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Gulf Coast Scalloping
The Gulf shoreline at Fort Island Gulf Beach, Crystal River

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Crystal River

Season over

The Short Answer

Crystal River sits on one of Florida's three main scallop grounds. Most scallopers launch at the Citrus County ramps on Fort Island Trail or at the marinas around Kings Bay, then run out the Crystal River channel or the Salt River to grass flats about 2 to 3 miles offshore. The best water is between the Crystal River and Homosassa River mouths. Leave time to idle out, since Kings Bay is a manatee refuge.

36Charters
4Public Ramps
2Rentals
1h 30mFrom Gainesville

Levy-Citrus-Hernando zone · Citrus County

Scallop Charters in Crystal River

All Charters

See All Charters in the Levy-Citrus-Hernando Zone

Where to Launch

  • Boat Ramp

    Fort Island Trail Park Boat Ramp

    • $10 daily launch fee
    • 42 trailer spots
    • 4 lanes

    Pay through the Premium Parking app, the QR code at the ramp, or by phone.

    Ramp Details

  • Boat Ramp

    Crystal River City Boat Ramp at 3rd Avenue

    • $7.50 per boat plus parking
    • 12 trailer spots
    • 1 lane

    There is no dock and no toilet.

  • Boat Ramp

    Crystal River City Boat Ramp at Pete's Pier

    • $10 per boat plus parking
    • 25 trailer spots
    • 1 lane

    The inner bay and canals are idle speed year round, so allow extra time to reach the Gulf.

  • Boat Ramp

    Fort Island Gulf Beach Boat Ramp

    • $10 a day
    • 24 trailer spots
    • 2 lanes

    Renovations continue, so expect temporary portable restrooms.

    Website ↗

  • Marina

    Adventure Center at Plantation on Crystal River

    • Launch $20
    • 10 trailer spots
    • 1 lane

    Runs guided five hour scallop trips.

    Website ↗

  • Marina

    Crystal River Watersports

    • 50 trailer spots
    • 1 lane
    • 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

    A ramp pass covers one full calendar day.

    Website ↗352-795-7033

  • Marina

    Pete's Pier Marina

    Many scallop charters leave from here, and you can book one through the marina.

    Website ↗(352) 795-3302

  • Marina

    Port Hotel and Marina

    • $10 launch
    • 40 car spots
    • 1 lane

    Call ahead to be sure the ramp and parking are available.

    Website ↗352-795-3111

  • Boat Rental

    Nature Coast Boat Rental

    • Full day 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    Boats are allowed in the Gulf, but Gulf trips usually burn more than the first 10 free gallons.

    Website ↗352-601-7184

  • Boat Rental

    Twin Rivers Marina Boat Rentals

    • Full day 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Rentals may go to the scallop grounds up to Rock Island, not toward Yankeetown, the Spoil Banks, Salt River, Ozello or Homosassa.

    Website ↗352-795-3552

  • Scallop Cleaner

    Plantation on Crystal River Dock Cleaners

    • $7 per gallon in 2022

    Independent cleaners work at the resort marina in season. They aren't resort staff, so ask at the dock.

  • Scallop Cleaner

    Shrimp Landing Marina Dock Shuckers

    A charter that meets here says shuckers are available at the marina. The number is the marina's main line, so ask who is cleaning.

    Website ↗(352) 795-4380

Tides This Week

Tides · Crystal River Mouth

High at 3:48 PM

  • Low 9:56 AM
  • Low 9:46 PM

Check the tide before you leave the ramp. A falling tide can strand a boat on a shallow grass flat.

  1. Today · Mon Oct 26

    • High 2:52 AM3.3 ft
    • Low 9:56 AM-0.4 ft
    • High 3:48 PM2.7 ft
    • Low 9:46 PM0.8 ft

  2. Tue Oct 27

    • High 3:30 AM3.5 ft
    • Low 10:43 AM-0.5 ft
    • High 4:32 PM2.6 ft
    • Low 10:21 PM0.9 ft

  3. Wed Oct 28

    • High 4:09 AM3.6 ft
    • Low 11:31 AM-0.6 ft
    • High 5:18 PM2.4 ft
    • Low 10:56 PM1.0 ft

  4. Thu Oct 29

    • High 4:53 AM3.6 ft
    • Low 12:20 PM-0.5 ft
    • High 6:07 PM2.2 ft
    • Low 11:32 PM1.1 ft

  5. Fri Oct 30

    • High 5:41 AM3.5 ft
    • Low 1:14 PM-0.3 ft
    • High 7:01 PM2.0 ft

  6. Sat Oct 31

    • Low 12:09 AM1.1 ft
    • High 6:35 AM3.3 ft
    • Low 2:18 PM0.0 ft
    • High 8:03 PM1.8 ft

  7. Sun Nov 1

    • Low 12:54 AM1.2 ft
    • High 6:37 AM3.1 ft
    • Low 2:35 PM0.2 ft
    • High 8:09 PM1.8 ft
Show 30 Days
Predicted high and low tides, Mon Nov 2 to Tue Nov 24
DateHigh TidesLow Tides
Mon Nov 27:47 AM 2.8 ft9:10 PM 1.9 ft1:47 AM 1.3 ft3:48 PM 0.3 ft
Tue Nov 38:58 AM 2.6 ft10:07 PM 2.1 ft3:46 AM 1.2 ft4:47 PM 0.4 ft
Wed Nov 410:11 AM 2.5 ft11:01 PM 2.3 ft5:00 AM 0.9 ft5:35 PM 0.5 ft
Thu Nov 511:31 AM 2.4 ft11:48 PM 2.6 ft5:58 AM 0.6 ft6:16 PM 0.6 ft
Fri Nov 612:39 PM 2.4 ft6:46 AM 0.3 ft6:52 PM 0.7 ft
Sat Nov 712:27 AM 2.8 ft1:25 PM 2.4 ft7:29 AM 0.0 ft7:26 PM 0.8 ft
Sun Nov 81:02 AM 3.0 ft2:01 PM 2.4 ft8:11 AM -0.1 ft7:59 PM 0.9 ft
Mon Nov 91:35 AM 3.2 ft2:35 PM 2.4 ft8:51 AM -0.2 ft8:32 PM 1.0 ft
Tue Nov 102:09 AM 3.3 ft3:09 PM 2.4 ft9:32 AM -0.2 ft9:05 PM 1.0 ft
Wed Nov 112:45 AM 3.3 ft3:45 PM 2.3 ft10:12 AM -0.2 ft9:38 PM 1.1 ft
Thu Nov 123:23 AM 3.3 ft4:23 PM 2.2 ft10:51 AM -0.1 ft10:08 PM 1.1 ft
Fri Nov 134:03 AM 3.2 ft5:06 PM 2.1 ft11:31 AM 0.1 ft10:35 PM 1.1 ft
Sat Nov 144:48 AM 3.1 ft5:53 PM 2.0 ft12:13 PM 0.2 ft11:02 PM 1.2 ft
Sun Nov 155:37 AM 3.0 ft6:48 PM 1.9 ft1:05 PM 0.4 ft11:34 PM 1.3 ft
Mon Nov 166:33 AM 2.8 ft7:45 PM 1.9 ft2:13 PM 0.6 ft
Tue Nov 177:35 AM 2.6 ft8:38 PM 2.0 ft12:31 AM 1.3 ft3:22 PM 0.7 ft
Wed Nov 188:38 AM 2.5 ft9:27 PM 2.2 ft3:22 AM 1.3 ft4:18 PM 0.7 ft
Thu Nov 199:42 AM 2.4 ft10:16 PM 2.4 ft4:37 AM 1.0 ft5:04 PM 0.8 ft
Fri Nov 2010:52 AM 2.4 ft11:05 PM 2.7 ft5:33 AM 0.6 ft5:45 PM 0.9 ft
Sat Nov 2112:03 PM 2.4 ft11:54 PM 3.0 ft6:21 AM 0.3 ft6:21 PM 0.9 ft
Sun Nov 221:02 PM 2.5 ft7:07 AM -0.1 ft6:57 PM 1.0 ft
Mon Nov 2312:40 AM 3.3 ft1:51 PM 2.5 ft7:54 AM -0.3 ft7:33 PM 1.0 ft
Tue Nov 241:23 AM 3.5 ft2:37 PM 2.5 ft8:43 AM -0.5 ft8:11 PM 1.1 ft

Predicted tides from NOAA station Shell Island, north end. Wind can push the water higher or lower than predicted. NOAA Station Page ↗

Local Know-How

  1. Kings Bay is a manatee refuge with idle and slow speed zones, and its inner bay and canals are idle speed all year. The river slows again at the Rocks, the shallow junction of the Crystal and Salt rivers, so leave extra time to idle out from the city ramps and Kings Bay marinas.
  2. Opening day and the July 4 weekend bring heavy boat traffic between the Crystal River and Homosassa River mouths, and law enforcement steps up patrols. Idle carefully through the crowds.
  3. Don't dump scallop shells in the Crystal River or Homosassa River. Shell piles hurt swimmers and seagrass, so use a trash can or toss them in open water where they spread out.
  4. Check where a rental can go before you book. Twin Rivers Marina allows its boats on the designated scallop grounds no farther than Rock Island, while PaddleTail's Kings Bay pontoons are not allowed to go scalloping at all.
  5. The Citrus County ramps at Fort Island Trail Park and Fort Island Gulf Beach charge $10 a day, or $25 a year for county residents. Pay through the Premium Parking app, the QR code at the ramp, or by phone.

Getting Them Cleaned

  • Most Crystal River scallop charters don't include cleaning. Ask your captain who cleans at your dock before you book.
  • Local charters quote about $6 to $8 per gallon, or $25 to $35 for a 5 gallon bucket. Agree on the price first.
  • Independent cleaners work by the docks along Fort Island Trail in season.

Plantation on Crystal River Dock Cleaners and Shrimp Landing Marina Dock Shuckers are listed under Where to Launch.

Drive times: about 1 hour 30 minutes from Gainesville, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Tampa, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Orlando.

Other Towns in This Zone

Levy-Citrus-Hernando

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