Scalloping is one of the most unique and invigorating outdoor activities that
Florida’s Sports Coast has to offer. Think of it as a combination boat trip, snorkeling excursion, and underwater Easter egg hunt.
Instead of popping in for the day to scallop, why not make it a short vacation so you can explore the many delights of Florida’s Sports Coast a little deeper? Here’s a sample itinerary that will give you all you need to know to plan a three-day, two-night visit.
Scalloping has a roughly five-week season in mid-summer. It runs from July 10 to August 18 in 2026, but over the years, there have been minor changes to those dates, so it’s best to check.
Some experienced scallopers trailer a boat to Florida’s Sports Coast and go out on their own. But for a hassle-free experience, it’s best to hire one of our expert charter captains. Most of them offer four-hour and eight-hour outings. However, keep in mind that scalloping is very popular, so it’s best to book in advance.
The operators will provide snorkel gear, fishing licenses, mesh bags for collecting scallops, and coolers with ice to keep them fresh on the boat. And best of all: The captains know where to take you to maximize your scallop haul.
What you should bring: sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, a lightweight long-sleeve fishing shirt, a hat, a towel, and water shoes or dive booties.
The coastal town of New Port Richey is an ideal place to set up your scalloping HQ. It has docks and marinas from which the charters depart. Other good options are Hudson and Holiday.
You’ll need a place to stay, of course. If you’re like most visiting scallopers who want to prepare and eat their catch, it’s best to find a vacation rental or use one of the many places to stay in the area. If you want to add some Old Florida character to your stay, consider the lovely Hôtel Hacienda historique in the heart of downtown New Port Richey. A reminder: Because it’s scalloping season, you’ll want to book any accommodations in advance.
After you check in, we suggest taking a leisurely stroll through New Port Richey’s walkable downtown, where you can browse boutiques, galleries, and shops, and perhaps stop in for a cold one at one of four craft breweries that are all within a few blocks of each other. Parc des Sims is right there, alongside the Pithlachascoatee (“Cotee”) River. With its playground and splash pad, the 15-acre park is an ideal stop if you’re bringing along smaller children.
For dinner, New Port Richey has an array of locally owned and chain restaurants, but in keeping with the nautical theme of your visit, try Bar et grill Get Hooked, adjacent to the Cotee River. Another option is to drive a couple of miles north to Catches Waterfront Grill, which sits on the river in Port Richey.
For a more upscale experience, consider Seafire Grill et Estuaire.
Get a good night’s sleep. You’ll want to be well rested for your scalloping adventure tomorrow!
friendly, helpful, and ready to treat you to an unforgettable day on the water. Since the best scalloping is usually found one to five miles from shore in water that’s four to eight feet deep, you can expect approximately a 30–45-minute boat ride. Sit back, enjoy the view, the morning sun, and the breeze. If you’re doing a full-day charter, you’ll want to bring lunch, but for purposes of this sample excursion, we’re using the half-day trip.
Once your captain has found the perfect spot, it’s time to slip on those flippers, fit that mask, grab your mesh bag — and in you go! You’ll skim along the surface until you see the glint of scallop shells. Then dive down, grab as many as you can, put them in the bag, surface, and deposit them in the cooler on the boat. Down you go again — and again. Scalloping isn’t particularly difficult, but it sure is exhilarating.
Your goal is to harvest the state-mandated limit: two gallons of whole scallops in the shell per person (or one pint of cleaned meat); 10 gallons in the shell per boat (or a half gallon of cleaned meat). That’s a lot of scallops. Luckily, the charter will keep track for you.
Back at the dock: Cleaning the scallops you found is part of the full experience — all you need is a spoon. Charter personnel will demonstrate the process and give you pointers.
Your haul of newly cleaned mollusks is as fresh as it’s ever going to be, so try something novel: Take your scallops to Bar et grill Get Hooked — a “cook-your-catch” restaurant — where the kitchen staff will prepare them in a variety of ways, and serve them to you then and there. The restaurant has two locations — in downtown New Port Richey and in Hudson.
You may have some time left this afternoon, so feel free to recharge with a nap after all the excitement. But if you’re still up for some exploring, and you want an authentic natural Florida experience, head over to Parc sauvage Jay B. Starkey. You’ll find 8,000 acres of pine flatwoods, cypress domes, freshwater marshes and more. It brims with wildlife, including alligators (at a distance), deer, and a wide array of birds. The park has several paved, multi-use trails and boardwalks. And here’s a bonus: The entrance to the park is only five miles from downtown New Port Richey.
Dinner: If you’re staying at a vacation rental and planning to prepare your own scallops, now’s the time. You’ll enjoy a seafood feast of Atlantic bay scallops, which are smaller, more delicate, and sweeter than commercial sea scallops.
If, on the other hand, you’re planning to eat out, you’ll have plenty of dinner options in New Port Richey and beyond.
Afterward, you can catch a gorgeous sunset from a dock or Sims Park. For something special, book a sunset cruise that takes you out on the Gulf and around a group of eight stilt houses, wooden structures suspended above the water on pilings. About a half mile offshore, they were originally fish camps in the early 1900s.
Please, don’t check out and leave — there’s plenty more to do on Florida’s Sports Coast! Get fueled up at a nice breakfast spot. La cuisine à gratter d'Herschel et Christina’s Cafe & Cantina are two great options right on Main Street in New Port Richey.
More Outdoor Activities, plenty of options:
Head out to Parc d'État d'Anclote Key — This four-mile-long, pristine island features white-sand beaches, dunes, sea oats, mangroves, and sandbars. It’s about four miles from the coastline. You can take a ferry, or — if you’re up for some wind-in-your-hair adventure — buzz out there on a rented jet ski from Riviera Sports nautiques. Make sure to check out the Anclote Key Lighthouse, which was built in 1887.
Get wet at one of several waterparks on Florida’s Sports Coast. Le Parc Aventure Ascenseur is truly something unique, with its overhead cable system for wakeboarding. Lagon d'Epperson is a man-made water fun park that’s set up like a beach. It even has waves that are created mechanically and a floating obstacle course.
Looking for something more natural? Rent a kayak and paddle through mangrove tunnels, salt-marsh flats, and tea-colored channels at Parc d'État de Werner-Boyce Salt Springs, a 4,000-acre preserve that’s located on U.S. Highway 19 in Port Richey.
If you love historic downtowns, drive east to Ville de Dade, with its walkable, Old Florida vibe. It’s a few miles east of I-275, and there’s a good chance you’ll be heading in that direction anyway.
Drive safe. You’ll arrive home with an elated feeling of time well spent in the outdoors. And you might even have some leftover scallops in a cooler!
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