Get excited everyone! Scallop Season is COMING, and we are ecstatic!
IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO RESERVE YOUR SEATS!
FWC recently approved the dates for the 2018 Scallop Season in Citrus County: July 1st through September 24th. However, since Customer Safety is always our #1 concern, Hunter Springs Kayaks & Manatee Tour and Dive plan to avoid the congested and sometimes dangerous holiday conditions for the first week, beginning our Scallop Charters on July 9th.
Every year, on and around the 4th of July and following weekend, the scallop hunting grounds become unsafe territory to swim. This is due to the many boats out for the holiday, loaded with party-goers enjoying their free time. These conditions mean more traffic on the water, especially where the scallops breed. We understand people wanting to take their family scalloping and celebrate with a beer during and afterwards. After all, it is Independence Day - lets CELEBRATE! This sentiment can often lead to excess; as such, there tends to be a significantly higher risk of alcohol-related accidents during the holiday weekend. As a result of both the congestion and risk of alcohol-related incidents, we have made the responsible decision to avoid subjecting our customers and staff tot these conditions, instead focusing on a great start - in better conditions - on July 9th.
Please enjoy your Independence Day week (and weekend!) safely and don't forget to charter with us for the most scalloping fun the following week. Book your seats today before the date you want is reserved by someone else! As always, we look forward to facilitating amazing adventures for you in the Crystal River area!
FWC recently approved the dates for the 2018 Scallop Season in Citrus County: July 1st through September 24th. However, since Customer Safety is always our #1 concern, Hunter Springs Kayaks & Manatee Tour and Dive plan to avoid the congested and sometimes dangerous holiday conditions for the first week, beginning our Scallop Charters on July 9th.
Every year, on and around the 4th of July and following weekend, the scallop hunting grounds become unsafe territory to swim. This is due to the many boats out for the holiday, loaded with party-goers enjoying their free time. These conditions mean more traffic on the water, especially where the scallops breed. We understand people wanting to take their family scalloping and celebrate with a beer during and afterwards. After all, it is Independence Day - lets CELEBRATE! This sentiment can often lead to excess; as such, there tends to be a significantly higher risk of alcohol-related accidents during the holiday weekend. As a result of both the congestion and risk of alcohol-related incidents, we have made the responsible decision to avoid subjecting our customers and staff tot these conditions, instead focusing on a great start - in better conditions - on July 9th.
Please enjoy your Independence Day week (and weekend!) safely and don't forget to charter with us for the most scalloping fun the following week. Book your seats today before the date you want is reserved by someone else! As always, we look forward to facilitating amazing adventures for you in the Crystal River area!
"I Spy With My Little Eye"
If you like the idea of egg hunts or diving for sunken treasure, you will love scalloping. With just a mask, snorkel and fins you, too, can jump in and experience the adventure of diving for scallops. Scallop beds are located mostly in shallow water and may only be harvested by hand or net.
CLOSE YOUR EYES AND IMAGINE:
You're floating along the surface quietly, patiently, over a sand bar in the Gulf of Mexico, off Florida’s beautiful Nature Coast. Feel the warm salt water on your skin and the sun on your back. As you drift along, take in the wonderful world of various fishes, plants and coral. Feel the excitement of finding your first scallop build. Then suddenly you see one.
A scallop!
You take a deep breath, dive down and grab it before someone else does! It's YOURS!!
Now, open your eyes and make it real.
RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY
CLOSE YOUR EYES AND IMAGINE:
You're floating along the surface quietly, patiently, over a sand bar in the Gulf of Mexico, off Florida’s beautiful Nature Coast. Feel the warm salt water on your skin and the sun on your back. As you drift along, take in the wonderful world of various fishes, plants and coral. Feel the excitement of finding your first scallop build. Then suddenly you see one.
A scallop!
You take a deep breath, dive down and grab it before someone else does! It's YOURS!!
Now, open your eyes and make it real.
RESERVE YOUR SEAT TODAY
We've Got You Covered
•No License Required
•We Clean Your Scallops
•Scenic Tour Included
•Groups up to six people
•Comfortable Boat
Includes fishing License, Mask, Snorkel, Fins, scalloping bags, cold water to drink and Ice for you to take your Fresh Scallops home to enjoy.
•No License Required
•We Clean Your Scallops
•Scenic Tour Included
•Groups up to six people
•Comfortable Boat
Includes fishing License, Mask, Snorkel, Fins, scalloping bags, cold water to drink and Ice for you to take your Fresh Scallops home to enjoy.
DID YOU KNOW?
Scallops are hard to spot because their natural coloring allows them to camouflage themselves on the bottom among the tall grasses. Most of the time their shells are open to feed and breath, but as soon as they sense an intruder they slam their shells shut and hide. When threatened, the scallop can swim backwards or up by clapping its shell halves together and rapidly expelling water.
The bay scallop is a member of the shellfish family. Spawning occurs at 1 year of age and in the fall, when the weather is cool. Unfortunately, only 1 egg out of 12 million will survive to live a full life, and in Florida they usually only live 1 year.
In the past, Florida’s coasts were brimming with scallops, but recently they have vanished in many areas. Scientists believe this shortfall could be due to poor water quality since scallops are highly sensitive to changes in water. One could say scallops play an important part within the ecosystem, and observing scallops is a good way to evaluate the quality of the marine environment. In 1998, the Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) teamed up with the University of South Florida in an effort to enhance the population of the scallops in certain areas, as well as eventually launching restrictions to allow only recreational harvesting. This seems to have worked. From 2000 through 2001, the scallop population has increased significantly, after harvesting was banned for several years. In 2002, scallop harvesting was reopened in the Crystal River area, which has become one of the most popular scallop harvesting destinations in Florida.
The bay scallop is a member of the shellfish family. Spawning occurs at 1 year of age and in the fall, when the weather is cool. Unfortunately, only 1 egg out of 12 million will survive to live a full life, and in Florida they usually only live 1 year.
In the past, Florida’s coasts were brimming with scallops, but recently they have vanished in many areas. Scientists believe this shortfall could be due to poor water quality since scallops are highly sensitive to changes in water. One could say scallops play an important part within the ecosystem, and observing scallops is a good way to evaluate the quality of the marine environment. In 1998, the Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) teamed up with the University of South Florida in an effort to enhance the population of the scallops in certain areas, as well as eventually launching restrictions to allow only recreational harvesting. This seems to have worked. From 2000 through 2001, the scallop population has increased significantly, after harvesting was banned for several years. In 2002, scallop harvesting was reopened in the Crystal River area, which has become one of the most popular scallop harvesting destinations in Florida.
