Fenholloway-Suwannee zone
Steinhatchee & Keaton Beach
Scalloping Keaton Beach, Steinhatchee and Horseshoe Beach: June 15 to Labor Day season, the reduced June limit, ramps, and how 2026 went.
- Usual season
- Opens Jun 15 each year under FWC's standing rule
- 2026 season
- Jun 15 to Sep 7
- Daily limit
- 2 gallons whole scallops (or 1 pint of meat) per person; 10 gallons whole (or ½ gallon of meat) per boat
- Early-season limit
- Smaller limit Jun 15 to 30: 1 gallon whole (or 1 cup of meat) per person and 5 gallons whole (or 2 pints of meat) per boat.
Status for 2027: not announced. Unless FWC changes it, the standard season of June 15 through Labor Day applies, with a reduced limit June 15 through 30.
Standard season: June 15 through Labor Day
Daily limit: see the table below. It changes on July 1.
Where It Is
State waters east of Rock Island, near the mouth of the Fenholloway River in Taylor County, and north of Alligator Pass Daybeacon 4 near the mouth of the Suwannee River in Levy County.
That covers the southern Taylor County coast and the Dixie County coast in the Big Bend.
What Makes It Different
- It opens first. June 15, two weeks before the July 1 zones.
- It has a reduced limit for the first two weeks. See below.
- It closes on Labor Day, almost three weeks before the July 1 zones close on September 24.
- It's a main fishing ground. The Dixie-Taylor area is one of Florida's three main bay scallop grounds.
Limits
| Dates | Per Person | Per Boat |
|---|---|---|
| June 15 to June 30 | 1 gallon in the shell or 1 cup of meat | 5 gallons in the shell or 2 pints of meat |
| July 1 to Labor Day | 2 gallons in the shell or 1 pint of meat | 10 gallons in the shell or 1/2 gallon of meat |
The boat limit applies no matter how many people are aboard, charters included.
Towns & Ramps
Main towns: Keaton Beach, Steinhatchee, Jena, Dekle Beach, Horseshoe Beach and Suwannee. Steinhatchee sits on the Taylor County side of the Steinhatchee River, with Jena across the river in Dixie County.
Public ramps in the Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach areas include:
- Steinhatchee Boat Ramp
- Jena Ramp
- Keaton Beach Boat Ramp
- Keaton Beach Marina Boat Ramp
- Dallus Creek Landing (shallow-draft boats only)
- Hagen's Cove Recreation Area (shallow-draft boats only)
- Dark Island Boat Ramp (shallow-draft boats only)
Access and fees change, so confirm before you go.
Typical Conditions
- Wide, shallow grass flats off a marsh coast. Several ramps are shallow-draft only, which tells you how thin the water gets. Watch the tide.
- River mouths can run dark and fresh after rain. Scallops do better in saltier water, so you may need to run farther out.
- Early-season trips in late June mean the reduced limit. Plan your count accordingly.
How the 2026 Season Went
It ran the full season, June 15 through Labor Day (September 7, 2026). FWC issued no closure for the zone, and the reduced limit applied June 15 through 30 as scheduled.
What to Expect in 2027
2027 dates haven't been announced. The standard dates are June 15 through Labor Day, with the reduced limit June 15 through 30. FWC can change or close any season. We'll update this page as soon as FWC announces dates.
Every Zone at a Glance