Scalloping- Where to go

So now that we know all about the basic gear we need and rules we need to follow lets talk about where we need to go to actually participate in this underwater adventure. Homosassa, Crystal River, Horseshoe Beach, Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach, Port St. Joe and Cape San Blas are some of the most popular and best places to go scalloping in Florida. Steinhatchee is my personal favorite, although scallops are thick in all of the above areas. Once in one of these places go to the local marina or boat ramp and ask the locals where to go. They can definitely lead you in the right direction. Also when in doubt just follow the boats,  as most of these places have massive amounts of boaters going out and having some scalloping fun.

Boats on a Saturday in Steinhatchee

Now lets talk about what to do when we think we are at our destination. I usually like to scallop in depths between 4-8 feet (although you can go shallower or deeper). The areas in which scalloping takes place are grassy areas, usually one of two types of grass. Either Turtle grass or Manatee grass. Turtle grass is a much thicker longer grass, while Manatee grass is a much thinner grass where scallops can sometimes be easier to spot.

Thicker turtle grass is on the left.

Thinner Manatee grass is on the right.

Either type of grass can produce many scallops. Most of the time it's just personal preference. Now once you have reached an area near some other boats, or with clear water and a grassy bottom that looks convincing, with a depth between 3-10 feet, it's time to jump in! 
When you go in the water you need to make sure your dive flag is up and you're anchored. It's not fun when you come up and can't find your boat... Okay so now we're all ready to go. We have our dive flag up, snorkeling gear on, our boat is anchored, our sunscreen is on, and we're in the water starting our scalloping fun. Identifying scallops at first might be difficult but this blog has numerous examples from picture to videos about what to expect. Basically you just swim around with your face looking straight down on the surface. When you locate a scallop you will either just grab the scallop or dive down (if you're in deeper water) and grab the scallop. Make sure to have your mesh bag with you at all times for a place to store your scallops. Once you start getting the hang of it you'll realize how easy and how much of a blast it truly is.