With scallop season being lack-luster in Citrus County, maybe the stakeholders need to think about some ways to save them and us from a closure. I personally believe that they’ve been over harvested and believe they could be on the verge of a collapse.

With the scallops spawning when the water temperature cool down in September the less of them out there means less scallops spawning. Our county has had some banner years but looking at the size and meat of the scallops that were harvested in Pasco County, a shorter scalloping season could be beneficial.

Another method would be to put a size limit on the shellfish. We do it with fish and also with spiny lobster. With lobster a measuring device must be with you in the water, a small piece of composite with a set sized hole could be used for scallops. If the scallop falls through the hole them leave it in the water. It will grow larger as the season progresses. 

When scalloping, we measure a limit of scallops mostly by volume (you can keep a pint of meat per person) and the smaller the shell the more it takes to make two gallons. There would be be some folks who would cheat but most sportsmen and sportswomen would follow the rules. Just food for thought, together we can come up with a good solution for scalloping season.

Red fishing continues to be the best inshore bet. Live or cut pinfish free lined on the incoming tide is the best bait.

I’ve been catching a few trout with popping corks in the rock grass areas around St. Martins Keys and the mouth of the Chassahowitzka River.

The nearshore rocks are good for mangrove snapper and white grunts on live shrimp.

Incoming high tide will be in the morning this weekend.

Homosassa Weekly Fishing Report from Captain William Toney

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