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Gulf Coast Scalloping
The Hodges Park fishing pier and breakwater at Keaton Beach

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Keaton Beach

Season over

The Short Answer

Keaton Beach is a Taylor County launch point for the Big Bend grass flats. Most scallopers put in at the county public ramp on Beach Road or the smaller Dark Island ramp just south, then usually run south to the flats near the Bird Rack. If you would rather wade, nearby Hagen's Cove is the one spot on this coast where people scallop from shore.

0Charters
3Public Ramps
0Rentals
1h 45mFrom Tallahassee

Fenholloway-Suwannee zone · Taylor County

Scallop Charters in Keaton Beach

All Charters

No charters listed here yet.

Run scallop trips from Keaton Beach? List your charter for free.

Where to Launch

  • Boat Ramp

    Hagen's Cove Launch (Big Bend WMA)

    • No entrance fee
    • 6 trailer spots
    • 1 lane

    Hundreds of waders come to scallop the shallows, where you can walk out a quarter mile or so and still be under waist deep.

    Ramp Details

  • Boat Ramp

    Keaton Beach Public Boat Ramp

    • $5 per day, drop box
    • 93 trailer spots
    • 2 lanes

    The ramp gets very busy during scallop season, so arrive early.

    Ramp Details

  • Boat Ramp

    Dark Island Public Boat Ramp

    • $5, drop box
    • 5 trailer spots
    • 1 lane

    Hurricane Helene damaged this ramp, so check that it is open before you go.

  • Marina

    Spring Warrior Fish Camp

    • $5 launch
    • 6 trailer spots
    • 1 lane

    Privately owned ramp open to the public on Spring Warrior Creek, north of Keaton Beach.

    Website ↗

Tides This Week

Tides · Hagens Cove

High at 3:19 PM

  • Low 8:57 AM
  • Low 8:46 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 2:07 AM4.2 ft
    • Low 8:57 AM-0.6 ft
    • High 3:19 PM3.6 ft
    • Low 8:46 PM1.4 ft

  2. Tue Oct 27

    • High 2:38 AM4.3 ft
    • Low 9:39 AM-0.8 ft
    • High 4:07 PM3.4 ft
    • Low 9:19 PM1.6 ft

  3. Wed Oct 28

    • High 3:12 AM4.3 ft
    • Low 10:24 AM-0.8 ft
    • High 5:00 PM3.2 ft
    • Low 9:51 PM1.8 ft

  4. Thu Oct 29

    • High 3:50 AM4.2 ft
    • Low 11:12 AM-0.7 ft
    • High 6:00 PM2.9 ft
    • Low 10:23 PM2.0 ft

  5. Fri Oct 30

    • High 4:33 AM4.0 ft
    • Low 12:07 PM-0.4 ft
    • High 7:13 PM2.7 ft
    • Low 10:56 PM2.2 ft

  6. Sat Oct 31

    • High 5:25 AM3.7 ft
    • Low 1:21 PM0.0 ft
    • High 8:33 PM2.6 ft
    • Low 11:42 PM2.3 ft

  7. Sun Nov 1

    • High 5:37 AM3.3 ft
    • Low 1:55 PM0.2 ft
    • High 8:47 PM2.6 ft
Show 30 Days
Predicted high and low tides, Mon Nov 2 to Tue Nov 24
DateHigh TidesLow Tides
Mon Nov 27:11 AM 3.0 ft9:48 PM 2.8 ft2:38 AM 2.2 ft3:12 PM 0.4 ft
Tue Nov 38:46 AM 2.8 ft10:29 PM 3.0 ft3:59 AM 1.8 ft4:10 PM 0.5 ft
Wed Nov 410:16 AM 2.8 ft11:01 PM 3.2 ft4:53 AM 1.2 ft4:57 PM 0.7 ft
Thu Nov 511:27 AM 2.9 ft11:29 PM 3.5 ft5:36 AM 0.7 ft5:36 PM 0.9 ft
Fri Nov 612:18 PM 3.0 ft11:57 PM 3.7 ft6:15 AM 0.2 ft6:09 PM 1.1 ft
Sat Nov 712:59 PM 3.1 ft6:51 AM -0.1 ft6:39 PM 1.2 ft
Sun Nov 812:23 AM 3.8 ft1:36 PM 3.1 ft7:25 AM -0.4 ft7:06 PM 1.4 ft
Mon Nov 912:50 AM 3.9 ft2:12 PM 3.1 ft7:58 AM -0.5 ft7:31 PM 1.5 ft
Tue Nov 101:18 AM 3.9 ft2:49 PM 3.0 ft8:31 AM -0.5 ft7:55 PM 1.6 ft
Wed Nov 111:47 AM 3.9 ft3:27 PM 2.8 ft9:04 AM -0.5 ft8:18 PM 1.7 ft
Thu Nov 122:18 AM 3.8 ft4:08 PM 2.7 ft9:37 AM -0.3 ft8:42 PM 1.8 ft
Fri Nov 132:51 AM 3.6 ft4:56 PM 2.5 ft10:11 AM -0.1 ft9:09 PM 1.8 ft
Sat Nov 143:29 AM 3.4 ft5:54 PM 2.4 ft10:49 AM 0.1 ft9:42 PM 1.9 ft
Sun Nov 154:14 AM 3.2 ft6:56 PM 2.4 ft11:35 AM 0.3 ft10:26 PM 2.0 ft
Mon Nov 165:14 AM 2.9 ft7:53 PM 2.4 ft12:41 PM 0.5 ft11:56 PM 2.0 ft
Tue Nov 176:35 AM 2.7 ft8:42 PM 2.6 ft2:08 PM 0.7 ft
Wed Nov 188:02 AM 2.5 ft9:26 PM 2.8 ft3:25 AM 1.7 ft3:13 PM 0.8 ft
Thu Nov 199:28 AM 2.5 ft10:06 PM 3.1 ft4:19 AM 1.2 ft4:03 PM 0.8 ft
Fri Nov 2010:48 AM 2.7 ft10:45 PM 3.3 ft5:01 AM 0.6 ft4:47 PM 1.0 ft
Sat Nov 2111:50 AM 2.9 ft11:22 PM 3.6 ft5:40 AM 0.0 ft5:26 PM 1.1 ft
Sun Nov 2212:42 PM 3.1 ft11:59 PM 3.9 ft6:20 AM -0.5 ft6:05 PM 1.2 ft
Mon Nov 231:31 PM 3.2 ft7:02 AM -0.9 ft6:43 PM 1.4 ft
Tue Nov 2412:36 AM 4.1 ft2:19 PM 3.1 ft7:48 AM -1.2 ft7:22 PM 1.5 ft

Predicted tides from NOAA station Hagens Cove. Wind can push the water higher or lower than predicted. NOAA Station Page ↗

Local Know-How

  1. Hagen's Cove, a few miles south of Keaton Beach in the Big Bend WMA, is the place to wade for scallops. The shore is shallow, so expect to walk out a quarter mile or so in water that can still be under waist deep. There is no entrance fee.
  2. The Fenholloway River zone line sits at Rock Island, north of Keaton Beach, and waters past it are in the Franklin to NW Taylor zone, which opens July 1. While you have scallops aboard, you must stay in an open zone, including where you land.
  3. Water north of Steinhatchee toward Keaton Beach tends to be clearer because fewer rivers drain into it, but heavy rain can still stain the water near creek and river mouths. Run out onto the flats until the water clears.
  4. Keaton Beach is one of the region's busiest launch points, and the public ramp gets very crowded in season. Go early or mid week.
  5. Hurricane Helene damaged the Keaton Beach and Dark Island ramps in 2024. Taylor County awarded repair contracts in spring 2025, and both ramps were open as of October 2026.

Getting Them Cleaned

  • No paid scallop cleaning business at Keaton Beach could be confirmed. Plan to clean your own catch.
  • Steinhatchee, about 18 miles south, is the nearest town where freelance scallop cleaners work in season.

Drive times: about 1 hour 45 minutes from Tallahassee, about 2 hours 15 minutes from Gainesville.

Other Towns in This Zone

Fenholloway-Suwannee

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