Scallop season yields big dividends
BROOKSVILLE — Scallop hunters used to travel to Citrus County to launch their search for the tasty bivalves nestled in shallow sea-grass beds in the Gulf of Mexico.
Now Hernando County is gaining a reputation among scallop enthusiasts, and that could account for the boost in people patronizing local motels, tackle shops and other businesses this year during the months of scallop-hunting season.
Occupancy at area motels and hotels in June and July increased .4 percent, while innkeepars raised their daily rates an average of 2.34 percent during this year’s scallop season, according to statistics from the Hernando County Tourism Bureau. Lodging revenue went up 1.37 percent, the bureau reported. August numbers were not available at the end of last week.
Dwayne Adams, manager of Hernando Beach Suites & Condos, said his business was booked almost every weekend with scallop hunters. He called it his best season ever.
Adams said people prefer coming to Hernando to avoid the crowds in Citrus.
“Scallops are getting more known in this area,” Adams said. “Citrus County was always the big draw, and people started realizing that Hernando has scallops, too.”
David Graham, with Salty D’s Charters in Hernando Beach, said business was up 30 percent from last year, and his charters did better here than in Homosassa, which is in Citrus.
“He feels that people are beginning to realize that our county is great for scalloping,” said Tammy Heon, the county’s tourism development coordinator.
“In the past, people thought that you could only scallop in Homosassa and Steinhatchee,” Heon said.
Capt. Keith Tomlinson of Bull Dog Fishin’ Charters reported 20 to 30 scallop trips this season, with July being the busiest. Capt. Joel Gant of Fishdaddy Charter had six charters during the season — about the same as last year.
R Beach restaurant, off Shoal Line Boulevard, took advantage of this year’s season with a “You catch, we cook” promotion. They allowed guests to bring in scallops fresh off the boat. The restaurant staff cleaned them and prepared the participants a meal of scallops. Sue Javidi said her restaurant had a 2-percent increase in business this scallop season.
“They would come into her restaurant in large parties of eight to 10 people and talk about their scalloping trips,” Heon said.
Amanda Nalley, spokeswoman with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said scalloping is big business in Hernando and elsewhere in the state. Enthusiasts from Florida and other states settled for days in coastal communities, spending money for food, lodging and amenities.
“It’s very economically important,” Nalley said.
Scalloping is fun for all ages, she said. People don’t need a lot of gear; and in some cases don’t even need a boat. They can wade out in the water and find scallops perched in the grass beds.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Nalley said. ‘”People get out in the water. They get to snorkel around. It’s kind of like an Easter egg hunt.”
Recreational bay scallop season opened June 28 in the Gulf of Mexico, from the Pasco-Hernando county line to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County.
Gov. Rick Scott asked the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to open the 2014 season early to provide additional opportunities to Florida’s residents and visitors, who flock to the coast to partake.
The bag limit was two gallons of whole bay scallops or one pint of meat per person, per day, with a vessel limit of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops or a half-gallon of meat.
Scallop harvests are sporadic in nature; one year can be bountiful in places like Hernando County and the next year can be slim pickings.
