Treasures from the Shallows: Scalloping on Florida’s Sports Coast

As the summer sun beat down on the emerald waters of Pasco County, Florida, a treasure hunt unfolded beneath me. We glided through the clear shallows of the gulf waters, our eyes scanning the seagrass below for telltale flashes of blue – the tiny eyes of bay scallops peeking out from their fan-shaped shells.

“When the sun hits just right, depending on the angle you’re swimming, you’ll see all the blue eyes,” said Captain Mark Dillingham of Captain Mark’s Inshore Adventures, a local fishing charter. “It’s like they’re treading in the water and moving around.”

This annual ritual, known as recreational scalloping, has become a beloved summer tradition along Florida’s Gulf Coast, and I was trying it for the first time.

Scalloping on Florida’s Sports Coast

In Pasco County, marketed as “Florida’s Sports Coast,” scalloping season typically runs for about 40 days in July and August, and locals and visitors alike converge to this community, located roughly 45 minutes from Tampa to don masks and fins to gather these briny delicacies by hand.

“It’s basically like they look like a seashell that you would find on a beach,” says Captain Mark. “A lot of times their shells will be open, sometimes they’re closed.”

The shallow, grassy beds of the Gulf of Mexico provide ideal habitat for bay scallops. Unlike their larger deep-water cousins, these scallops thrive in waters as shallow as 4-8 feet deep. The normally green, emerald waters of the gulf were silty and brown from water runoff from August’s Hurricane Debby, so we had to head farther out for the water to clear up a bit.

“You’re swimming for the scallops,” Captain Mark said. “When you spot them, dive down. It takes a little practice because the white of their shells are on the bottom. But once you know what you are looking for, you’ll see them all over.”

A Scalloping Season Cut Short for Sustainability

This year, the 2024 scalloping season in Pasco County was cut dramatically short. Just days after opening in mid-July, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made the difficult decision to close the season on July 24 due to unsafe levels of toxins in the water caused by algae blooms. That closure has continued into the official last day of scalloping in Pasco County, which was a blow to scalloping fans and the businesses that support the industry.

“The season was so good at first,” Captain Mark said. “Everybody was getting their four gallons, five gallons, 10 gallons, whatever. They were doing it in 45 minutes to an hour and a half.”

With scallops being harvested at such a rapid rate, other concerns grew about the long-term sustainability of the humble creature. Bay scallops have a relatively short lifespan of only 12-18 months, making them vulnerable to overharvesting.

“I just believe if we don’t slow this down, there won’t be a scallop season next year,’” Captain Mark said. “If you take too many, there won’t be enough here to spawn again.”

It’s a delicate balance between allowing recreational harvesting and ensuring enough scallops remain to reproduce and sustain the population. In recent years, Pasco County has become an increasingly popular scalloping destination, adding pressure to the local scallop beds.

“You have Hillsborough and Pinellas County and everything to the south of us. A lot of these people are coming here now instead of going all the way north into Hernando and Citrus going into the Homosassa River,” said Raul Nardi, marketing and communications manager of Florida’s Sports Coast. “They don’t have to go to those counties to scallop now. Now this is a lot closer.”

A New Tool for Conservation

To promote more sustainable scalloping harvesting practices, Florida Sea Grant created a pocket-sized tool designed for measuring scallops. This simple plastic gauge allows divers to quickly measure scallops underwater and determine if they are large enough to legally harvest.

“It’s an initiative that’s happening throughout Florida,” said Nardi. “It’s basically this square, plastic tool with a round circle in the center. Whenever we catch these scallops, if they can fall through the hole, then they’re too small. That means they haven’t had a chance to spawn and reproduce. If they don’t go through the hole, then they’re good for catching.”

The scallop sorter represents a shift towards more active management of the recreational scallop fishery. By encouraging divers to release undersized scallops, the hope is that more will survive to reproduce and bolster future populations. In the past, scallopers used the bottom of soda cans to measure their haul. But in 2022, Florida Sea Grant and the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) knew a standard tool would help protect the species from a population collapse, like the one that occurred 24 years ago.

Tour operators, scallopers and counties embraced the new system. They even suggested increasing the hole size to 2 inches to leave more scallops behind. In 2024, the scallop sorter took on an orange and blue color scheme for better visibility in the water. “The county really pushed that and implemented the sorter so we can have size limits,” Captain Mark said. “Before, no one was really going through and trying to size them. I think this is a good thing.”

Looking to the Future

As Pasco County officials and wildlife managers work to find a sustainable path forward for recreational scalloping, there’s hope that this beloved summer tradition can continue for generations to come.  While disappointing, the early closure of the 2024 season may help ensure healthier scallop populations in the years ahead.

For Captain Mark and other local charter operators, scalloping trips offer a unique way to introduce visitors to the beauty of Florida’s Gulf Coast.

“If you’ve never done it, it’s kind of an adrenaline rush,” he said. “You’ll see people who have never caught a scallop or a big fish, and the excitement that comes over them when they catch their first one… it’s fun to see.”

I was one of those excited first timers. Donning my snorkeling mask, I eased into the balmy waters of Florida’s gulf. Within seconds, I spotted the tell-tale sign of my first scallop. I dove under and grabbed it yelling “I got one!” as I broke the surface.

By the end of the day, our catch yielded well over 50 scallops, all of which were returned to the waters. And although I love scallops as a meal, I didn’t feel too disappointed about letting them go. Sometimes, a little moderation goes a long way in the health of a species.

For now, the scallops of Pasco County have been granted a reprieve – a chance to grow and reproduce until next summer’s season. And when the waters clear and the blue eyes of the scallops once again peek out from the seagrass, a new generation of snorkelers will likely be there, ready to experience the thrill of the hunt in Florida’s rich coastal waters.

Pasco County’s Top Attraction

There’s no question scalloping rules as Pasco County’s top attraction. For those lucky enough to gather a legal limit of mature scallops, the real treat comes later – on the dinner table — where bay scallops showcase their sweet, delicate flavor.

“A lot of people are surprised when I tell them they could eat them raw,” Captain Mark said. “We clean them right on the boat, and people are surprised just how sweet they are.”

While some enjoy them raw, there are countless ways to prepare bay scallops. Captain Mark shared some of his favorite methods.

“You can cook them on the half shell, or you can throw them in an oven or on the grill with seasonings, butter, garlic and different things,” he said. “You can fry them, too. I like them fried, but I also like them on the half shell with a blackened seasoning.”

More Things to Do in Pasco County

Marketed as Florida’s Sports Coast, Pasco County, is emerging as a popular destination for travelers seeking a diverse blend of outdoor adventures, water activities and sporting events. This unique region offers visitors a chance to experience Florida beyond the typical beach vacation.

“We don’t have just one major city that we broadcast. We really have about six larger cities that are within our county,” said Nardi. “These include New Port Richey, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and others, each offering its own distinct attractions.”

The area boasts premier facilities like the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus. This 98,000 square foot venue hosts basketball, volleyball, fencing, pickleball tournaments, and more. Additionally, Pasco County offers a wealth of outdoor activities including fishing charters, scalloping, kayaking and paddle boarding. At the Lift Adventure Park, visitors even try cable wakeboarding.

Also located in Pasco County, Zephyrhills houses Skydive City, “known throughout the world as one of the premier facilities for skydiving,” said Nardi.

For those seeking a more relaxed adventure, Strong Tower Winery offers wine tastings made from locally grown grapes. Sun West Park, a former limestone quarry turned freshwater lake, offers swimming and sunbathing.

Where to Stay:

In New Port Richey, The Hacienda Hotel, a pink historic landmark hotel built in 1927, offers a glimpse into Florida’s past. In its heyday, the town became known as the “Hollywood of the East” — a moniker earned due to the influx of movie stars and celebrities, such as Thomas Meighan and Gene Sarazen. They envisioned the city as a glamorous hub for the film industry. This dream led to a building boom, including landmarks like the Meighan Theatre and the Hacienda Hotel.

 

Click Here for Discounted Accommodations in Pasco County, Florida.