Great result on opening day of Scallop Season
/Congratulations Nick Chesser, Evan Dodd, Mathew Valentine and Baxton Wicker for their great opening day haul.
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Scallop season opens today!
/From Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission:
Bay scallop season opens June 15 between the Fenholloway and Suwannee rivers
The 2021 recreational bay scallop season from the Fenholloway River through the Suwannee River opens June 15 and will remain open through Labor Day (Sept. 6, 2021). This includes all state waters in Dixie County and a portion of Taylor County and includes the towns of Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee.
The daily bag limit from June 15-30 in this area is one gallon of whole bay scallops in the shell or one cup shucked per person with a maximum of five gallons whole or two pints (four cups) shucked bay scallop meat per vessel.
From July 1 through Labor Day in this area, and for the duration of the open season in other areas, regular bag and vessel limits apply. Regular season limits are two gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat per person, with a maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1/2 gallon (four pints) shucked bay scallop meat per vessel. Throughout the season and region-wide, vessel limits do not allow an individual to exceed their personal bag limit.
Other regulations
Scallops may be collected by hand or with a landing or dip net.
There is no commercial harvest allowed for bay scallops in Florida.
Direct and continuous transit of legally harvested bay scallops is allowed through closed areas. Boaters may not stop their vessels in waters that are closed to harvest and must proceed directly to the dock or ramp to land scallops in a closed area.
For information on bay scallop regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “Bay Scallops” under the “Crabs, Lobster and other Shellfish” tab.
Boater and scalloper safety
Be safe when diving for scallops. Wear a life jacket when underway and do not drink and boat. When scalloping in open water, divers should stay within 300 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag or device, and within 100 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag or device if on a river, inlet or navigation channel. Boat operators traveling within 300 feet of a divers-down flag or device in open water or within 100 feet of one on a river, inlet or navigational channel must slow to idle speed. For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Boating/Regulations and click on “Divers-down Warning Devices.”
Stow it, don’t throw it
Don’t forget to stow your trash securely on your vessel so that it doesn’t blow out and do not discard empty scallop shells in the Homosassa or Crystal rivers. Scallop shells may be discarded in a trash receptacle or in larger bodies of water where they are more likely to disperse.
Citizen science
Done for the day? Help FWC’s scallop researchers by completing an online survey at svy.mk/bayscallops. Harvesters can indicate where they harvested scallops, how many they collected and how long it took to harvest them. Participants can email BayScallops@MyFWC.com to ask questions or send additional information.
Learn more about how FWC scientists monitor Florida’s scallops by visiting MyFWC.com/Research and clicking on “Saltwater,” “Bay Scallops” and “Bay Scallop Season and Abundance Survey.”
Results of the Hooked on Heroes 2021 Fishing Tournament
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This tournament was a fundraiser for the Hooked on Heroes Events. Hooked on Heroes works with many sponsors to take veterans fishing at no cost! They host their events twice a year and will use the proceeds from this benefit tournament to TAKE VETERANS FISHING!
Read MoreTaylor County Commission votes to name fire station in honor of Chad Reed→
/From WCJB:
Captain Chad Reed
STEINHATCHEE, Fla. (WCJB) - It is an honor 11 years in the making, the Taylor County Commission voted early this month to name fire station number 7 in Steinhatchee after Chad Reed. Reed was a Dixie County Sheriff’s captain in January 2010 when he was killed in the line of duty.
Growing up in Steinhatchee, Reed began helping his father fight fires as a young boy and later he became Dixie County’s head of emergency services.
2021 Hooked on Heroes Fishing Tournament
/From Sea Hag Marina:
This weekend is the Hooked on Heroes Benefit Tournament, May 22nd!
All proceeds go towards taking veterans fishing!
All types of boats are welcome to participate, entry fee is $50.
Captains meeting on Friday, May 21st at 6:00p.m. is MANDATORY.
All anglers must be in line on Saturday at 3:00p.m. for weigh-in.
Anglers must fish in waters from Horseshoe Beach Channel to Keaton Beach Channel and may only launch from areas within this boundary. Must bring your fish by Sea Hag without touching land prior to weigh-in.
OVER $3,000 worth of PRIZES!
Food truck & tiki bar will be open!
Sign up to fish, at Sea Hag Marina or any of the other locations listed below in the flyer!
This weekend is the Hooked on Heroes Benefit Tournament, May 22nd! All proceeds go towards taking veterans fishing! All...
Posted by Sea Hag Marina on Wednesday, May 19, 2021
