Scallop season opens in Tampa Bay counties

State of play: The season began on July 1 for Tampa Bay's northernmost counties, Citrus and Hernando, and will continue through Sept. 24.

• Pasco County — which banned the practice from 1994 to 2018 due to a depleted scallop population — opens its season on Thursday and runs to Aug. 18.

Between the lines: You must have a saltwater fishing license to participate in the hunt, unless you're wading from shore to collect scallops or on a licensed charter.

• The daily limit is 10 gallons of whole scallops per boat or two gallons per person.
• Harvesting is allowed only by hand or with a landing or dip net.