Scallop Season is Here! West Coast Gold

By Capt. Rick Burns

With the month of July here, scallop season is in full swing and runs through midSeptember. Its good fun, a nice way to cool off, beat the summer heat and something the whole family can enjoy. And oh yes, the best part, preparing and eating them. But just in case you weren’t aware, there are only 3 major good areas left in the whole state of Florida for harvesting these bivalve mollusks. Port St. Joe area up in the panhandle, Steinhatchee, Keaton area in the Big Bend, and Citrus County Scallop grounds, Crystal River, Homosassa area. There was a time when most of Florida enjoyed Scallop harvesting. One of the main reasons there are only limited populations is because of coastal growth, urban development and human population growth in the state which unfortunately brings with it less habitat and lesser water quality. Scallops must have clean water quality and vast grass beds to populate grow and thrive. These few areas mentioned still have the features vital to sustaining healthy stocks. Our many spring fed rivers help in maintaining this quality.

Here are some guidelines to insure a happy trip out for the “white gold of the gulf”.

First off, it can be quite busy at the ramp, on the river, and out at the picking’ grounds. The very best thing to do is to hire a guide. But if you must adventure yourself, please remember to be respectful, and cautious when navigating in and around these waters.

Preliminary reports are very good. So it should make for adequate collections this season. For a successful harvest, here’s a tip you’ll only read and see here. Don’t go the first week the season opens, you’ll spend most of your vacation time trying to find ‘em. Wait till reports come in, and where people are going to get ‘em, then when you’re ready to go out wait till around 10:00 a.m. then look for the boat armada. The year before last, most all scallops where taken in a totally different place than last year.

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS - If you’re between 16 and 65, you must have a current saltwater fishing license unless you are fishing (scalloping) with a for-hire vessel that has a valid vessel license. Check with the marina, but most marinas don’t allow their rental vessels to go as far out to where the scallop grounds are. Recreational harvesters are limited to 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell, or 1 pint of scallop meat per person, per day. In addition, no more than 10 gallons of whole scallops or ½ gallon of meats may be possessed aboard any vessel at any time.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED - A “diver’s down” flag (20”x24”) must be displayed from your boat when divers are in the water. A mask, snorkel, (fins optional) and a small diver’s mesh bag are all that’s needed. Fins optional because most of the time you’ll be in water shallow enough (4’ to 6’) you do not need them. Plus, the fin wakes from the propulsion can churn the dust off the grass blades and mud bottom making it difficult to see the scallops.

Immediately upon returning to the boat with your catch it is good to have a cooler waiting with plenty of ice to put the scallops in. Measure them on the way into the cooler using an empty gallon milk jug with the top cut off, or something similar to keep your count. They are fragile and will die very quickly; however the ice helps in relaxing the muscle and opening the shell for cleaning. Any help in that department is appreciated when you’re back at the dock all tired and have to shuck them. Keep what you’re willing to clean that afternoon or evening. So many people get caught up in the collecting, and then don’t want to clean them when the fun is over. What a waste!

When collecting the scallops, search for areas with healthy sea grass beds, or just look for the fleet of boats. Really, it is easy – find the boats and find scallops! The scallops are often in borderline areas where sand/mud bottom meets the edge of grasses. Most bait and tackle stores will carry all the supplies you need.

Book a scallop trip today, and enjoy one of Nature Coast’s exclusive opportunities this summer. Be safe and good scalloping. Don’t delay, book your trip today with Capt. Rick!

Tuesday July 4Independence Day - The staff of Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando wishes you and your family a safe and Happy Day! Celebrate our great country with family and friends. Cookout, watch the fireworks and stay safe!

Thursday July 13 - Alive

After 5 - 5pm to 8pm check out Central Florida’s largest recurring monthly street party in Historic Downtown Sanford. Festival goers come to celebrate the community and local artistry, and to partake in an evening of music, food, craft beers, and shopping. Enjoy great local restaurants, art galleries, gift shops, antique stores, nightlife and a variety of other unique businesses. Free admission!

Tuesday July 11, 18, 25 - 5pm till dusk, Jolly Gator Bass Tournament Series, every Tuesday evening plus 1 Saturday per month until the Classic in August. Cost is $40 per event, 2 anglers per team. Teams that finish in the Top 10 in points or win an event and fish at least 21 events will qualify for the end of year Classic. Some of the best river anglers in the area fish this Bass Series. The staff of Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando is the official weighmasters for this fun tournament series, come out and join us for the weekly weigh-ins. All Tuesday events start at 5pm till dusk, Saturday events (1 per month) are safe-light till 2pm. Launch ramp at CS Lee Park next to Jolly Gator Fish Camp on SR 46 east of Sanford at St. Johns River Bridge. For questions or more info contact Jim “Squirt” Chaudoin at 407432-2822 or Phil Wolf with Coastal Angler Magazine 407-790-9515.

Tuesday thru Friday July 11,12,13,14 - ICAST at the Orlando Convention Center - This is an industry only event for wholesale and retails buyers and event exhibitors marketing new products for the 2024 sales year. Not open to the public. “Best in Show” product will be awarded to this year’s winners at “New Product Showcase”. Look for this years’ winner to be listed in our August print issue of Coastal Angler Magazine and our digital issue The Angler Video Magazine as well as any cool, new different products for the fishing and outdoor markets.

Saturday July 15 - Safe light until 2pm. Jolly Gator Bass Tournament Saturday Series, Cost to register team $40 per event, 2 anglers per team. There will be a $20 side-pot for a big bag. Saturday events are safe light till 2pm. Launch ramp at CS Lee Park next to Jolly Gator Fish Camp on SR 46 east of Sanford at St. Johns River Bridge. For questions or more info contact Jim “Squirt” Chaudoin at 407432-2822 or Phil Wolf with Coastal Angler Magazine Orlando 407-790-9515.

If you have an event or meeting you would like included in the “What’s Hitting Around Town” column, send your details to: Phil Wolf phillip@ coastalanglermagazine. com. Deadline for inclusion is the 10th of the preceding month.

Summer is definitely here, and the fish know it. The Kissimmee chain is at low pool and the lakes are slowly filling up due to the summer showers. The Bass bite has been good early morning and late evening. Goblets cove has been really good. Try and beat the heat, the bass like shade too. Most bass are being caught out in open water vegetation along hydrilla ledges. On West Lake Toho most anglers are using plastics, I have been throwing a June bug or pink trick worm, no weight, working it over vegetation and waiting for that explosive hit. Also try using a Carolina rig with a 1 oz. weight to get thru the vegetation. Folks are having good success trolling live wild shiners up and down the hydrilla patches. East Lake Toho is still one of the bet- ter artificial lakes to fish during the summer. Along the northwest shore fish try fishing open water peppergrass. You should try a zoom vibe magnum worm, Texas rigged. Swim baits are another good choice. Gambler EZ Swimmer on a weighted hook in the Copperfield color likely will get bit.

Panfish: Bluegills are spawning in the canals and any place that is sandy and any type of flow near it - bait of choice is crickets. Popping bugs also work well this time of year. Shell crackers are in very shallow water spawning; this info was tipped off by accident running the airboat up skinny. Best bait for the shell cracker is red wigglers. Both can be caught with cane poles or light tackle. Catfish as bycatch is a good thing, try using 8 pound test – it will hold a pretty good sized cat and still be thin enough that the panfish don’t see it. Watch for the afternoon storms and be safe!

The lake has been fishing well for both bass and bream. Early morning timeframe is best to beat the heat and afternoon rains and thunderstorms. Live bait and artificial lures have been catching some nice quality bass. For the lure bite, popping frogs, swim baits, slowly working top water lures, worms, senkos and swim jigs in colors white; Junebug; red shad; watermelon red; tilapia and black. Fishing with live shiners on a free line tipped with just a pegged bobber has been producing some great fast action around the bluegill beds.

For bluegill fishing, both live red worms and crickets have been producing limits, but I prefer fishing with crickets vs. worms only because I seem to catch less catfish and gar. If you’re targeting shellcrackers, use both crickets and worms. The key to getting them to bite quicker is to hook the worm so that both ends wiggle and catching them when the moon phase is just right. Areas on the west and north side has been the areas to fish, the water may be stained on the outside/middle areas so try the middle to inside areas where you’ll find the break in the color line, that is a good starting point then work some inside key areas then on out in some key areas like Lilly pads mixed with Kissimmee grass or reeds. When looking for bream they like a sandier type of bottom and shell crackers prefer a harder bottom area such as shell rock.

The Kissimmee River is producing both bass and bream bites and crappies are still being caught around the bridge pilings and on out towards the mouth of the river. I hope this information helps you to have a better, more productive day on the water. To book your next fun-filled productive day fishing the big O call me at 863-228-7263. I have a new Caymas bass boat that is fully rigged, top of the line rods/reels, and all artificial lures we’ll need for your next fun day on the water. Check out my website www.southfloridabassfishing.com. Captain Angie’s sponsors: Toho Marine (St. Cloud Florida); Mercury Marine; G-Loomis; Bullet Weights; Gene Larew; Real Magic; Lews; Maui Jim; Rapala; Gill; Tru-Turn hooks; Trilene; BnM Poles; Mid-South Tackle and Navionics.