07/31/2026
GOFC will hold a Members Only Scalloping "Learnament" and Social Event on TOMORROW, Saturday, August 1, 2026 in Steinhatchee.
Register at:
https://gofc.us/tourney-stats/tournament-registration/
What is it?
So far, the 2026 scalloping season in Steinhatchee has been one of the most productive in recent memory. Weather permitting, GOFC will hold a scalloping learnament and social event on Saturday, August 1st. The event will be an opportunity for members who have never tried scalloping before to get some tips and tactics from those who make it an annual tradition. It will also be a great opportunity for experienced members to enjoy a bit of camaraderie and relaxation on the water.
The abundance of scallops this year has attracted scallopers from across Florida and all around the Southeast. To beat the crowds, and secure easy parking, we encourage everyone to arrive at the ramp in Steinhatchee around 7am. We will rendezvous in the river north of the main channel just downstream from where Roy's restaurant used to stand. A map showing the location is included below. We will depart from the meeting point at 8am sharp and travel as a group to the scalloping grounds.
We will likely be collecting scallops in 6-7 feet of water, so it is recommend that all participants be strong swimmers, experienced with snorkeling, and capable of diving to the bottom and collecting scallops in up to 7' feet of water.
During the outing, board members will be present to answer questions and demonstrate effective techniques for catching and cleaning scallops.
A list of recommended gear is included at the bottom of this message.
When and Where?
Participats should arrive at the boat ramp at approximately 7am in order to find easy parking and arrive at the rendezvous point by 8am.
The boat ramp is located on Southeast 1st Avenue in Steinhatchee. It does not have an assigned address, but if you are unfamiliar with the area, set your GPS to 104 SE 1st Avenue, Steinhatchee, FL and you'll have a hard time missing it. See map below.
We will Rendezvous on the water north of the main channel in the river just downstream from where's Roy's Restaurant once stood. See map below.
The event chair will monitor the marine weather forecast and make the go/no-go decision the evening before the tournament. The decision will be announced via email no later than 7:00 pm that night. Individual captains must also monitor the forecasts and make their own determination regarding their vessel's sea worthiness given the expected conditions.
Register at:
https://gofc.us/tourney-stats/tournament-registration/
What to bring:
A Florida fishing license for each scalloper as required by law.
Snorkeling Gear including Mask, Snorkel, and Fins
Mesh bags for collecting scallops - Just about any mesh bag will do. Be aware that zippers and spring loaded drawstring clamps will rust after exposure to salt water. High-end, purpose-built bags with hinged metal handles can be purchased at Sea Hag Marina, but an old laundry bag also works great.
A U.S. Coast Guard compliant dive flag and means to properly display it on your boat. This is required by law.
A cooler with about 60lbs of ice - Icing down your scallops for a few minutes makes cleaning them much easier. You'll also want to keep your cleaned scallops cold until you get them home. The Gulf is very warm and salty this time of year and so are the scallops. 10 Gallons of scallops will melt a lot of ice. Come prepared.
A metal spoon for each member of your crew - Used to use cleaning scallops. Leave the oyster knives at home, spoons are more effective and much safer for this purpose A multi-pack of inexpensive metal spoons from Publix, Walmart, or Target is perfect for this.
Five gallon buckets -There are few things on a boat more versatile and useful than a five gallon bucket and they can even save your life. In this case they are great for making sure you don't exceed the daily catch limit (2 gallons of whole scallops per person to a maximum of 10 gallons per boat) as well as collecting the discarded portion of the scallop when cleaning your catch.
Disposable plastic storage containers with lids or ziploc bags - Useful when cleaning scallops and for packing the cleaned scallops away in the cooler. Reused take-out containers for liquids and resealable tubs from the grocery store work great. The daily limit is 1/2 gallon (4 pints) of cleaned scallop meat per boat. You'll want enough containers or bags to store your catch plus at least one container per person to use while cleaning scallops. The containers or bags should be water tight.
Sunscreen - Lots of it
Plenty of drinks and snacks for your crew - Proven to greatly reduce the risk of mutiny
Use this form to register your boat and passengers in advance of a GOFC tournament. Only registered boats are qualified to win prizes. Captain's Name* First Last Captain's Cell Phone*To be used in the event a boat has not checked in at weigh-inBack-up Phone NumberPlease provide a back-up / just in c...
