under about 2 inches. They have little meat, and leaving them gives them a chance to spawn.
Can You Scallop From Shore?
Yes, by wading, but it's usually not very productive. Most scallopers go by boat to water 4 to 10 feet deep.
Florida residents can wade with the free shoreline license if they keep their feet on the bottom and don't swim, snorkel or use a boat to get there. If you snorkel from the beach, you need a regular saltwater license unless you're exempt (for example under 16, or a Florida resident 65 or older), and a divers-down flag of at least 12 by 12 inches, unless you're in an area used only for swimming.
Where Is Scalloping Allowed in Florida?
Only on the Gulf coast from the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County to the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, plus the Anclote River. All other Florida waters are closed.
What's the Best Place to Scallop in Florida?
There's no single best place, because scallop numbers change from year to year and zone to zone. The three main scalloping grounds are St. Joseph Bay, the Dixie-Taylor area (Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach) and Citrus County (Crystal River, Homosassa).
Populations swing on roughly 5 to 7 year cycles, driven by red tide, floods, droughts, hurricanes and fishing pressure. FWC stopped publishing pre-season counts in 2019 because they didn't predict seasons well. Pick a zone that's open on your dates, then ask local charters and marinas how the beds look that week.
What Do Bay Scallops Look Like?
A ridged, fan-shaped shell, usually under 3 inches across in Florida, with a row of tiny bright blue eyes along the edge. One shell is darker than the other. They sit on the bottom in seagrass and can swim short distances by clapping their shells.
How Deep Is the Water?
Usually 4 to 8 feet, and sometimes as deep as 10. That's shallow enough to snorkel from the surface without scuba gear.
Do I Need a Dive Flag?
Yes. Fly a divers-down flag whenever anyone is in the water with a mask and snorkel. On a boat it must be at least 20 by 24 inches at the highest point. Stay within 300 feet of it in open water (100 feet in rivers, inlets and channels), and take it down when everyone is aboard.
What Gear Is Allowed?
Your hands, or a landing net or dip net. Nothing else.
Is Scalloping Safe?
Generally yes, if you follow boating safety rules and eat only the white muscle.
- Boats: fly the dive flag, stay close to it, keep a lookout aboard, and watch for boats that may not see you.
- Weather: summer afternoon thunderstorms are common. Go early.
- Food: algal toxins can build up in the guts, and cooking doesn't destroy them. FWC advises eating only the white muscle from open zones. Don't eat them raw.
Why Did Pasco Close in 2026?
FWC detected the toxin-producing alga Pyrodinium bahamense above National Shellfish Sanitation Program safety thresholds and closed the Pasco Zone on August 6, 2026. The closure ran through the scheduled end of the season, and the zone did not reopen in 2026.
Why Was St. Joseph Bay Closed in 2026?
A summer 2026 FWC survey found very low scallop abundance in St. Joseph Bay, so FWC closed the Gulf County Zone for the entire 2026 season. FWC also pointed to a prolonged red tide in Gulf County waters from October through December 2025, during spawning. The closure was announced August 13, three days before the scheduled opening.
How Do You Clean Scallops?
Chill them on ice until the shells relax, pry them open with a spoon, cut the white muscle free, scrape off everything else, and rinse in cool water. Full steps are in how to clean scallops.
Can I Sell the Scallops I Catch?
No. Commercial harvest of bay scallops is prohibited in Florida waters.
Can I Bring Scallops Back Through Closed Waters?
Yes, by boat, if you go straight from open waters to where your boat is normally docked, moored or stored. Don't stop in closed waters on the way.
