Hernando Beach - Its Scalloping Time
Capt. Josh Fritz
June 23, 2011
Hernando Beach - Saltwater Fishing Report
Scalloping 101
Take a fish break, and COOL OFF!
Scalloping along the Nature Coast is great, the local anglers call it finding treasure. Scalloping is work you will need a mask, fins, snorkel, and a catch bag to put them in, some people use a mesh potato bag with a draw string or you can go to a local Wal-Mart or tackle shop for a nylon draw string bag. Scallops can be found from Aripeka North to the Mexico Beach Channel the limit is 2 gallons of whole bay scallops per person per day and no more than 10 gallons per boat per day. Homosassa is the famous spot were year after year hundreds of boaters come to find scallops. Bayport North to Chassahowitzka is also a great spot to find scallops.
The key to finding scallops is to look for grass with sand holes or hard flat bottom. Look for these tasty critter in 3 - 12 ft. Start off in 4 to 6 feet for 20 minutes and see if you see any. A good key is to look for other boaters with the divers down flag. That will give you a good starting point but beware because those areas might be cleaned out! Locating your own honey holes is the best option. Stay in the 4-6 feet range for an hour or two and if you do not find any move out to 6 to 8 feet and repeat the process. Scallops will stay together so if you find some - there will be more around.
Scallops are easy to clean. The spoon method or a Shop vac will work well. I use the shop vac method but lets start off with the spoon method. First thing when you start to catch scallops put them straight on ice with some salt water mix in. The coldness of the ice will relax the muscle and the shell will open. After you have them iced down get a bowl and a zip lock bag to put the meat in. With the DARK side of the shell facing up take the spoon or scallop Knight and work it along the top of the shell. Once you get the meat free of the top part of the shell pop the top off. Now you will see the guts and the meat( thick white part about the size of your thumb). Take the spoon and go from the back of the shell and gently pull the guts over the meat towards you to free from the meat ounce you do that just scrap the meat off and repeat.
The shop vac method is easy. Take the dark side up cut the meat free from the top shell, pop the top shell off to reveal the meat and guts take the shop vac (with the filter off) and suck the guts right off the meat, then scrape free the meat and repeat until you are done. Try attaching the hose near you and just hold the shell over the suction so you wont have to pick up the hose each time. After you are done, empty the vac and get a bucket of water and bleach to clean out the vac.
The size of divers-down flags displayed on vessels must be at least 20 inches by 24 inches, and a stiffener is required to keep the flag unfurled. Dive flags carried on floats must be at least 12 inches by 12 inches. Also, divers-down flags on vessels must be displayed above the vessel's highest point so that the flag's visibility is not obstructed in any direction. Divers must make reasonable efforts to stay within 300 feet of a divers-down flag on open waters (all waterways other than rivers, inlets, or navigation channels) and within 100 feet of a flag within rivers, inlets, or navigation channels. Vessel operators must make a reasonable effort to maintain a distance of at least 300 feet from divers-down flags on open waters and at least 100 feet from flags on rivers, inlets or navigation channels. Vessels approaching divers-down flags closer than 300 feet in open water and 100 feet in rivers, inlets and navigation channels must slow to idle speed. When divers are out of the water, a dive flag may not be displayed.Come give it a try you can do a half day of fishing and the other half scalloping or just a day of scalloping, it is fun for all. Give me a call and book a trip, If you want the best price in florida give me a call season starts this Saturday June 25Th.
Calm Sea's & Tight Lines
Capt. Josh Fritz
Chase N' Tails Fishing Charters
352-345-9304
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