Reel Talk: Walk along the natural coast
TAMPA, Florida (FloridaToday.news). Scalloping is a popular family activity during the summer months in Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco counties, as well as the Big Bend area of Florida.
Amanda’s favorite way to describe scallops is an Easter egg spear hunt for mini cheeseburgers with blue ketchup, which represents their electric blue eyes surrounding the edge of their shell.
Earlier this week, Amanda Holly took a road trip around Pasco County to see what scallops look like this year. She collected just under two gallons in about two hours, which is a pretty decent haul.
Captain Jared Simonetti of the Clearwater Fishing Company anchored just four feet of water north of the Anclote River. All you need is your snorkel gear, mask, snorkel and fins because you are usually in 2 to 8 feet of clear and comfortable water.
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Although scallops are not very large, they are easy to find even for children if you spend a little time looking. They sit on top and on grass beds. Just a warning, this can be addictive when you try to fill a bucket.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, you are allowed to fish two gallons of their shell per person per day. However, the total volume of the boat cannot exceed 10 gallons, so even if there are six people on your boat, the total volume of the boat will be 10 gallons.
The season in Citrus and Hernando counties will run until September 24. Pasco County usually has a very short season of just 10 days at the end of July, but this year it’s a 37-day season that runs until August 6th.
