Skip to content

2008 Scallop Season

Published on July 4, 2008 by Sherri Dodsworth under Cape San Blas, Forgotten Coast, Mexico Beach, Port St. Joe

This is the first weekend of the 2008 scallop season and the weather forecast looks good for people to get out in the bay and play. If you’re new to scalloping, here are a few guidelines to get you going.

First of all, you’ll need a current Florida fishing license. If you don’t have one you can pick one up at Scallop Cove BP here on the Cape. Stop by the bait and tackle shop and they’ll fix you right up. You’ll also want a mesh bag to put your bounty in and a good scallop knife to shuck ’em afterwards. If you’re not sure how to clean scallops, here’s a link to a great step-by-step lesson with photos.

Scallop in seagrass

Most seasons you’ll typically find the greatest concentrations of scallops in the southern part of the bay; around Black’s Island is usually pretty good. The best way to hunt for them is to snorkel over grass beds. They’re easiest to spot on a bright sunny day with very little surface wind.

Scallop in the sandThis early in the season you’re going to find a lot of really small ones. Please, resist the temptation to go for quantity vs. quality. The little ones aren’t worth shucking and they need to stay in the bay to mature. The best time to go scalloping is really late August or early September when the majority have grown to decent size.

There is a daily limit of 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat per person during the open season. In addition, no more than 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or one-half gallon of bay scallop meat may be possessed aboard any vessel at any time. The Marine Patrol is pretty active this time of year and the fines are hefty. If perhaps catching the big fish is more your thing, you should check out Key West for a fun day on your own guided charter in the best spots. Read More if you’re interested in a day like this!

If you do head out this weekend, happy hunting and be sure to slather on the sunscreen.

Be the first to comment

Thanks for leaving a comment. If you are new to leaving comments on my site, it will have to be approved before being posted.

Subscribe to the  Cape San Blas Blog

Follow along weekly from the convenience of your inbox.

Thanks for reaching out! I'll be in touch soon!

Coastal Realty Group
REALTOR logo Multiple Listing Service logo Equal Housing Opportunity logo

Property information provided by the REALTOR'S® Association of Franklin and Gulf Counties, Inc.. IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers personal, non-commercial use, and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. This data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS.

© 2024 Chris Petrie. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy Policy Site Map