Scalloping in the Big Bend coast of Florida is a fun adventure. It’s like an underwater Easter egg hunt! We recently met up with friends in Steinhatchee and had a blast. Here are some tips to make your trip worthwhile.  

Scalloping season varies by county. The 2021 season for Steinhatchee is June 15 to Sept. 6. Just like the season dates, the bag limits are regulated differently in each area. In Steinhatchee, each person can have up to two gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell (or one pint of scallop meat shucked). Also, scalloping requires a Florida Saltwater Fishing License. The rate for an annual resident license is $17 and is easily purchased online.  

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In order to hunt for scallops you must be able to move swiftly through the water and see clearly. Basic snorkel gear covers these needs: a mask, snorkel and fins. The current can be very strong so don’t think you can just wear water shoes – you may not be able to make it back to the boat! Also, a mesh bag is needed to carry your treasures. Buy a neon-colored one if possible – the water can be dark and murky and I lost our black bag in the current. Another requirement is a dive flag so other boaters know to slow down and be cautious.  

Oh, and one more thing – good vision is essential when it comes to scalloping. Like Easter eggs, these sea creatures are hidden. They can burrow in the sand, white side up, or hide in the sea grass, green side up, or even hide under a sea urchin. There are plenty of empty shells to fool you, too. After a hard rain or storm, the water can be brown and cloudy. And if the tide rolls in, the water can be deeper than ideal. So don’t forget to pack your contacts, glasses will do you no good. If your vision isn’t 20/20, scalloping may not be the sport for you.  

There’s an ocean of sea-grassy water out there – how do you know where the scallops are? My expert advice is to ask the cashier at the marina, or the locals you meet, or, most importantly, go where all the other boats are going. We tried to go rogue and find them on our own and came up empty handed. As soon as we anchored up to a spot with 200 other boats we filled our bucket quickly. I scored five in one breath which is a personal best. One pinched my hand, but it was worth the pain.  

Location is important, but timing is crucial, too. Do your homework and find out when low tide is. That is when you want to arrive at the hot spot. After the tide rises, the water is too deep so you won’t be able to hold your breath long enough to dive down for your treasures. Lucky for us, low tide was at 11 a.m. so we were able sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast, find the spot, hunt and gather, eat lunch on the boat and then head back for happy hour. That’s my kind of adventure!  

Scalloping is super fun until you have to clean them. One thing we learned from the locals is to put them on ice and they will open for you. We were keeping them in the live well watching them play and spit at us. Opening them is the hardest part. Once you pry them open, a scallop knife or spoon can be used to scrape out the muscle and discard the membrane.  

If you scallop early in the season, the scallops are smaller but more plentiful (and harder to clean). If you wait until later in the season, they will be harder to find but larger and easier to clean.  

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If you are a boat person, trailering your boat 300 miles to Steinhatchee makes sense. Just make sure you rent a place with a boat slip. If not, there are boats to rent from Sea Hag Marina, Steinhatchee River Inn, and Marina and Steinhatchee River Club.  

There are plenty of places to stay in Steinhatchee. We rented a house on the Steinhatchee River and enjoyed the slow no-wake zone and picturesque cruise to and from the Gulf each day. It felt like we took a back in time to “old Florida” – a vision of untouched nature, wild untrimmed palm trees, Spanish moss, driftwood, and scallop shacks.  

Scalloping is becoming more and more popular each year, so book your accommodations early for next season to get the best deal and location. Scallop shacks were being torn down right before our very eyes to make way for newer, fancier homes.  

Enjoy old Florida while you still can.  

• Sea Hag Marina, 322 Riverside Dr., Steinhatchee; 352-498-3008; seahag.com  

• Steinhatchee River Inn and Marina, 1110 Riverside Dr., Steinhatchee; 352-498-4049; steinhatcheeinn.com  

• Steinhatchee River Club, 5800 SW Hwy 358, Steinhatchee; 352-498-3222; sthrclub.com