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Crystal River · July 1 – Sept 24 (2026 and each year)

Crystal River Scalloping Charters

Private scalloping trips out of Crystal River, July 1 – Sept 24 (2026 and each year, set by FWC rule), on a 27' catamaran or the 35' with a bathroom. Snorkel gear, cooler, ice and shucking included.

Family of six on the bow of a Native Charters boat with a mesh bag of bay scallops

When is scallop season in Crystal River?

July 1 through September 24 in 2026 and each year in the Crystal River and Homosassa zone, set by FWC rule. Limit: 2 gallons of whole scallops or 1 pint of meat per person; 10 gallons whole or half a gallon of meat per boat. No license needed on our charter. FWC can close a zone mid-season; we check before every trip. Full details in our scallop season guide.

Trips & prices

Scalloping trips on two boats

Morning, afternoon, full day or a fishing and scalloping combo, on the 27' catamaran or as the Luxury tier on the 35' with a private bathroom. Up to 6 guests, $50 per extra person.

Compare all rates
Group of six on the bow of a boat holding a yellow mesh bag full of bay scallops Seasonal 27 ft Families

Scalloping — 27' Catamaran

Snorkel the shallow grass flats for bay scallops on the 27' AmeraCat. Morning, afternoon, full-day or fishing-combo trips from $550.

4–8 hours Crystal River scallop grounds Up to 6 on board
  • Morning trip · 4 hours · 8:00 AM$550
  • Afternoon trip · 4 hours · 1:00 PM$550
  • Full day · 7 hours · 7:00 AM$895
  • Fishing & scalloping combo · 8 hours · 8:00 AM$995
From$550for up to 2 · morning or afternoon · +$50/person
Book Details
Three adults on the bow of a boat holding up a mesh bag of bay scallops Seasonal 35 ft Families

Luxury Scalloping — 35' Center Console

Our scalloping trips on the 35' center console, with a full private bathroom and a shaded deck on board. From $750.

4–8 hours Crystal River scallop grounds Up to 6 on board
  • Morning trip · 4 hours · 8:00 AM$750
  • Afternoon trip · 4 hours · 1:00 PM$750
  • Full day · 7 hours · 7:00 AM$1,095
  • Fishing & scalloping combo · 8 hours · 8:00 AM$1,195
From$750for up to 2 · morning or afternoon · +$50/person
Book by phone
Call Details

Scalloping is snorkeling for bay scallops over the shallow grass flats off Crystal River and scooping them up by hand or with a dip net. It takes no fishing skill, so kids and non-anglers pick it up as fast as anyone. We help you find them, and we shuck them for you at the end.

Morning (8:00 AM) and afternoon (1:00 PM) trips run 4 hours. The full day is 7 hours from 7:00 AM, and the 8-hour Fishing & Scalloping Combo from 8:00 AM adds fishing to the day. Snorkel, mask and fins, water, ice, a cooler, cleaning and packaging of your catch, and pictures of the day are included.

The same trips run on either boat. The 27′ AmeraCat catamaran has a huge dive ladder for getting in and out and starts from $550 for up to 2 guests. The Luxury tier on the 35′ center console adds a full private bathroom and more deck space, from $750.

Both boats carry up to 6 at $50 per extra person. Our FWC charter license covers scallop harvest for everyone on board, so nobody needs a license.

Target species

What you'll be catching

Bay scallops are the target. On the Fishing & Scalloping Combo you'll also fish for whatever is biting that day.

All fish we catch

What to expect

How a scalloping trip goes

  1. 1
    Meet at our private launch

    Morning trips start at 8:00 AM, afternoon trips at 1:00 PM, full days at 7:00 AM and the combo at 8:00 AM. We send the launch location before your trip date, and there's a guest bathroom on site before you board.

  2. 2
    Run to the grass flats

    We head out to the shallow grass flats off Crystal River and put up the divers-down flag. Everyone snorkels close to the boat, inside the distance from the flag that FWC requires.

  3. 3
    Snorkel and scoop

    Mask, snorkel and fins are on board. Scallops sit on the grass in shallow water; you spot them, pick them up by hand or with a dip net, and drop them in your bag. We help you find them.

  4. 4
    Fill your limit

    The limit is 2 gallons of whole scallops or 1 pint of meat per person, and 10 gallons whole or half a gallon of meat per boat. Morning and afternoon trips are 4 hours, the full day 7, and the combo 8 with fishing added.

  5. 5
    Shucked and packed

    We clean and package your scallops and they go in the cooler on ice. Bring a towel and a snack, and a small cooler in your vehicle for the ride home.

Questions

Questions about crystal river scalloping charters

All FAQs

No. Native Charters FL is an FWC-licensed charter, and that license covers every guest on board. You do not need your own Florida saltwater fishing license or the State Reef Fish Angler designation. The same coverage applies to scalloping. Just bring a valid ID.

Everything you need to fish: rods, reels, tackle, bait, ice and water, plus fishing license coverage for everyone on board. At the dock we clean and bag your catch, and on inshore and scalloping trips we take pictures for you. Scalloping trips add snorkel, mask, fins and a cooler.

The Overnight Middle Grounds charter also includes food and snacks. On every other trip, you bring your own food, drinks and sun protection.

Yes, children are welcome, and the 27' AmeraCat in particular is set up for kids, families, first-time anglers and seniors. On the 27' catamaran, children under 6 years old or 60 pounds or less must wear a life jacket at all times. On the 35', we ask that kids be 4 or older.

For long offshore runs on the 35', call us first so we can talk through your child's age and the length of the day.

July 1 through Sept 24 each year in the Crystal River and Homosassa zone (Levy, Citrus and Hernando counties), so the 2026 season is July 1 – Sept 24. FWC sets the dates by rule but can close a zone mid-season for water quality or low scallop numbers. It did that in two other Gulf zones in 2026, so we check FWC before every trip.

2 gallons of whole scallops in the shell, or 1 pint of meat, per person per day. The boat limit is 10 gallons whole or half a gallon of meat, and it never lets one person exceed their own limit. There is no minimum size. Scallops may only be taken by hand or with a dip net, which is how we do it.

From our own private launch in Crystal River: no public ramp, no waiting behind trailers, no fighting for parking before sunrise. Your captain provides the location details before your trip date.

The launch has a clean guest bathroom for before and after the trip, and a proper fish cleaning station, so you leave with bagged fillets. It sits right on the river channel, which keeps the run to the fishing grounds short.

Man at the helm of a white center console boat with twin Yamaha outboards on calm water

Book a scalloping trip

Book the catamaran trips online, or call 352-770-2520 between 5 AM and 9 PM for either boat. Tell us the ages in your group and we'll suggest the boat and the time of day.