Scallop Advice

This area is for general discussions about fishing, rigging, baits, etc.
Image

Moderators: bman, Chalk, Tom Keels

Post Reply
leesburgga
Posts: 201
Joined: March 12th, 2009, 9:07 pm
Location: Leesburg, Ga

Scallop Advice

Post by leesburgga »

Looks like we got a last minute chance to get some scalloping in this weekend. We normally wait until mid-August or so before we go. Looking for any advice -- we typically go to St. Marks or Keaton (Grassy Island). Any thoughts on which one? I also have noticed that scallops seem to be deeper in the reports that I am reading. Are folks still finding that to the be the case? Thanks in advance and see you out there!
User avatar
Reel Cowboy
Site Sponsor
Posts: 5552
Joined: September 22nd, 2006, 10:45 am
Location: Dallas, Tx
Contact:

Re: Scallop Advice

Post by Reel Cowboy »

St. Marks & deep
In the words of the great Doc Holliday, "I'll be your huckleberry"
User avatar
lordsfisher
Site Sponsor
Posts: 442
Joined: October 17th, 2008, 9:29 pm
Contact:

Re: Scallop Advice

Post by lordsfisher »

Do areas that have been picked over re-populate over the summer? In other words, do new scallops migrate in to replace the ones picked up?
"O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you." Psalm 84:12
Hammer
Posts: 158
Joined: March 25th, 2007, 8:19 am

Re: Scallop Advice

Post by Hammer »

Plan on carrying a new scalloper saturday and would like to know a little more about how deep. I guess we can just look for the crowd.
User avatar
Reel Cowboy
Site Sponsor
Posts: 5552
Joined: September 22nd, 2006, 10:45 am
Location: Dallas, Tx
Contact:

Re: Scallop Advice

Post by Reel Cowboy »

Hammer wrote: I guess we can just look for the crowd.

That's probably the best way to do it.
In the words of the great Doc Holliday, "I'll be your huckleberry"
User avatar
lonesouth
Site Sponsor
Posts: 572
Joined: May 26th, 2010, 11:25 am
Location: Tallahassee

Re: Scallop Advice

Post by lonesouth »

Hammer, 7-10', definitely diving for them. We are headed out tomorrow(leaving tally) @8, put in at the light house.
850-273-8818
Rainman
Site Sponsor
Posts: 257
Joined: June 16th, 2006, 2:31 pm
Location: Tallahassee

Re: Scallop Advice

Post by Rainman »

It's been tough out there. I've been picking them up in about 5ft give or take, depending on the tide... Limits are taking all day and a three man limit is the absolute most we have gotten. This weekends low is in the early afternoon so my area will be in the 3ft range. I have been going back to the same places and picking them up so they do "repopulate" the same areas. This is St. Marks. We actually found a few out at Ocklocknee Shoals on Tuesday... They had barnacles on the shells.

I'd like to hear more about the deep water. Are you talking about out by the stake line and farther? Or inside the stake line? I've not looked out that deep but I may give it a try this weekend, especially with the low tide.
User avatar
lonesouth
Site Sponsor
Posts: 572
Joined: May 26th, 2010, 11:25 am
Location: Tallahassee

Re: Scallop Advice

Post by lonesouth »

When we have gone out, the flotilla has been about 1/2 mile west of the rock garden. We pulled into the outskirts of the RG, but didn't find anything that shallow. It was a little ways before we started seeing them again. That was 2 weeks ago, and they may have moved in since then, but I'm planning on starting in the 8' range and move as required.
850-273-8818
User avatar
mean24
Posts: 32
Joined: June 13th, 2011, 4:50 pm
Location: tallahassee

Re: Scallop Advice

Post by mean24 »

Filled an entire cooler in 45 mins at keaton (sun). St marks on wednesday not near as good. filled the cooler but took 4 hours. and jelly fish everywhere. have to float over all of them.
User avatar
Hit-n-Miss
Posts: 3522
Joined: May 20th, 2004, 12:15 pm
Location: Boston Ga.

Re: Scallop Advice

Post by Hit-n-Miss »

mean24 wrote:Filled an entire cooler in 45 mins at keaton (sun). St marks on wednesday not near as good. filled the cooler but took 4 hours. and jelly fish everywhere. have to float over all of them.
How deep of water at Keaton?
User avatar
Reel Cowboy
Site Sponsor
Posts: 5552
Joined: September 22nd, 2006, 10:45 am
Location: Dallas, Tx
Contact:

Re: Scallop Advice

Post by Reel Cowboy »

mean24 wrote:Filled an entire cooler in 45 mins at keaton (sun).

Come on man, don't say there are scallops at Keaton. I was thinking about fishing this weekend.
In the words of the great Doc Holliday, "I'll be your huckleberry"
leesburgga
Posts: 201
Joined: March 12th, 2009, 9:07 pm
Location: Leesburg, Ga

Re: Scallop Advice

Post by leesburgga »

Headed toward Keaton while watching radar Saturday morning and storm hanging over Keaton not moving. When we hit 98, we took a right instead of a left and went to St. Mark's. Only my 11-year old son and me. We took our time and enjoyed ourselves. Mostly stayed out from Rock Garden and could have filled our two man limit. Found most of them in 3-4 foot. Moved to about 6-7 foot one time considering the reports I had been seeing, but could not see the bottom with the overcast skies.

When we finished scalloping, we rode out to about 10-11 feet and threw some poles out with some pinfish we caught earlier on squid. My son caught bluefish and ladyfish while I cleaned the scallops. Great day and ready to go again.
juan sapatos
Posts: 48
Joined: September 24th, 2006, 1:00 pm

Re: Scallop Advice

Post by juan sapatos »

We've gone twice out of St. Marks. The first time was about 2 weeks ago. We had a hard time mostly looking around the giant scallop armada. We picked up a couple gallons, but they seemed few and far between. Tried a different spot last Sunday with much better results. My suggestion is that if you go in the morning before the wind blows you can drift along with the tide and see them on the bottom from the boat. Don't get in the water until you start seeing them. For us, a different spot just a few hundred yards away made all the difference. The scallops were very nice sized.
Nature Red in Tooth and Claw
User avatar
flatsbroke
Site Sponsor
Posts: 224
Joined: April 27th, 2011, 5:50 pm
Location: Coolidge, Ga.

Re: Scallop Advice

Post by flatsbroke »

juan sapatos wrote:We've gone twice out of St. Marks. The first time was about 2 weeks ago. We had a hard time mostly looking around the giant scallop armada. We picked up a couple gallons, but they seemed few and far between. Tried a different spot last Sunday with much better results. My suggestion is that if you go in the morning before the wind blows you can drift along with the tide and see them on the bottom from the boat. Don't get in the water until you start seeing them. For us, a different spot just a few hundred yards away made all the difference. The scallops were very nice sized.
:thumbup: :thumbup:
Flatsbroke
Post Reply