When growing up was your first thought on Easter morning, "when am I going to get to hunt for those eggs"? Are you a natural at finding spare change in the never-ending depths of the couch? Does hanging out on a boat and swimming in the ocean sound like your idea of a good day? If you answered yes to any of these questions then scalloping is for you.
Scalloping is one of the most relaxing activities the great state of Florida has to offer. The scalloping season starts at the beginning of July and runs through to the last weekend of September. There are multiple coastal towns that are the destination point for "scallopers" from all over the country. The most popular places to scallop are Homosassa, Port St. Joe, Crystal River, and my personal favorite, Steinhatchee. One thing these places all have in common is that they guarantee a trip you will not soon forget.
For those who don't know, a scallop is a marine organism that is related to the mollusk and the clam. There are many species of scallops that can be found in all of the world's oceans, but they are never found in freshwater. There are two types of scallops: bay and sea. The scallop is harvested for the muscle that holds the bottom and top shell together, and it is one of the most popular dishes for seafood lovers worldwide. The sea scallop has a bigger muscle than the bay scallop, and you have to go much deeper below the surface to find where they lie.
As for the Florida coastal towns that are so popular for scalloping, bay scallops are the prize you are diving for every time you take a breath to go underwater. One of the great things about scalloping is that there are not many items necessary. You will need a pair of fins to propel yourself through the lulling current of the ocean, a mask and snorkel to allow you to breath while also keeping your eyes on the seafloor, and a bag to hold your scallops.
The goal of scalloping is pretty much the same as fishing: to have fun and relax, while also putting food on the table. What more could you ask for?
When you scallop for bay scallops you are normally swimming in water between 2-8 feet deep, though sometimes they can be found hiding in even deeper locations. Once in the water you want to stay on your stomach at the surface so that you can use your snorkel to breath while also keeping your eyes down to keep a lookout for scallops. Knowing what these little guys look like will probably help in your search for them, right?
When you are scalloping, you will want to keep your eyes peeled for glimpses of little blue dots. These dots can be seen by the dozens depending on how wide open the shell is. These dots just so happen to be the eyes of the organism. Often times these eyes will spot you before you can spot them, and the scallop will try to shut its shell before you can even reach out for it.
Other times you will come across a scallop who is feeling particularly brave (or maybe dumb), and the scallop will remain open until you grab it. If you aren't careful they may clamp down on your finger; however, the little "bite" will surprise you more than it will hurt.
Scallops have adopted the technique of countershading, which is a defense mechanism that uses camouflage to hide from predators. The top shell is dark while the bottom shell is light.
When you look down on the scallop it is hard to see because it blends in with the dark seafloor. Most of the time the scallop can be found on the seafloor in the seaweed or sitting on moss-like vegetation. Other times they can be seen propelling themselves through the water in an attempt to change location.
This motion of the scallop is often misinterpreted as swimming, when, in reality, it is closer to propelling or jumping. The scallop sucks in water through a space known as the "gape" and it then spits the water out through little holes, which pushes the shell in the opposite direction. The scallop will do this for many seconds until it is ready to return to the bottom, and then, it will close its shell and slowly sink back down.
When you are floating around the ocean the best way to spot the scallops is to cover ground. Staying in one spot can be detrimental. Its like a baseball pitcher only throwing one type of pitch, or worse, an author being stuck on one sentence. Look for blue eyes, the motion of closing shells, and in a worst-case scenario, stay near the sandy bottoms where you won't have to worry about that pesky camouflage.
If you keep these tips in mind you will have your limit in no time. Notice how I said "limit". When you go scalloping each person can get up to two gallons of scallops (this includes the shell), with a maximum at ten gallons per boat. So whether you have five people or ten people on your boat, you can only come back with ten gallons. It is important you abide by the laws set forth by the Florida Fish and Wildlife; otherwise, we run the risk of taking all the scallops before the season ends.
After you have shucked and cleaned the scallops, then it is time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Fresh scallops can be served in just about any way you please. You can fry them, put them in a linguine, throw them on top of a salad, and my favorite, wrap them in bacon. No matter which way you decide you will have the satisfaction of knowing you caught that meal that just hit the spot.
Scalloping is an activity that people of all ages and interests can do. Whether you want to hangout and float around in the ocean all day or just do back-flips off the boat, scalloping is the activity for you. No matter which destination you chose to go to, you will not be disappointed with what you see. There will be scallops, fish, starfish, and marine life you have never seen before.
You might not always get your limit by the end of the day, but you will have experienced a day you couldn't ask any more of. I mean everyone knows the old saying: A bad day of scalloping is still better than a good day at work.
Besides, who could want anything more than a big underwater scavenger hunt?
