The pandemic did not prevent Citrus County from having a successful scallop season. Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code. 2020-2021 Season Drag Calendars (First page includes sunrise times). The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) set the 2020 bay scallop season in Gulf County (including St. Joseph Bay) to open Aug. 16, 2020, and remain open through Sept. 24, 2020, closing Sept. 25.This season was set after working closely with the local community and allows the FWC to balance stakeholder and community desires for a high-quality scalloping season … Most people will look for blue eyes, but our Captains believe that in certain conditions you may not see blue eyes, so looking for the shape of a scallop will definitely help! The 2020 scallop season in Gulf County hasn't even kicked off, but the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are already planning the 2021 season. Join us for Scallop Season and become part of our tradition from now through September 24. The data is used to manage the fishery set seasons and boundaries for the season. Make sure you comment below if you have any questions or suggestions! There is plenty of wildlife to see on your way out. Shaved Faces! This area in the panhandle is unique in the sense that scalloping can be done by vessel or by wading out to the mud/grass flats to catch scallops by picking them up. The dismal season last year is one reason the bay scallop online survey being run by the FWC is an important tool to assess the scallop population. Our water is a perfect balance of depth and visibility, which means at depths of 6 feet we can still clearly see scallops in the grass. High 73F. is a Bivalve Mollusk that grows in the seagrass beds of the Gulf of Mexico. Post Jul 28, 2020 #1 2020-07-28T14:00. Scallops are a harvested Mollusk and do have regulations or limitations, therefore a license is permitted and is included with your trip. Get ready for scallop season with these helpful tips. The most common technique is diving down and grabbing scallops from the seagrass. Discover Scalloping from Crystal River to Homosassa Bay, Florida. Excitement, Uncertainty Surround Start of Scallop Season in Citrus County By Katya Guillaume Citrus County PUBLISHED 5:15 PM ET Jul. Our water usually stays clear all season! We’ll be running scallop charters out of 2 boats this year. It’s currently May of 2020 and people are already planning and booking their summer scallop trips. No need to worry, we have a ten foot tower to spot sharks from many many yards away, we would not risk anyone if they were seen nearby. The scallop season opened on Thursday and keen scallopers will be heading out to check the condition of the early season delicacies. This could help the population rebound for the upcoming 2020 season. Please do not discard scallop shells in inshore waters commonly used for recreational activities such as the Homosassa River or Crystal River. If you would like to go with us, we’ll be happy to have you aboard! Don’t wait make sure to book your scalloping charter today! Now the county prepares for manatee season, which traditionally runs from the end of November through March. Our 2020 Crystal River season runs July 1st-September 24th In most cases, their scallops can be found on sandy bottom areas as well as in seagrass beds. SCALLOP SEASON 2020 JULY 1ST THRU SEPTEMBER 24TH Half-day (4-hour trip) $300 FOR UP TO 4 PEOPLE / $50 for each additional person up to 6 max 6 people Max A Multi-boat Trip can be Arranged with Advanced Notice. The reports were so bad, I didn’t even bother a trip, the first time in many years. Scallop Season 2020 Scallop Season 2020. wildspeed. Last season was disappointing because of a lack of scallops in the coastal waters. We’ll teach you all about scallops and even how to catch them. Here, boaters head west toward the shallow grass flats off of Citrus County's coastline July 1, 2020, as the scallop season begins. During their meeting Wednesday outside Tallahassee, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) set the season in state waters off the coasts of Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties for July 1 through Sept. 24, according to an … Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. It’s currently May of 2020 and people are already planning and booking their summer scallop trips. Records reveal Trump fans who stormed Capitol, Judge eyes return to trials in felony court; schedules cases for juries. If you would like to go with us, we’ll be happy to have you aboard! The Florida 2020 recreational bay scallop season for Dixie County and a portion of Taylor County opens June 15 and will remain open through Labor Day (Sept. 7, 2020). The lack of hurricanes headed toward Central Florida and excellent weather also helped bring scallopers, Mancke said. And, despite a reopening of the economy, many people were still wary of traveling. MrKrabs. The discarded shells create a hazard to humans and sea life, along with creating an environment for unhealthy vegetation growth. 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Scallop Season 2020 will open July 1st and end September 24th. “Going into fall, there is some concern because we see a larger number of international visitors during winter months and we’re not certain how that's going to play out yet or when they’re going to feel comfortable to travel,” Pricher said. “I don’t know if everybody got to ‘limit out’ every day but there were certainly more full bags and happier faces in the posts that we saw.”. Remaining portion of Taylor County and all of Dixie County: Open season June 15 through Labor Day each year. Alright, let’s talk about the upcoming scallop season here in Florida. ... harvesting of scallops, like it does all of Florida's fisheries, and the 2020 recreational bay scallop harvest season begins Wednesday July 1, 2020. There are many reasons why Crystal River is the best place, but one of the most important reasons is due to water clarity. 2019 wasn’t our best scalloping season numbers wise however, if history holds true our beloved bay scallops will bounce back to good numbers in 2020. Prior to going, we were hearing the numbers were way low this year. 2020 Scallop Season Florida Saltwater Fishing « Commissioner's Message. If you’d like to see available dates and book your trip, check out our, May 6th, 2020 Crystal River, Florida Fishing Report, August 11th, 2020 Crystal River Florida Fishing Report, January 4th, 2021 Crystal River Florida Fishing Report, December 6th, 2020 Crystal River Florida Fishing Report, November 24th, 2020 Crystal River Florida Fishing Report, November 17th, 2020 Crystal River Florida Fishing Report, October 26th, 2020 Crystal River Florida Fishing Report, January 29th, 2019 Crystal River Fishing Report. 2021 Recreational Scallop Seasons - AT-A-GLANCE Gulf of Mexico State Waters Click on the species for up-to-date closures and regulations. The 2020 season for Gulf County will likely be modified by Executive Order in early 2020 after the FWC has the opportunity to evaluate ongoing scallop restoration efforts and the recovery of St. Joseph Bay scallop populations. Homosassa is home to a very large seagrass bed that is shared with Crystal River seagrass beds. Scallop season labeled a success despite pandemic, 545 N Citrus Avenue, Crystal River , FL 34429, 4841 S Pleasant Grove Road, Inverness, FL 34452, 1250 S Lecanto Highway, Lecanto, FL 34461, 6171 W Gulf To Lake Highway, Crystal River, FL 34429, 6565 W Gulf To Lake Highway, Crystal River, FL 34429, 1935 SE US Highway 19 , Crystal River, FL 34429, 4221 W Gulf To Lake Hwy, Lecanto, FL 34461, Worth Repeating Upscale Resale & Unique Gifts, 3633 E Gulf To Lake Hwy, Inverness, FL 34453, 2821 W Dunnellon Road, Dunnellon, FL 34432, 668 E Overdrive Circle, Hernando, FL 34442, 8494 W Grover Cleveland Boulevard, Homosassa, FL 34446, 3603 N Lecanto Hwy, Beverly Hills, FL 34465, 4801 N Forest Ridge Boulevard, Beverly Hills, FL 34465, 7800 W. Gulf to Lake Highway, Crystal River, FL 34429, 2181 West Norvell Bryant Highway, Lecanto, FL 34461, 509 E Hartford Street, Hernando, FL 34442, 20156 E Pennsylvania Avenue, Dunnellon, FL 34432, 2017 W. Gulf to Lake Highway, Lecanto, FL 34461, 7076 W Gulf to Lake Highway, Crystal River, FL 34429, 8305 E. Orange Avenue, Floral City, FL 34436, 7751 S Suncoast Boulevard, Homosassa, FL 34446, 8445 W Homosassa Trail, Homosassa , FL 34448, 701 Medical Court East, Inverness, FL 34452, 9907 E. Gulf to Lake Highway, Inverness, FL 34452, 1801 NW US Highway 19 , Crystal River, FL 34428, 2436 Norvell Bryant Highway, Hernando, FL 34442, 9710 W Berry Lane, Crystal River, FL 34428, 1160 N Dunkenfield Avenue, Crystal River, FL 34429, 4828 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL 34446, 611 NE 5th Terrace, Crystal River, FL 34428. This includes all state waters from the Suwannee River to the Fenholloway River … You’ve heard all about it, but exactly what is scalloping and what do you need to do it? There was a problem saving your notification. The scalloping is just as good in Homosassa as it is in Crystal River. We’ve taken the time to put our years of summertime scalloping experience into an easy-to-understand guide that you can use on your next adventure. 714 245 3. Get access to this story, and every story when you try unlimited access for just $6.50 $1.99. boat, you’re covered under a Florida Fish and Wildlife saltwater fishing license that covers up to ten passengers for each Captain. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. YouTube. With June 1st being the first day of grouper season and doing some shallow water spear fishing every rock pile that we worked in the grass on the outside was plenty of scallops and nice sized. “From everything that we’ve heard from our different partners and what we saw through the social medial channels, it looks like this was a significant uptick over the previous season,” he said. ... Scallops are not easy nor too hard to find as their natural coloring provides camouflage within the sea grasses. Last year was a bummer, but this year could be a BLAST! Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Homosassa is home to a very large seagrass bed that is shared with Crystal River seagrass beds. Yes beards can create mask leaks. +3. They have 30 little blue eyes that sense shadows in order to open and close their shells. Our scallop trips in Homosassa begin with a boat ride down the scenic Homosassa River to the Gulf of Mexico. Others simply go out and enjoy snorkeling different areas while looking for the scallop shape in the grass. Scallops thrive in the clear, grass-laden saltwater flats off of the coastline due to an abundance of fresh water flowing from coastal rivers into the Gulf of Mexico.Â. Like many food chains in the animal kingdom, the top predator usually is found near their main prey. Scallop season 2019 opens July 1st and closes September 24th. There is no question that you can collect them when you can see them. Scallop season is a big tourist draw on an annual basis. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. “I was as successful as we could have hoped, given the obstacles,” said Pricher, who attributes much of that success to timing. “It came at just the right time for folks and us in the area,” he said. Homosassa Scalloping 2020. 01, 2020 PUBLISHED 5:15 PM EDT Jul. Typically, scallops are found in the shallow-waters grass flats off of Citrus County's coastline. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Related Videos. It may not have matched pre-COVID-19 seasons but given the topsy-turvy year — marked by an economic shutdown, stay-at-home directives and a lackluster scallop population last year — it all came together, said Citrus County Visitors Bureau Director John Pricher. Scallop Season is Here! This includes all state waters from the Suwannee River to the Fenholloway River and includes the towns of Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee. Our Ozello location is central to both scallop hot-spots of Crystal River and Homosassa. Emergency Regulations for In-Season Closures. Boat 1 Captain Nick Warrington with his Kencraft 24.8 ft bay challenger. You will have very skilled, experienced Captains. wildspeed. We’ll be running scallop charters out of 2 boats this year. —To cut down on contact with strangers during the pandemic, more people were willing to spend an extra $50 or so to book a private boat tour to keep their parties limited to friends and family. Scalloping fit that bill, he said, because it was outdoors and mostly limited to families. Homosassa River is a freshwater river fed into the Gulf of Mexico with a very “old Florida” feel to it. Harvesters are being reminded of the signs, created by the county, encouraging boaters not to dump scallop shells in the waterways. The scallop grounds we have traditionally targeted are about half way between Crystal River and Homosassa. 2020 Scallop Season Begins Soon! Most were from the drive market of such places as Sarasota, Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Orlando and Tampa, he said. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) set the 2020 bay scallop season in Gulf County (including St. Joseph Bay) via Executive Order to open Aug. 16, 2020, and remain open through Sept. 24, 2020, closing Sept. 25. We finished the day with roughly 120 scallops which is substantially lower than we normally catch. Nobody knew what to expect this year. “All-in-all, it was a great season, she said. The Kings Bay Restoration project in Crystal River has successfully aided most of the freshwater springs to flow at a higher rate, which means the water chemistry this year could be much better for scallops to grow! 12/19/19. State biologists and wildlife officials have Citrus County’s scallop season dates shucked out for 2020 and beyond. You’ll hear it described by some as an Easter egg hunt. 714 245 3. Rick Murphy Talk Scallop Season 2020. Scalloping in Homosassa starts July 1st, 2020. 01, 2020 Take a look for yourself and I'm sure you'll agree that this year's Homosassa scalloping season is going to be plentiful. There’s no question that Crystal River, FL is one of the best places to catch scallops. How to scallop in Homosassa Springs, Florida. Our scallop trips in Homosassa begin with a boat ride down the scenic Homosassa River to the Gulf of Mexico where your scallop charter captain will set you up with a great spot to collect your scallops. Scalloping there can be done by swimming as well. “Our area was certainly set up and ready to receive them.”. Are you interested in scalloping in the beautiful Florida sunshine this year? 2020 SCALLOp season preview Below we have an image from one of our local Homosassa shrimp boats. Is substantially lower than we normally catch tradition from now through September 24 grows in the grass early season.... 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