Crystal River scalloping season: dates, limits and how it works

Scalloping is the one trip we run where nobody needs to know how to fish. You snorkel over grass flats in four to eight feet of clear water, spot the blue eyes of a bay scallop in the grass, and pick it up by hand. Kids do it. Grandparents do it. On a good July morning a boat of six will fill the limit before lunch.

The season, the limits and the gear rules are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and change from year to year, so check the FWC bay scallop page before you go. Everything below is current for 2026.

2026 scallop season dates for Crystal River and Homosassa

Crystal River and Homosassa sit in the Levy, Citrus and Hernando County zone, which covers state waters from Alligator Pass near the mouth of the Suwannee River south to the Hernando and Pasco county line. In this zone the 2026 season runs July 1 through September 24. The zones north of here, up toward Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach, open earlier in June. Do not mix them up: the dates are not the same and the line between zones is enforced.

Where the scallops are

Bay scallops live in seagrass, mostly turtle grass and manatee grass, in water shallow enough for sunlight to reach the bottom. Off Crystal River and Homosassa that means the big grass flats inside and outside the St. Martins Keys, usually in four to eight feet. The water is spring-fed and clear, which is why this stretch of coast scallops better than almost anywhere else in Florida.

The beds move a little every year. Early in the season Capt. Tanner scouts them on inshore trips, so by July 1 we already know where the numbers are. We will not publish spots here, but every charter goes straight to them.

Early, middle or late season?

• July: The most scallops and the busiest ramps. The water is warm and clear. Book early for weekends; weekdays are quieter.
• August: Scallops are bigger and the crowds thin out. Afternoon storms are common, so we run mornings.
• September: Fewer scallops but the largest of the year, and the flats are nearly empty. The last day is September 24.

How a scalloping charter day runs

We meet at Pete’s Pier in Crystal River or MacRae’s of Homosassa, whichever is closer to the beds that week. The run to the flats is 20 to 40 minutes on the 23-foot Carolina Skiff. Masks, snorkels, fins, mesh bags and a dive flag are on the boat. Tanner anchors on the grass, shows first-timers what a scallop looks like from above, and then it is a swim. Most groups work two or three spots in a half day.

Back at the dock the scallops get cleaned. Scalloping trips start at $600 per boat and go up with group size; the Rates page has the full breakdown. Lunch is the only thing not included.

What to bring scalloping

• Swimsuit and a rash guard or long-sleeve shirt. The sun on the flats is stronger than it feels in the water.
• Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and polarized sunglasses.
• A cooler for the ride home. We bag and ice the cleaned scallops at the dock.
• Water and lunch. Everything else, including the license, gear and dive flag, is on the boat.

Scalloping with kids

This is the easiest trip we run for families. The water is shallow, warm and calm inside the keys, and a six-year-old who can float with a mask on can find scallops. Children who are not confident swimmers can wear a life jacket and still pick from the surface in the shallower grass. If someone in the group would rather fish than swim, say so when you book and Tanner will bring a rod.

Can we fish on the same trip?

Yes. A seven-hour trip can be scallops in the morning and inshore fishing for redfish and trout on the way in, or the other way around on the tide. The Scalloping charter page has the lengths and prices, and the fishing reports will tell you what is biting that month.

Tight lines,
Capt. Tanner Martin