STEINHATCHEE — Finding scallops is like an Easter egg hunt, something that adults and children alike can do in the typically crystal-clear water of the Gulf of Mexico.
This year, Tropical Storm Debby dumped record rainfall on North Florida right before the July 1 start of the scallop season. As a result, the tannin-stained water of the region's rivers and creeks has been pushed far into the Gulf and has reduced visibility for the time being.
"You've just got to work a little harder for the Easter egg hunt this year," Charlie Norwood, owner of Sea Hag Marina, said this week.
Scallops were found in lower numbers than last year near Steinhatchee and other locations surveyed last month by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Boaters at Sea Hag Marina reported this week that scallops were abundant, but seeing them through the murky water was a challenge.
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