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Saturday, September 22, 2018
Outdoors

Let’s Take It Outside: Scalloping Florida style

By Misty Wells, Times Correspondent
Published:
Updated: August 22, 2018 at 12:43 PM

Each summer, thousands of locals and visitors flock to the west coast of Florida for some of the world’s best scalloping. Harvesting bay scallops is a great family fun activity that everyone can enjoy. Scallop season runs until late September and is a great way to take it outside and enjoy our beaches and pristine waters.

Scalloping usually is done in shallow waters about 4 to 6 feet while snorkeling on top. Keep a sharp eye out for those saltwater treats of the sea, swim down quickly grab them and to add to your scallop bag. Go online to tampabay.com/sports to watch my new video feature "Let’s Take it Outside," which this week is titled "Scalloping Florida Style."

Contact Misty Wells at [email protected] Follow @outdoordarlin

Comments

Captain’s Corner: Use Red Tide to venture to other fishing spots not affected

Normally this time of year my attention turns to the beaches, focusing on migratory species headed our way such as Spanish mackerel and kingfish. With our current Red Tide situation, my thoughts are still on the beach. Mostly, how to avoid it. Now is...
Published: 09/20/18
Updated: 09/21/18
Captain’s Corner: Finding live bait has been biggest fishing issue in our area so far from Red Tide

Captain’s Corner: Finding live bait has been biggest fishing issue in our area so far from Red Tide

i thoWith Red Tide in the area, fishing close to shore has been a challenge. Waters from the beach out to about 40 feet have been affected this week. Concentrate your efforts starting about 80 feet and work west. Since our primary spots are well offs...
Published: 09/19/18
Updated: 09/20/18

Captain’s Corner: Look north toward Tarpon Springs for fishing to avoid Red Tide, for now

Red Tide has been creeping toward North Pinellas. Although bait is flourishing along the beaches and predator fish are feeding on them, hordes of dead fish are washing up on shore, most likely from Red Tide blooms well offshore. Lately, I’ve focused ...
Published: 09/19/18
Let’s Take it Outside: A trip to the historic Florida Middle Grounds

Let’s Take it Outside: A trip to the historic Florida Middle Grounds

The historic Florida Middle Grounds offer some of the Gulf Coast’s most premier fishing. The reefs start about 85 miles northwest off the coast of Clearwater and extend another 30 miles beyond. The Middle Grounds have miles and miles of underwater mo...
Published: 09/19/18

Captain’s Corner: Dealing with Red Tide from spearfishing standpoint

Finding fish to spear offshore is tricky. Unlike hook-and-line anglers, spearfishermen need reasonable underwater visibility to see their prey, judge it’s the correct type of fish, determine if it’s legal size, then before the fish flees, take the sh...
Published: 09/18/18

Captain’s Corner: When Red Tide bloom breaks, fish can arrive quickly

Here is some good news attributed to Red Tide. Things do rebound quickly, once the bloom breaks. New populations of fish can arrive quickly in its aftermath. Anglers who have been successful lately are looking for untainted areas to fish. At least a ...
Published: 09/16/18
Updated: 09/17/18

Captain’s Corner: Bite can turn on and off quickly this time of year

Typical deep-summer conditions continue across the bay. During this time of year the bite can be erratic and maybe even a little bi­polar. The bite can turn on and off in an instant. Several species in one spot can be normal. On recent trips clients ...
Published: 09/16/18

Captain’s Corner: Fishing strong in Fort De Soto area

Red Tide started showing up substantially on Saturday in Pinellas with the strong west wind we had. I lost some bait but was still able to fish. Snook are taking their time transitioning back into the bay from the beaches. Every shoreline and pass ar...
Published: 09/14/18
Updated: 09/15/18

Captain’s Corner: Massive baitfish schools present plenty of opportunities

The shipping channel and most area passes are filled with massive schools of baitfish. Little tunny (bonito or false albacore) follow these smaller fish and present great opportunities for fly fisher’s. A moving tide, either incoming or outgoing, get...
Published: 09/12/18
Updated: 09/14/18

Captain’s Corner: Fishing in the bay with Red Tide in the gulf

Red Tide has started to affect our beaches, so I’ve stayed away from fishing the gulf. Threadfin herring and scaled sardines can be found in the bay, which is free of Red Tide. Spanish mackerel, cobia, sharks, mangrove snapper and jack crevalle can e...
Published: 09/12/18
Updated: 09/13/18