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CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — Scallop season in Pasco County got cut short due to contamination in the water.
But that hasn’t stopped scalloping in other areas along Florida’s coast. In Citrus County, scalloping has been able to continue without pause. Charters are taking advantage of the continued season and what it holds.
It’s a welcome sound to all who enjoy Florida’s waters: a boat engine firing up. And, readying the boat to head out on the water for Labor Day weekend is a busy period for charter Capt. Gary Bartell and his crew at Ozello Keys Marina.
“We’ve had one of the best scallop seasons that we’ve seen in a very long time,” Bartell said.
This comes at a vital time for charters like Bartell’s, and the local economy. The season was cut short in Pasco County due to contaminants in the water for a second year in a row, so people are looking for other options.
“We can see the effects of it because our books started filling up a lot faster than it normally does,” said Bartell. “Labor Day weekend is, typically, a last-minute booking, and then it gets really crazy busy. Whereas this time there is more planning behind it.”
The shortened season down south has meant an increase in traffic for charters further north. Like Capt. Teddy Shupe and his Reel Addict Fishing Charters.
“I have had a lot of people come from that area up here to harvest our scallops, which does increase business for us again and safely,” said Shupe. “You can harvest the scallops and not have to worry about that type of thing.”
Having the added traffic, Shupe said, has been a bonus.
“It’s very nice to wake up every day and know, ‘Hey, I’m going to be on the water today,’” he said. “And continue booking trips into the next month and the next month after that.”
Bartell says they are fully booked for scallop charters this Labor Day weekend. He said they are also getting prepped for grouper season, which begins Sept. 1.
Scallop season is open until Sept. 24 in Hernando and Citrus counties.
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Calvin Lewis
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