PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) said Bay scallop season reopens on Aug. 28 in Pasco County after coming to an early end in July.
On July 24, FWC closed the season due to the detection of saxitoxin and Pyrodinium bahamanse, which exceeded safety thresholds. Officials stressed that this precautionary measure was to keep Floridians safe.
FWC said the zone will reopen from Aug. 28 through Sept. 24, 2024. Officials said they will continue monitoring scallops and water samples for elevated levels.
When FWC closed Pasco County’s scallop season last month, State Representative Brad Yeager says he started working to find out how to get it back open.
“At that point we said ok, FWC, we are best friends until this gets resolved so we are going to talk a lot," he said.
To make up for the lost time, they are also extending the season until September 24th.
“Big relief. Big relief. So we’ve been talking. I think I put a Facebook post about it last week, that good news is coming. It’s moving in the right direction," said Yeager.
Yeager says there might be an unintended benefit of the month-long shutdown.
“The scallops have had a chance to grow. So, I anticipate these scallops being big muscle scallops. So, we will have bigger scallops to eat hopefully.”
FWC says out of an abundance of caution they are recommending you only eat the scallop muscle and leave the roe behind.
The region includes all state waters south of the Hernando-Pasco County line and north of Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County. It also includes all waters of the Anclote River.
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