Scalloping success

[justabucup]

So I took a recommendation and booked a trip with Capt. Marrio. http://www.talltaleschartersfl.com/#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;! First attempt was rained out a couple of weeks ago but yesterday on the second try we had a bonanza of a day. We met Marrio at 8:30 at Pete's Pier and headed out. Chrystal River is a beautiful area and certainly earns the name Nature Coast. Marrio stopped the boat in what I would call the middle of nowhere but having a guide that knows what he is doing was well worth the investment. Marrio gave us a quick tutorial on what to look for and we all jumped into the 3 foot depths of the flat. The water was clear with a good 20 foot of visibility. I thought I was doing pretty well until I saw my girlfriends bag and then when I saw Marrio's bag. Let me say I must suck at scalloping but I was far to distracted by the sponges corals and all the fish I could see. We came back to Pete's Pier we hand fed some rather large tarpon by hand ala Robbies down in Marathon. We took our catch over to the Plantation resort to have the scallops cleaned while we enjoyed cocktails and a late lunch at the tiki bar. We had a great time and Marrio is a fun person to be on the water with. I highly recommend him and while not again this season I will look forward to seeing him next year.

[Manning]

Sounds like a great family trip Buck. Thanks for sharing.

[DaveR]

$?

[Rik]

$?

http://www.talltaleschartersfl.com/#!contact/cyha" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[justabucup]

$?

Night at Days Inn $58.50 (this is a week day rate and weekends tend to be sold out and rates go up)
Day for two with Marrio $250 and I gave him a $50 tip
6 Gallons of scallops cleaned and bagged $30
Dinner breakfast and lunch about $100 (Cody's Road House, Denny's and The Plantation resort Tiki Bar)
Round trip on fuel about $60.

I know there are some operations that take out larger groups for about $75 per person. But I am sure those guides aren't in the water with you showing you scallops and what to look for and helping you with your catch.

You can clean the scallops yourself but I was on vacation and did not want to struggle on a learning curve and submit my girlfriend with a scallop stinking boyfriend in the car for a couple of hours ride home.

Cost per pound is off the charts but the experience was worth every cent.

Scallop ceviche and fried scallops for dinner on Saturday. I will post picks of said meal.

[Todd]

Nice haul Buc. We have been going with a group of friends to Homosassa for many years. Once you get the hang of it finding them is very easy and not rocket science. Just go out to where you see a bunch of boats and start swimming and looking.

[justabucup]

Just go out to where you see a bunch of boats and start swimming and looking.

I would feel a bit like a potlicker doing that and it was not long after we anchored that we were soon surrounded by other boats. Marrio even commented that because he had a tower it was a magnet to other boats.

[DaveR]

A bot from Bradentucky on a tower boat? Who knew?

[Todd]

Just go out to where you see a bunch of boats and start swimming and looking.

I would feel a bit like a potlicker doing that and it was not long after we anchored that we were soon surrounded by other boats. Marrio even commented that because he had a tower it was a magnet to other boats.

Me thinks Mario may be a bit proud of himself. Finding scallops is not rocket science, you can basically stop anywhere and find them.

Too bad we can't paddle to them, that would be a lot of fun.

[Mark R]

Just go out to where you see a bunch of boats and start swimming and looking.

I would feel a bit like a potlicker doing that

Buc, you're still a "potlicker"!



With scallops!

[gks0409]

We went out today and got our limit with 4 people in about 3 hours. Never been before it was fun. Didnt expect the curre nt to be so strong.

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[sfurman]

Great report, glad you had a good time.