Safety checklist for scalloping

Breambuster · Post by **Breambuster** » July 5th, 2007, 5:00 pm

Planning for my first attempt at scalloping this Saturday and want to make sure I dont get into trouble with the FWC. I got the required boat safety items covered. What other stuff do I need? I believe a dive flag - where can I get one? I will be going out of Keaton beach. Also, some veniger incase someone run into a gellyfish. Thanks for the help.

Breambuster · Post by **Breambuster** » July 5th, 2007, 5:16 pm

"All scallopers must use a dive flag. When scalloping from a boat, a red and white diver-down flag at least 20 inches by 24 inches must be displayed from the highest point on the boat. Or, each swimmer must be tethered to a buoyed 12-inch-by-12-inch dive flag."

Found the above from the FWC website. Does that mean that if you have a diver-down flag on the boat, those in the water do not need to tow a buoyed dive flag?

BTW, where can you buy one in Perry? Or do the Keaton Beach marina sell them?

Post by **SHOWBOAT** » July 5th, 2007, 5:57 pm

correct, one the boat is good for all the swimmers. I would assume KBM sells them, most places do, but I am not sure of that.

Also good are:
cooler with lots of ice
mesh bags-1/swimmer
dive masks and snorkels
some refreshments for the "danger spotter/cleaner"-danger is usually other boats as oppossed to sharks
putty knife/scallop cleaner if keeping the 1/2 gallon cleaned

Have fun

Breambuster · Post by **Breambuster** » July 5th, 2007, 6:03 pm

Showboat, thank you so much.

flatfish · Post by **flatfish** » July 5th, 2007, 9:15 pm

I use one large flag for the boat, and I tow a smaller flag on a float tied to my ankle with fifty foot of small diameter rope. This allows you to venture farther than 100 ft from the boat in search of the blue eyed bottom resident. I have been checked in the past and got a warning due to being to far from the boat. Towing the small flag on a float is effortless and much safer. Glad to get the warning as now I am much safer as is my family.

Have fun.

Flatfish

Post by **bman** » July 5th, 2007, 11:19 pm

Showboat got it-

I go barefoot- but a lot of people like to have water shoes on...
My wife likes a small net to scoop up unknown stuff.
and we Cary a few crab nets just in case we see a blue crab.

Get WATERPROOF SUNTAN LOTION or put on a t shirt...
Your back will burn and you will never realize it.

Have fun!

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » July 6th, 2007, 10:53 am

Plan on shucking on the water. I assume that you know how to shuck them but don't try to figure it out yourself cause it can be real ugly. It's not difficult but there's definately a method. I got my schoolin by old time St Joe folks.

Post by **mjsigns** » July 6th, 2007, 11:06 am

After going the 4th, you will may need:

1- Check your tow insurance

2- Take some fins (help you to stay down and collect more)
3- some snug fitting gardening cloves (I got pinched 50x and cut 20x)
4- Take a regular kitchen spoon (nothing fancy)

Of course mask/snorkel, a cleaning person, a dive buddy, and one person for shark watch.

Post by **wevans** » July 6th, 2007, 11:07 am

And most important of all, make SURE that you have a good anchor and that it is locked into the bottom before venturing away from the boat "double check all knots also"

Post by **bman** » July 6th, 2007, 11:15 am

wevans wrote:And most important of all, make SURE that you have a good anchor and that it is locked into the bottom before venturing away from the boat "double check all knots also"

I had a boat drift off once when I was scalloping with a bunch of friends in High School
Now we put out two

Breambuster · Post by **Breambuster** » July 6th, 2007, 11:47 am

I have never shuck a scallop before. What's the secret Littoral?

Thanks guys. Keep it coming.

Post by **bman** » July 6th, 2007, 12:22 pm

I posted this in a recipe's thread...
Look there for some tips on how to cook them

Here is the best guide to cleaning a scallop I have seen...
http://www.afn.org/~gofc/Cleaning.html

Ask someone to show you the first time- It is a little tricker than you think.
After you clean them store them in the fridge - if you want to freeze cover them with water first.

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » July 6th, 2007, 1:01 pm

bman wrote:I posted this in a recipe's thread...
Look there for some tips on how to cook them

This has to happen, eat the first one you find without cooking it. I absolutely guarantee you'll eat more that way. They're sweet sweet sweet. The man can't check you for them either.
That site posted by Bman is great. The trick is getting a feel for pulling the inards over the attached muscle. You'll get it.
Also, I don't cotton to no spoon for scalloping-I'd get a scallop knife at RMS in Medart -or whereever you find one. The problem with a spoon is if (usually) the shell is closed then you don't have a point to get in. You also have to learn to make your initial cut over the muscle fit the contour of the shell so you don't lose any meat. Again, you'll get it.

Post by **Tom Keels** » July 6th, 2007, 1:12 pm

Littoral wrote: Also, I don't cotton to no spoon for scalloping-I'd get a scallop knife at RMS in Medart -or whereever you find one. The problem with a spoon is if (usually) the shell is closed then you don't have a point to get in. You also have to learn to make your initial cut over the muscle fit the contour of the shell so you don't lose any meat. Again, you'll get it.

With practice grasshopper, you too will learn to snatch the scallop with the spoon.

I can clean them faster with a spoon than anyone I know. And you can get them open with a spoon if you know how.

TallyFish · Post by **TallyFish** » July 6th, 2007, 2:05 pm

Sounds as if this may be a subject for demonstration at a NFGFC meeting.