PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Sunday marks the last day of scallop season in Pasco County and boat captains say it was a successful year.
- Scallop season hits Pasco County for 2nd year in a row
- Pasco hasn't had scallop season since 1994
- RELATED:
Tina Scroggins normally scallops in Citrus County, but decided to give Pasco a try this year.
“I have heard a lot of really good things about how the scallops are supposed to be thick out here,” Scroggins said.
According to pre-season counts from Florida Fish and Wildlife, Pasco County has about five percent more scallops than they did last year.
“They’re really deep this year, the sea grass is really tall, so they’ve had to go right down to the sand where the sea grass starts but they’ve been getting them,” said boat Captain Larry Zuccolo.
This is the second year Pasco County has had a scallop season. Before last year they hadn’t had one since 1994.
The county has been working to bring more people to scallop in Pasco spreading the word through social media influencers and other media.
“I think this year it’s really been a great start. You know we have a lot of momentum behind us last year not knowing if we were going to get this continued season and this year it’s really like 'Ok scallop season is here to stay in Pasco County now what are we going to do with it',” said Kolby Kucyk Gayson with Experience Florida’s Sport Coast.
While they don’t have tourism numbers for this season just yet, it’s a momentum everyone here hopes to continue for future scallop seasons.
“It’s great, it’s just extra business for the revenue people — have a great time. If we don’t catch scallops we’ll run over to Anclote Key to do a little fishing,” Zuccolo said.
Scallop season continues in Hernando and Citrus Counties until September 24.