Florida scallop bag limits for 2026 is 2 gallons of whole scallops per person, or 1 pint of meat. The boat limit is 10 gallons. If you’re scalloping near Steinhatchee, the rule changes for two weeks: from June 15 to June 30, you can only keep 1 gallon per person. The full limit starts July 1.
TL;DR
- Standard limit: 2 gallons whole (or 1 pint meat) per person, 10 gallons per boat
- Steinhatchee mini-season (June 15-30): 1 gallon whole (or 1 cup meat) per person, 5 gallons per boat
- Standard season starts: July 1, runs through Labor Day
- No minimum size limit. Hand or dip net only.
- Book a Steinhatchee trip with Cabins on the Corner: call (352) 646-4222
Florida Scallop Bag Limits by Zone for 2026
Florida splits bay scallop season into five zones. Each zone opens on a different date, and two zones share the same standard limit.
| Zone | Season Dates 2026 | Per Person | Per Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph Bay & Gulf County | Aug. 16 – Sept. 24 | 2 gal shell / 1 pt meat | 10 gal shell / 4 pt meat |
| Franklin to NW Taylor County | July 1 – Sept. 24 | 2 gal shell / 1 pt meat | 10 gal shell / 4 pt meat |
| Fenholloway to Suwannee (Steinhatchee) | June 15 – Labor Day | See below | See below |
| Levy, Citrus & Hernando | July 1 – Sept. 24 | 2 gal shell / 1 pt meat | 10 gal shell / 4 pt meat |
| Pasco County | July 10 – Aug. 18 | 2 gal shell / 1 pt meat | 10 gal shell / 4 pt meat |
Four of the five zones share the same standard number. Steinhatchee sits in the fifth zone, and its rules work differently for the first two weeks of the season.
Steinhatchee Scallop Bag Limit for 2026
Steinhatchee falls inside the Fenholloway to Suwannee zone, and this zone runs a two-part limit. The season opens June 15, but the full limit does not kick in right away.
June 15 to June 30 brings a smaller catch window. Each person can keep 1 gallon of whole scallops in the shell or 1 cup of shucked meat. A boat can hold 5 gallons in the shell or 2 pints of meat.
July 1 through Labor Day brings the standard rule. Each person can keep 2 gallons of whole scallops or 1 pint of meat. The boat limit rises to 10 gallons in the shell or 1/2 gallon of meat.
Guests at Cabins on the Corner who book an early-season trip to Steinhatchee should plan around the smaller June limit. A late-June or July booking gets the full daily haul.
Per-Person and Per-Vessel Limits Explained
A boat limit is not the same thing as a personal limit. Four people on a boat do not multiply their limit by four once the boat hits its cap.
Each scalloper still answers to their own personal number. A parent cannot fill a child’s bag past what one boat is allowed to hold. The vessel cap sets the hard stop for everyone aboard combined, and no single harvester can go over their own share inside that cap.
This rule matters most on a full boat. A family of six scalloping out of Steinhatchee will hit the 10-gallon vessel cap long before any one person reaches a personal 2-gallon limit.
License Rules for Scallopers
Florida requires a saltwater fishing license to harvest bay scallops. A handful of groups skip this step under a listed exemption.
You do not need a license if you are under 16, or if you are a Florida resident age 65 or older. Florida residents holding a disabled person’s hunting and fishing license also qualify for the exemption. Active military members home on leave for 30 days or less do not need one either.
Anyone scalloping from a licensed charter boat is covered under the captain’s license. A no-cost shoreline license also works for waders who keep their feet on the bottom and never use a boat, snorkel, or scuba gear to reach the water.
Cabins on the Corner guests booking a Steinhatchee charter through the property skip the license question entirely, since the boat’s captain license covers the trip.
Gear and Size Rules
Florida sets no minimum size limit for bay scallops. Any legal-size catch counts toward your bag.
Harvesters can only use their hands or a landing net or dip net. Any other gear breaks the rule, and commercial harvest of bay scallops stays banned across the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many scallops per person can you keep in Florida?
You can keep 2 gallons of whole scallops in the shell, or 1 pint of scallop meat, per person during the standard season.
What is the scallop possession limit in Florida?
The possession limit matches the daily bag limit: 2 gallons whole or 1 pint of meat per person, and 10 gallons whole or 1/2 gallon of meat per boat.
Is the bag limit different in Steinhatchee?
Yes. Steinhatchee sits in the Fenholloway to Suwannee zone, where the limit drops to 1 gallon per person from June 15 through June 30 before rising to the standard 2 gallons on July 1.
Do boat limits override personal limits?
No. The boat limit is a shared cap for everyone aboard. No single harvester can exceed their own personal limit even if the boat has not reached its cap.
Is there a minimum size limit for bay scallops?
No. Florida sets no minimum size for bay scallops.
Book Your Steinhatchee Scallop Trip
The Florida scallop bag limit for 2026 gives every harvester a clear number to fish by, and Steinhatchee’s early window makes local knowledge worth having. Check our Scallop Season Dates post for the full statewide calendar, and pack right using our scalloping gear checklist before you launch.
Cabins on the Corner sits close to the water in Steinhatchee, FL, with cabins and boat access built for scallop season. Check availability and book your stay now, or call (352) 646-4222 to lock in your dates before peak season fills up.