Scallop Time again.....

[Capn Mark]

Headed to Hernando Beach again this year and was wondering how the scallop pickin' was.  Have been the last three years and my sons always have a blast and usually load up. Would love to share a beer or two with the locals who have helped in years past.   Also does anyone clean scallops in Hernando?

Thanks in advance for any replies

[CLM65]

Can't speak for Hernando, but we got our limit (10 gallons) out of Crystal River the first Saturday and Sunday of the season.  But we had to work for them.  We did better than most people that I talked to.  I really think extending the season like they have been doing the past few years has been taking a toll on the scallop population.  I wish they would shorten the season or skip a year, but that is just me.

But I agree that it is a very fun family activity, regardless of how many scallops we get.  We have friends come up from Palm Harbor and have 4 adults and 4 kids scalloping.  It is always a great time

[Capt. Bob]

We went down to Port St. Joe this past Sunday and took a beating, not only scallop wise but from a fast moving storm front. Wind gust were recorded in the low 50s with a peak of 64 mph measured around Panama City/Tyndall AFB. 

Not mentioned in the Aquasport brochures is that the deck tends to become "non self bailing" when your load 3 adults in the cabin with all your gear and the rain is heavy.

It was a long (and "chilly") ride home for me.

[RickK]

That's a Bummer Bob.
The Explorers are real sensitive to the weight added to the cabin (bow of boat).  Two people sleeping in the cabin is enough to throw the CG forward and then if it rains while you're in there, the rain pools up in the walkway up front until you go to the rear of the boat and then the flood comes running backwards into the cockpit to drain.  I have a mod that I want to make to mine to have this water go overboard.
Maybe it's time to enclose your helm so you don't have to dive into the cabin?  Do I hear Pilot house time?  Maybe DirtwheelsFL can give you some tips on design and installation and I'll probably have some scraps to donate to the cause?

[northfork]

A little North East scallops. We get to go when its 30 degrees out. But we get a 10 bushel per person limit.

[RickK]

Do you dive for them like we do here or dredge them up or ?

[northfork]

We pull 8 dredges at a time. 4 each side of the boat. We have 2 guys on the boat. It gets pretty busy at times.

[RickK]

and the limit you mentioned is for recreational consumption?

[northfork]

Recreational is one bushel a day per person. Commercial is 20 bushels per boat. We have two guys so 10 each. Some guys go at it alone and do the 20.
I only go out a few times per year. It's only open in the winter. Gets cold and windy and I'm getting soft.