Scallops Are Plentiful

I spoke with Twin Rivers Bait & Tackle in Crystal River, and MacRae's Bait House in Homosassa today to find out how the scallop season is going this year. Both report that everybody going out is getting there limits. The biggest concentration of scallops is in 4'-8' of water, but good numbers can be found in as much as 10' depths.

Twin Rivers Bait & Tackle
352-564-0085
9687 W Fort Island Trail
Crystal River, FL 34429

MacRae's Bait House
352-628-2602
5290 S Cherokee Way
Homosassa, FL 34448

Florida Scallop Season 2008

Resources to get you started.

Florida's bay scallop season starts this Tuesday, July 1st and runs through September 10th. Scalloping is a fun, relaxing past time that can be enjoyed by your entire family. It requires a minimal amount of relatively inexpensive gear, most of which can be rented, and the knowledge to find and gather these tasty bivalves can be learned with a few minutes of instruction. Florida has a limited allowable harvest area for gathering bay scallops. It starts at the west bank of the Mexico Beach canal in Bay County of the Panhandle, and and goes to the Pasco-Hernando County line near Aripeka. However, most scalloping in the state is concentrated in two areas. Homosassa/Crystal River, and Steinhatchee. The hundreds of square miles of turtle and manatee grass in these shallow and pristine waters, provide a perfect environment for bay scallops. As a result, thousands of visitors flock to these areas each summer to snorkel and gather these tasty treats. Many return year after year and know where to stay and where to go have a successful trip. If you have never been scalloping, and would like to give it a try, or it has been a while since your last scalloping excursion, I have gathered a list of web sites to help you plan a successful trip. Start by going to the MYFWC web site to learn the rules and regulations for gathering bay scallops then check out the post I put on Florida's F.I.N. last year on things you need to know about scalloping. These will help keep you legal and safe. Then check out the Citrus Co. Scalloping Adventure page, and the Steinhatchee to Perry scalloping page. These will help you find places to stay, eat, find supplies, marinas, and guided excursions. Then I threw in a few recipes you can use to get ideas on how to cook all of those delicious scallops you are going to gather.
Happy Scalloping!

Rules and Regulations
http://myfwc.com/marine/bayscallops.htm
http://myfwc.com/whatsnew/08/statewide/News_08_X_ScallopOpen.htm
http://flafin.blogspot.com/2007/07/florida-bay-scallops-what-you-need-to.html

Visitor Guides
www.visitcitrus.com/scalloping.asp
www.steinhatcheetoperry.com/watersports/scalloping.php

Recipes
http://steamykitchen.com/blog/2007/06/14/seared-scallops-with-mango-melon-salsa/
http://digg.com/food_drink/Quick_and_memorable_seafood_dish_guaranteed_to_satisfy
http://digg.com/food_drink/Grilled_Scallops_with_Ginger_Lime_Sauce

Scalloping Contacts

I have been searching the inter net looking for information on the best places to go scalloping, guides to put you on the scallops, and marinas to launch from. To no surprise the three most famous scalloping areas, Steinhatchee, Crystal River, and Homosassa are the only places that promote scalloping. Port St. Joe is hosting it's 11th Annual Scallop Festival on Aug. 18th-19th, and they mention that you can find scallops in St. Joseph Bay, but they don't promote recreational scalloping. Suwannee mentions that you can gather scallops in there area, but they push scalloping enthusiasts toward Steinhatchee. Below you will find a list of fishing guides that advertise scalloping trips in Steinhatchee along with local marinas. There is also a link to visitcitrus.com, the official site for information for Citrus Co., Crystal River and Homosassa along with a list of local marinas. The website contains information you will need to find guides and supplies in those areas. Also, if you plan on bringing your boat and are looking for a public boat ramp, click on the link on the right side of this web page, BOAT RAMPS- Big Bend. That will take you to a map of all the public boat ramps in the area.
Steinhatchee
MARINAS
Sea Hag: 352-489-3008, Gulf Stream: 352-498-8088, River Haven: 352-498-0709
GUIDES
Capt. Jim Henley, 352-498-0792, e-mail jmshenley@yahoo.com
Capt. Randall Hewitt, 386-208-3823(Cell) 386-294-1257(Home) www.naturecoastfishing.com/
Cracker Boys Guide Service, Capt. Butch Gentry, 850-986-2193
Big Bend Charters, Capt. Brian Smith, 352-498-3703
Turner Sportfishing, Capt. Wiley Horton, 352-284-0990, www.turnersportfishing.com/
Steinhatchee Kayak Tours, 352-213-7057, www.steinhatcheekayaktours.com/
Citrus County (Crystal River, Homosassa)
MARINAS
Crystal River
Dockside Trading Co: 352-563-2730, Plantation Inn Dive Shop: 352-795-5797,
Pete's Pier Inc: 352-795-3302, Twin Rivers Marina: 352-795-3552
Homosassa
Magic Manatee Marina: 352-628-7334, Van Der Valk Tradewinds Inc: 352-628-2214,
Riverhaven Marina: 352-628-5545, Momosassa Riverside Resort: 352-628-2510,
Homosassa Riverside Resort & Marina: 352-628-0622
GUIDES & SUPPLIES
www.visitcitrus.com/scalloping.asp

Fort Lauderdale Has Kings and Cobia

I spoke with Tom at Kingsbury & Sons Tackle in Fort Lauderdale this morning. He tells me that a west wind is keeping area waters smooth, which makes getting offshore much easier. King mackerel are thick in 200ft of water. Tom tells me that they will hit almost any live bait you troll behind the boat. Good numbers of cobia are being caught just south of the Port Everglades Inlet in 120ft - 140ft of water. Pinfish and ballyhoo cast in front of a cobia will usually result in an instant hook up. When you are searching for cobia keep an eye out for cruising rays. Cobia love to follow a big ray in search of an easy meal. Snook are on the beach. Good numbers of snook are being taken from Dania Pier at night. Pinfish, mullet, and redtail hawks are all good baits for snook. For more information contact;
Kingsbury & Sons Tackle
954-467-3474
1801 S Federal Hwy
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316

Jupiter Inlet

I spoke with Roger at Jupiter Bait & Tackle in Jupiter this afternoon. He tells me the wind finally layed down this afternoon after blowing hard most of the week. Fishing is good though with some nice redfish and black drum being caught inside the inlet. Try live shrimp, cut crab, and clams for the redfish and black drum. There are also a few snook being caught on live bait including the Black Salty. It has been hard to get offshore, but when they can anglers are hooking up with dolphin and wahoo. For more information contact;
Jupiter Bait & Tackle
561-746-2116
141 Center St #1
Jupiter, FL 33458

Fort Lauderdale

I spoke with John at Kingsbury & Sons Tackle in Ft. Lauderdale this morning. He was telling me that it is still breezy, but the water is clearing and the fishing is good. Dolphin, king mackerel, sailfish, and wahoo are all being caught in 600' to 800' of water. John says that ballyhoo works well, but the fish will hit just about any type of artificial lure you troll behind the boat. For more information contact;
Kingsbury & Sons Tackle
954-467-3474
1801 S Federal Hwy
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316

St. Lucie Inlet Recovering

I spoke with Mitchell's Bait & Tackle Shop in Stuart this afternoon. They tell me the winds finally layed down for them this morning and a few boats made it out to sea. Those who did get out have found lots of dolphin. Most are small but there are a few larger fish being caught. On the inside of the inlet, quite a few snook are being taken. Look for fishing to improve with better weather. For more information contact;
Mitchell's Bait & Tackle Shop
772-287-0486
4480 SE Saint Lucie Blvd
Stuart, FL 34997

Fort Laudredale

I spoke with Tom at Kingsbury & Sons Tackle in Fort Lauderdale. He tells me that the wahoo fishing is excellent. His customers are reporting catching 7-10 fish a day in the 15lb-25lb range. Large kingfish around 60lb-70lbs were being taken last week from offshore of West Palm Beach. Tom tells me that this weekend the kings were not quite as big, but there are still plenty of large fish to be had. With the high winds this last weekend, few people went offshore. When the winds lay down however, expect great dolphin and billfish action. Tom was telling me that within the first few hours of the World Billfish SeriesTournament held in Miami March 3-4, over 150 fish were landed. For more information contact;
Kingsbury & Sons Tackle
954-467-3474
1801 S Federal Hwy
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Stuart

I spoke with Roger at Sailfish Bait & Tackle in Stuart this morning. He tells me the dolphin fishing is good but sailfish are hit or miss. Use a sabiki rig to catch live bait offshore or troll a rigged ballyhoo. Rain and high winds are expected for Friday and Saturday through out the state. Winds will decrease Saturday night and conditions should improve for Sunday. For more information contact;
Sailfish Bait & Tackle
772-221-9456
3565 SE saint Lucie Blvd
Stuart, FL 34997

Bonita Springs

I spoke with Ken at Master Bait & Tackle in Bonita Springs this morning. He tells me that they are, "KILLING, KILLING, KILLING!" the sheephead! Ken caught a 23" sheepshead last Saturday. Pompano fishing is excellent, and redfish and snook are starting to come back with the water warming to 74 degrees. Also, cobia are offshore, and big tarpon are starting to show. For more information contact;
Master Bait & Tackle
239-992-2553
4465 Bonita Beach Rd
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
www.masterbaitonline.com

Bonita Springs

I talked with Ken at Master Bait & Tackle in Bonita Springs today. Ken was telling me that the fishing there is good. His customers have been catching redfish, trout, pompano, and some snook. Sheapshead are your best bet right now. Sand flees and shrimp are the best baits for sheepshead. Shrimp and pinfish are the best live baits for reds, trout, snook, and pompano. Yozuri plugs, soft plastics and gold spoons are the best artificial baits. Out in the Gulf, the king fish have moved on but cobia and tripletail fishing is good right now. Grouper fishing is also good, but only in deeper water. Ken reminded me of the recreational grouper fishing closed season in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico starting tomorrow (February 15th) and running through March 15th. Federal waters begin nine nautical miles offshore in the gulf. All of the keeper grouper are coming from more then nine nautical miles offshore. For more information contact;
Master Bait & Tackle
239-992-2553
4465 Bonita Beach Rd.
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
www.masterbait.com

Jupiter

This morning I talked with Captain George at Jupiter Bait & Tackle. He says that the fishing is good offshore with nice catches of kingfish, sailfish, and snapper. For more information contact;
Jupiter Bait & Tackle
561-746-2116
141 Center St. #1
Jupiter, FL 33458