Scalloping season opens July 1 and there’s a lot of chatter that this may be a good year for harvesting the tasty shellfish in Hernando waters. Sven at Bait & Tackle of Hernando Beach said the shop has stocked up on snorkeling gear, nets and harvesting bags. A stop in the shop before hitting the water once the season opens is a good way to get pointed in the right direction to hunt.
Generally, the scallops are in 2 to 8 feet of water on the grass and sandy-bottom areas just off the coast, with most of the better hunting from around Weeki Wachee north into Chassahowitzka, and as far north as hom*osassa or Crystal River. At this point it’s not clear where the better hunting will be, but stay tuned to these pages, as after opening weekend there will be news of where divers are finding the best scalloping.
The season in Hernando waters runs through Sept. 24. The daily limit per person is 2 gallons of shelled scallops, or 1 pint of scallop meat. The daily vessel limit is 10 gallons in the shell or a half-gallon of meat. Snorkeling harvesters will need a saltwater fishing license, though those with no-cost shoreline license who wade for their scallops are exempt, as long as their feet stay on the bottom.
Guide bites
Capt. Josh Fritz (352-345-9304): Capt. Josh says there are lots of northbound tarpon schools on the deep flats off the Hernando coast, and he’s been putting his anglers on some big fish. The action will be continuing at least through this month. Redfish action has been good, with fish bunching up around rocky, outside points and small islands from Hudson north to the Pine Island area. These spots are where some snook are hanging out, as well. Look for a few big trout on shallow bars in the same areas where the reds and snook are. Offshore, the red snapper bite has been in 90 to 110 feet of water, where angles likely will pick up some keeper red grouper, as well. Yellowtail snapper are schooling in the same depths, so having a light spinning rig on hand and some live shrimp is a good idea.
Capt. Mike Senker (352-584-6297): Capt. Mike had a few good trips over the past week, fishing from 50 to 150 feet of water. In the shallower range the main catch has been mangrove snapper and hogfish, but starting in 90 feet and working out to 150, he’s putting his anglers on limits of red snapper and red grouper. Bonus catches have been lane, yellowtail and vermillion snapper, along with porgies. He reports the water offshore has been “blue, clear and beautiful.” He noted a surface water temperature offshore of 82 degrees.
Capt. Matt Cowden (727-534-6603): The snook fishing has been great on the beaches. The smaller males are taking live sardines and the big females are taking live grunts. They are out of season and must be released. Reds have been abundant and hanging close to the shade on mangroves on high water to stay cool. Fresh cut bait is tops. Tarpon are around is good numbers, as are the sharks that pursue them. Hooking both is a good bet on either fresh cut bait or live bait.
Hernando tackle shop roundup
Mary's Fish Camp (352-597-3474): The mullet fishing has picked up quite a bit over the past week. Fishing in the Mud River from the seawall behind the camp store, resident hook-and-line mullet expert Chip and buddy Morgan landed 40 over a couple of days, with fish ranging up to about 2 pounds. He said the only other thing being landed behind the shop now is catfish. Anglers fishing the river may want to test the waters around the springhead just up river from the camp. The cooler water there generally attracts a number of species like snook, redfish, snapper and sheepshead. Live shrimp is a good bait for all four species.
Pasco & North Pinellas tackle shop roundup
Tarpon Trading Company (727-937-1488): Larry says the west beach at Anclote Key is covered up with snook, from smaller males to big females in the surf just off the shoreline. He didn’t try for any when there over the weekend, but when he saw a school of tarpon moving by, he waded out and made a case on light spinning tackle and a jig with a paddle tail. A tarpon of about 80 pounds grabbed it and jumped before spitting the hook. He figures he never could have landed it, anyway. He tried for another when a second school came by but instead hooked a jack that was about 24 inches long. He said there was a massive amount of baitfish there. A regular at the shop took some reds off the spoils coming out of the Anclote River and a few reds were landed around the causeway bridges at Fred Howard Park. Another angler fishing the causeway landed a few snook to 36 inches on a twitch bait, but got a surprise tarpon, which he battled for 10 minutes before it spit the bait. An angler fishing the south end of Three Rooker Bar south of Anclote Key landed some nice trout. He noted that there were some snook at the bar, as well. Offshore, anglers reported red snapper between 80 and 90 feet of water, with several nice fish landed on a trip, along with some big mangrove snapper, a couple of keeper red grouper and lots of gag grouper that were released due to the closed season.
The Rusty Bucket (727-645-6598): Capt. Bill reports snook are on all the beaches, with fish from Durney Key at the mouth of the Cottee River south to Honeymoon Island. They are laying in the sandy shallows, making sight-casting easy. Swim baits will take some, with live grunts or croakers, along with big scaled sardines good natural baits. The big fish are spawning now and the season is closed, so land them quickly, get your pictures and release them, swishing them to run water over their gills to ensure they are fit to swim on their own. Redfish have been great on the shallow flats along the Pasco coastline. The Gulf is very warm and that means fresh cut bait fished on the bottom around mangroves, rocks and bars is the ticket. Offshore, the red snapper bite is on. The best catches have been coming from around 125 feet of water. Yellowtail snapper schools are thick in the same depth. A small jig head baited with a live shrimp is the best bait for those. Fishing the jig in a chum slick is a good tactic. The yellowtails are excellent on the table.
Cooper's Bait & Tackle (727-868-8736): Bill says a couple of anglers reported taking redfish in Hudson canals. The fish are hanging in the shade of docks to beat the heat. Live shrimp will get them and will likely take a few mangrove snapper in the process. Some sheepshead are in the canals, as well, but they have been small. Encountering a snook or two in the canals is possible, but most anglers report they are not willing feeders. Lots of sharks are on the flats, with fish ranging from small to quite large.
Offshore anglers have been buying a lot of gear for red snapper, though they haven’t been coming back with any info on how the bite is going.
