Last Chance: Recreational Bay Scallop Season Ends Soon

Tampa Bay area residents who love harvesting their own bay scallops need to hit the water soon. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sent out a reminder Monday that the final day of harvesting is set for Saturday, Sept. 24.

At present, harvesting is only allowed from the western end of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County to the Pasco-Hernando county line. Harvesting in the area west of St. Vincent Island through the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County closed on Sept. 5. That included St. Joseph Bay and all of Gulf County.

The state says restoration efforts are still active in St. Joseph Bay following impacts on the scallop population during a 2015 red tide event.

Scallop harvesters who have been out this season in any part of the harvest area are asked to assist researchers by completing an online survey at http://svy.mk/bayscallops. Recreational harvesters do need a Florida saltwater license with only a few exceptions.

To find out more about bay scallop harvesting in Florida, visit FWC online.

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