Hudson & Port Richey

Status for 2027: not announced. Unless FWC changes it, the standard season of July 10 through August 18 applies.

Standard season: July 10 through August 18

Daily limit: 2 gallons in the shell or 1 pint of meat per person; 10 gallons or 1/2 gallon of meat per boat

Where It Is

All state waters south of the Hernando-Pasco county line and north of an east-west line through the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, including the Anclote River and its tributaries.

It's the southernmost scallop zone in Florida. South of the Anclote Key line, all waters are closed to scallop harvest.

What Makes It Different

• Shortest season. July 10 through August 18, about six weeks. FWC set these dates in a rule that took effect in April 2024, after a trial season in 2023.
• Closest to Tampa Bay. Hudson and Port Richey are a short drive from Tampa and Clearwater.
• Toxin closures. FWC closed Pasco mid-season for toxin-producing algae in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Towns & Ramps

Main towns: Hudson, Port Richey, New Port Richey and Holiday (on the Anclote River).

Public ramps include:

• Anclote River Park (Holiday)
• Sims Park Ramp (New Port Richey)
• Nick's Park Ramp (Port Richey)
• Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park (Hudson)

Confirm access and fees before you go.

Typical Conditions

• Grass flats off a developed coast with canals and river mouths.
• Check the FWC bay scallop page the morning you go. Toxin closures here have come mid-season with little notice.
• Eat only the white muscle, never the roe or the whole scallop. The toxin involved here, saxitoxin, isn't destroyed by cooking.

How the 2026 Season Went

It opened July 10 and closed early on August 6, 2026.

• Why: FWC detected the toxin-producing alga Pyrodinium bahamense above National Shellfish Sanitation Program safety thresholds.
• The closure: FWC's order closed the rest of the season when it was signed on August 6. It expired at 12:01 a.m. on August 19, the end of the scheduled season.
• No reopening: FWC said the zone would reopen once tests showed safe toxin levels, but it issued no reopening order in 2026.
• What stayed open: fishing, boating and swimming.

Earlier Seasons

The two seasons before that also closed early:

• 2024: closed July 24, reopened August 28, and extended through September 24.
• 2025: closed August 6, reopened September 6 through September 21.

In both years FWC reopened and extended the season after toxin levels dropped. In 2026 it did not.

What to Expect in 2027

2027 dates haven't been announced. The standard dates are July 10 through August 18. After three straight years of toxin closures, have a backup plan in the Levy, Citrus & Hernando area to the north. We'll update this page as soon as FWC announces dates.