MacRae's Public Boat Ramp
- $10 a day
- 35 trailer spots
- 2 lanes
Pay through the Premium Parking app, the QR code at the ramp, or by calling (844) 236-2011.
The Short Answer
Homosassa is one of the two main scallop towns in Citrus County, in the Levy, Citrus and Hernando zone. Boats launch at the county ramp at MacRae's, Mason Creek or the Chassahowitzka River, then run several miles down the Homosassa River to the Gulf. Plan on about 90 minutes to the grass in a rental pontoon. The grounds sit about 2 to 3 miles from shore in roughly 4 to 8 feet of water.
15Charters
3Public Ramps
4Rentals
1h 30mFrom Tampa
Levy-Citrus-Hernando zone · Citrus County
Scallop Charters in Homosassa
All Charters
HomosassaHomosassa Fishing ChartersCall to book$400
HomosassaHomosassa Inshore FishingCall to book
HomosassaBuccaneer West Coast ChartersCall to book$450
HomosassaCaptain Rick Spratt Charter Fishing LLCCall to book$500
HomosassaRod's Florida Charter ServiceCall to book$689
HomosassaMellow Mangrove ChartersCall to book
Where to Launch
Boat Ramp Boat Ramp Chassahowitzka River Boat Ramp
- 24 trailer spots
- 1 lane
- Daylight hours
Call ahead to confirm the fee.
Boat Ramp Mason Creek Public Boat Ramp
- Free launch
- 5 trailer spots
- 1 lane
Small single lane ramp off the Homosassa River with no dock and no restrooms.
Marina Riverhaven Marina
- $20 launch
- 35 trailer spots
- 1 lane
A commercially owned ramp open to the public on the Homosassa River, next to MacRae's.
Boat Rental Homosassa Springs Marina
Rents 21 pontoons in 20, 22 and 24 foot sizes, holding 6, 10 and 12 people, for scalloping.
Boat Rental MacRae's of Homosassa
Reserve pontoons by phone.
Boat Rental Monkey Island Riverside Resort Marina
- Rentals 8 AM to 4 PM
Rental hours are extended during scallop season, and pontoons must be picked up by 9 AM.
Boat Rental River Safaris Pontoon Rentals
- Full day 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Plan on about a 90 minute ride to the scallop grounds, about 7 miles to the Gulf.
Tides This Week
Tides · Homosassa River Mouth
High at 3:54 AM
- Low 11:06 AM
- Low 10:24 PM
Check the tide before you leave the ramp. A falling tide can strand a boat on a shallow grass flat.
Today · Mon Oct 26
- High 3:54 AM2.0 ft
- Low 11:06 AM-0.4 ft
- High 4:54 PM1.3 ft
- Low 10:24 PM0.5 ft
Tue Oct 27
- High 4:30 AM2.2 ft
- Low 12:00 PM-0.5 ft
- High 5:36 PM1.2 ft
- Low 10:48 PM0.5 ft
Wed Oct 28
- High 5:12 AM2.3 ft
- Low 12:54 PM-0.5 ft
- High 6:24 PM1.1 ft
- Low 11:06 PM0.5 ft
Thu Oct 29
- High 6:00 AM2.4 ft
- Low 1:42 PM-0.4 ft
- High 7:12 PM0.9 ft
- Low 11:30 PM0.5 ft
Fri Oct 30
- High 6:48 AM2.3 ft
- Low 2:42 PM-0.3 ft
- High 8:00 PM0.8 ft
Sat Oct 31
- Low 12:00 AM0.5 ft
- High 7:42 AM2.2 ft
- Low 3:54 PM-0.1 ft
- High 8:54 PM0.7 ft
Sun Nov 1
- Low 12:36 AM0.5 ft
- High 7:42 AM2.1 ft
- Low 4:18 PM0.0 ft
- High 8:54 PM0.7 ft
Show 30 DaysHide 30 Days
| Date | High Tides | Low Tides |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Nov 2 | 8:48 AM 1.9 ft10:00 PM 0.8 ft | 12:18 AM 0.5 ft5:24 PM 0.1 ft |
| Tue Nov 3 | 9:54 AM 1.7 ft10:54 PM 0.9 ft | 3:30 AM 0.6 ft6:18 PM 0.2 ft |
| Wed Nov 4 | 11:06 AM 1.5 ft11:42 PM 1.1 ft | 5:42 AM 0.5 ft7:00 PM 0.3 ft |
| Thu Nov 5 | 12:24 PM 1.3 ft | 7:00 AM 0.3 ft7:30 PM 0.4 ft |
| Fri Nov 6 | 12:36 AM 1.4 ft1:42 PM 1.2 ft | 8:00 AM 0.1 ft7:54 PM 0.5 ft |
| Sat Nov 7 | 1:18 AM 1.6 ft2:36 PM 1.2 ft | 8:48 AM -0.1 ft8:18 PM 0.5 ft |
| Sun Nov 8 | 2:00 AM 1.8 ft3:12 PM 1.1 ft | 9:30 AM -0.2 ft8:42 PM 0.5 ft |
| Mon Nov 9 | 2:36 AM 2.0 ft3:42 PM 1.1 ft | 10:12 AM -0.3 ft9:06 PM 0.6 ft |
| Tue Nov 10 | 3:12 AM 2.1 ft4:12 PM 1.1 ft | 10:54 AM -0.3 ft9:24 PM 0.6 ft |
| Wed Nov 11 | 3:48 AM 2.1 ft4:48 PM 1.0 ft | 11:30 AM -0.2 ft9:48 PM 0.5 ft |
| Thu Nov 12 | 4:28 AM 2.1 ft5:24 PM 1.0 ft | 12:12 PM -0.2 ft10:11 PM 0.5 ft |
| Fri Nov 13 | 5:11 AM 2.1 ft6:04 PM 0.9 ft | 12:51 PM -0.1 ft10:39 PM 0.5 ft |
| Sat Nov 14 | 5:58 AM 2.0 ft6:48 PM 0.9 ft | 1:35 PM 0.0 ft11:13 PM 0.5 ft |
| Sun Nov 15 | 6:47 AM 1.9 ft7:37 PM 0.8 ft | 2:30 PM 0.2 ft11:50 PM 0.5 ft |
| Mon Nov 16 | 7:41 AM 1.8 ft8:33 PM 0.8 ft | 3:44 PM 0.3 ft |
| Tue Nov 17 | 8:40 AM 1.7 ft9:29 PM 0.9 ft | 12:33 AM 0.5 ft4:49 PM 0.3 ft |
| Wed Nov 18 | 9:40 AM 1.6 ft10:21 PM 1.1 ft | 1:39 AM 0.6 ft5:36 PM 0.4 ft |
| Thu Nov 19 | 10:41 AM 1.4 ft11:09 PM 1.3 ft | 5:05 AM 0.5 ft6:13 PM 0.4 ft |
| Fri Nov 20 | 11:46 AM 1.3 ft11:59 PM 1.5 ft | 6:26 AM 0.3 ft6:44 PM 0.5 ft |
| Sat Nov 21 | 1:00 PM 1.2 ft | 7:27 AM 0.1 ft7:12 PM 0.5 ft |
| Sun Nov 22 | 12:49 AM 1.7 ft2:07 PM 1.2 ft | 8:20 AM -0.2 ft7:38 PM 0.6 ft |
| Mon Nov 23 | 1:38 AM 2.0 ft2:59 PM 1.1 ft | 9:11 AM -0.4 ft8:04 PM 0.6 ft |
| Tue Nov 24 | 2:24 AM 2.2 ft3:44 PM 1.1 ft | 10:05 AM -0.5 ft8:30 PM 0.6 ft |
Predicted tides from NOAA station Tuckers Island, Homosassa River. Wind can push the water higher or lower than predicted. NOAA Station Page ↗
Local Know-How
- Plan for a long ride: it is about 7 miles from the River Safaris marina to the Gulf and about 90 minutes to the scallop grounds in a rental pontoon. Follow the channel to Marker 8 and turn north for about 10 minutes; you rarely need to go past the St. Martins Keys. Some guides turn south instead, toward the flats off the Chassahowitzka River mouth.
- The river has manatee speed zones. The limit is 25 mph in the main marked channel of the Homosassa River, slow speed outside the channel in the lower river, and idle speed year round in some stretches, including near Shell Island and upriver from Otter Creek toward Monkey Island.
- Do not dump shells in the river. Shell piles in busy inshore waters such as the Homosassa River hurt swimmers and seagrass, so use a trash can or open water where shells disperse.
- Expect crowds. You may find several hundred boats anchored together about 2 miles out, and the waters between the Homosassa and Crystal River mouths get packed. The best scalloping is usually in July and early August, before the beds get worked over, and weekend dates fill fast.
- The MacRae's county ramp charges $10 a day, or $25 a year with a Citrus resident annual pass, paid through the Premium Parking app, the QR code at the ramp or by phone. Mason Creek and Chassahowitzka are not county fee ramps, but check the sign when you launch. For cleaning, guides and dock staff can arrange local shuckers at the docks for about $5 per gallon.
Getting Them Cleaned
- Shuckers often wait at the MacRae's dock in Old Homosassa during scallop season, especially on weekends.
- Many Homosassa captains arrange dockside cleaning with local shuckers for their guests. Ask when you book.
- Shuckers can thin out late in the season, so be ready to clean your own after mid-September.
Drive times: about 1 hour 30 minutes from Tampa, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Gainesville, about 2 hours from Orlando.
Other Towns in This Zone
Levy-Citrus-Hernando
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