Wesley Chapel families looking for a summer outing on the water can reach Pasco County's scalloping grounds in under an hour. The county's 2026 bay scallop season opened July 10 and runs through Aug. 18, giving residents a 40-day window to snorkel the Gulf's shallow seagrass beds and harvest their own dinner.
The scalloping zone stretches from the Hernando-Pasco County line south to the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, including all waters of the Anclote River. Launch points in Port Richey and New Port Richey sit roughly 30 miles west of Wesley Chapel along State Road 54.
Season Generates an Estimated $11 Million Locally
The 2025 season drew more than 34,500 visitors who spent nearly $7.5 million, generating an estimated $11 million in total economic impact, according to Pasco County estimates reported by Tampa Bay 28.
For Marla Fisher, a marketing coordinator with Florida's Sports Coast and a lifelong Pasco County resident, scalloping is a tradition that started in childhood. She told Tampa Bay 28 that the key to a successful trip is knowing where to look.
"Definitely the taller sea grass is where they hide in my experience," Fisher said. "I think a lot of people look in those sandy areas because it's easier to see, but you kind of have to dig."
Roger Aguilar, owner of Riviera Water Sports in Port Richey, said scallop season was a key reason he opened the business. He called the Gulf Coast "underutilized" and compared the season's energy to football weekends, with families heading out in the morning and coming home in the afternoon to cook their catch.
Bag Limits and Gear Rules to Know Before Heading Out
Scallops sit in shallow seagrass beds, typically 3 to 8 feet deep, making the activity accessible to snorkelers without advanced diving skills.
Bag limits: Two gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell, or one pint of scallop meat, per person. The vessel maximum is 10 gallons whole in the shell, or one half-gallon shucked, per day.
Gear rules: Harvest is permitted only by hand or with a landing or dip net. Commercial harvest is prohibited.
License: A valid Florida saltwater fishing license is required unless you are wading from shore without using a vessel.
Safety: Divers and snorkelers must display a dive flag and stay within 300 feet of it in open Gulf waters, or 100 feet in rivers, inlets or navigation channels.
Weather Timing Matters Most in Summer Months
Afternoon thunderstorms frequently push boaters off the water during summer months. Experienced scallopers head out early and plan to be off the Gulf by early afternoon.
Upcoming
- Pasco County Summer Day Camp at Wesley Chapel District Park continues through July 31. Cost is $90 per week. Information: 813-345-3145.
- Scallop season closes Aug. 18.
