Skip to content
Gulf Coast Scalloping
The Hernando Beach flats and channel, from the air

Greetings from

Hernando Beach & Weeki Wachee

Season over

The Short Answer

Hernando Beach, Bayport and Weeki Wachee are the scallop launch points at the southern end of the open harvest range, with about 250,000 acres of seagrass offshore. Plan on a boat trip: most Hernando scallops are at least 4 to 5 miles offshore in about 5 to 10 feet of water. Hernando is in the Levy, Citrus and Hernando zone (July 1 to September 24), unlike Pasco next door.

8Charters
3Public Ramps
2Rentals
1h 15mFrom Tampa

Levy-Citrus-Hernando zone · Hernando County

Scallop Charters in Hernando Beach & Weeki Wachee

All Charters

See All Charters in the Levy-Citrus-Hernando Zone

Where to Launch

  • Boat Ramp

    Bayport Park Boat Ramp

    • 24 trailer spots
    • 3 lanes
    • Open 24 hours

    The renovated park has an overhauled boat ramp and more parking for cars and trailers.

    Ramp Details

  • Boat Ramp

    Hernando Beach Public Boat Ramp

    • $10 per day or $53.25 per year
    • 65 trailer spots
    • 4 lanes

    Several scallop charters, including Angling Adventures, depart from this ramp.

    Ramp Details

  • Boat Ramp

    Jenkins Creek Park Boat Ramp

    • 9 trailer spots
    • 1 lane
    • Open 24 hours

    The launch is for small boats or canoes only.

    Website ↗

  • Marina

    Mary's Fish Camp

    • $10 launch per kayak or boat
    • Camp store 8 AM to 6 PM daily

    Old Florida fish camp from 1946 on the spring fed Mud River, with quick access to the Gulf.

    Website ↗(352) 597-3474

  • Marina

    Norfleet Fish Camp

    • $5 launch, paid to attendant
    • 6 trailer spots
    • 1 lane

    Known locally as Carl's Store, at the Hammock Creek bridge in Aripeka.

    Website ↗

  • Boat Rental

    Hernando Beach Motel and Boat Rental

    • 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily

    Rents an 11 boat pontoon fleet, and the onsite shop rents snorkel gear.

    Website ↗(352) 596-2527

  • Scallop Cleaner

    Scallop Charters & More

    • $8 per gallon (2026 season)
    • Posted 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

    Cleans scallops at Mary's Fish Camp in Bayport. Call to ask whether they clean for private boaters.

    Website ↗352-361-0731

Tides This Week

Tides · Hernando Beach

High at 2:55 PM

  • Low 9:46 AM
  • Low 9:49 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 1:32 AM3.4 ft
    • Low 9:46 AM-0.3 ft
    • High 2:55 PM3.1 ft
    • Low 9:49 PM1.2 ft

  2. Tue Oct 27

    • High 2:04 AM3.6 ft
    • Low 10:29 AM-0.5 ft
    • High 3:44 PM3.0 ft
    • Low 10:26 PM1.3 ft

  3. Wed Oct 28

    • High 2:38 AM3.7 ft
    • Low 11:14 AM-0.5 ft
    • High 4:34 PM2.9 ft
    • Low 11:04 PM1.4 ft

  4. Thu Oct 29

    • High 3:17 AM3.7 ft
    • Low 12:02 PM-0.5 ft
    • High 5:27 PM2.7 ft
    • Low 11:44 PM1.5 ft

  5. Fri Oct 30

    • High 4:00 AM3.6 ft
    • Low 12:53 PM-0.3 ft
    • High 6:21 PM2.5 ft

  6. Sat Oct 31

    • Low 12:30 AM1.6 ft
    • High 4:51 AM3.5 ft
    • Low 1:48 PM0.0 ft
    • High 7:19 PM2.4 ft

  7. Sun Nov 1

    • Low 1:26 AM1.6 ft
    • High 4:52 AM3.2 ft
    • Low 1:50 PM0.3 ft
    • High 7:24 PM2.3 ft
Show 30 Days
Predicted high and low tides, Mon Nov 2 to Tue Nov 24
DateHigh TidesLow Tides
Mon Nov 26:09 AM 2.9 ft8:32 PM 2.3 ft1:39 AM 1.6 ft3:04 PM 0.6 ft
Tue Nov 37:53 AM 2.7 ft9:27 PM 2.5 ft3:11 AM 1.4 ft4:18 PM 0.8 ft
Wed Nov 49:36 AM 2.7 ft10:10 PM 2.7 ft4:39 AM 1.1 ft5:20 PM 0.9 ft
Thu Nov 510:53 AM 2.7 ft10:48 PM 2.9 ft5:49 AM 0.7 ft6:10 PM 1.0 ft
Fri Nov 611:54 AM 2.8 ft11:21 PM 3.1 ft6:45 AM 0.3 ft6:53 PM 1.1 ft
Sat Nov 712:42 PM 2.9 ft11:53 PM 3.2 ft7:32 AM -0.1 ft7:30 PM 1.2 ft
Sun Nov 81:24 PM 2.9 ft8:13 AM -0.3 ft8:04 PM 1.2 ft
Mon Nov 912:23 AM 3.3 ft2:02 PM 2.8 ft8:49 AM -0.4 ft8:37 PM 1.3 ft
Tue Nov 1012:53 AM 3.3 ft2:38 PM 2.8 ft9:23 AM -0.4 ft9:10 PM 1.3 ft
Wed Nov 111:22 AM 3.3 ft3:14 PM 2.7 ft9:56 AM -0.3 ft9:42 PM 1.4 ft
Thu Nov 121:53 AM 3.3 ft3:51 PM 2.6 ft10:29 AM -0.2 ft10:16 PM 1.4 ft
Fri Nov 132:26 AM 3.2 ft4:27 PM 2.5 ft11:03 AM -0.1 ft10:51 PM 1.4 ft
Sat Nov 143:03 AM 3.1 ft5:05 PM 2.4 ft11:39 AM 0.0 ft11:32 PM 1.4 ft
Sun Nov 153:45 AM 3.0 ft5:46 PM 2.4 ft12:19 PM 0.2 ft
Mon Nov 164:35 AM 2.8 ft6:33 PM 2.3 ft12:19 AM 1.4 ft1:04 PM 0.4 ft
Tue Nov 175:38 AM 2.6 ft7:27 PM 2.3 ft1:19 AM 1.4 ft2:00 PM 0.6 ft
Wed Nov 187:00 AM 2.4 ft8:24 PM 2.4 ft2:35 AM 1.3 ft3:06 PM 0.7 ft
Thu Nov 198:37 AM 2.3 ft9:13 PM 2.6 ft3:56 AM 1.0 ft4:12 PM 0.9 ft
Fri Nov 2010:01 AM 2.4 ft9:56 PM 2.8 ft5:05 AM 0.6 ft5:11 PM 1.0 ft
Sat Nov 2111:11 AM 2.6 ft10:36 PM 3.0 ft6:03 AM 0.2 ft6:04 PM 1.0 ft
Sun Nov 2212:11 PM 2.7 ft11:15 PM 3.2 ft6:56 AM -0.2 ft6:53 PM 1.1 ft
Mon Nov 231:05 PM 2.8 ft11:54 PM 3.4 ft7:45 AM -0.6 ft7:39 PM 1.2 ft
Tue Nov 241:56 PM 2.8 ft8:32 AM -0.8 ft8:23 PM 1.3 ft

Predicted tides from NOAA station Hernando Beach, Rocky Creek, Little Pine I. Bay. Wind can push the water higher or lower than predicted. NOAA Station Page ↗

Local Know-How

  1. The scallops are well offshore, most at least 4 to 5 miles out. Kayaking to them is not a good plan, and wading from shore rarely finds more than a handful.
  2. River water affects the near shore. Fresh water from the Weeki Wachee and Chassahowitzka rivers makes the coast near Bayport and Hernando Beach less salty, and scallops do better in saltier water farther out.
  3. Watch the tides and shallows on the way out. Areas between the launch points and the grounds can get very shallow, and depth, clarity and current change quickly with the tide. Trim up or idle to protect the seagrass and your lower unit.
  4. Stay in the marked channels and watch for rocks. Hernando County keeps lighted markers on the Hernando Beach, Bayport and Aripeka channels, and there are danger rocks offshore at spots such as Middle Rock, Cutter Rock and Gomez Rocks.
  5. Know where the zone line is. Hernando stayed open through September 24, 2026, but the Pasco zone just south of the county line (Aripeka area) closed August 6, 2026 because of a toxin producing algae. County ramps take pay by phone parking at $10 a day or $53.25 a year.

Getting Them Cleaned

  • Scallop Charters & More at Mary's Fish Camp lists cleaning at $8 per gallon. Call to ask whether they clean for private boaters.
  • Some charters here include cleaning and others charge extra. Ask about cleaning when you book.

Scallop Charters & More is listed under Where to Launch.

Drive times: about 1 hour 15 minutes from Tampa, about 2 hours 15 minutes from Orlando, about 2 hours 30 minutes from Gainesville.

Other Towns in This Zone

Levy-Citrus-Hernando

Something changed in Hernando Beach & Weeki Wachee? Tell us