Scallop Diving in PPB

[Linc]

G’day,

After hearing about all the scallops apparently available in PPB I’m taking a few mates out on the boat in search of them in a couple of weeks. We’re all scuba certified but will try snorkeling first to see how we go. From what I’ve read online it sounds like portsea is one of the better places to do this in around 2-4 M of water.

Does anyone have any information at all that would help or any better places or even where abouts at portsea to look if that’s the best place? Having never done this before any info that anyone may have would be much appreciated

Thanks,
Linc

[cameronpatrol]

not sure where abouts in portsea to look but off rye and pretty much all along the penisula have scollys.
grassy patches seem to have the numbers.
they sit like they are upside down on the bottom. so your looking for the flat side of the shell and not the curved side as you would think so to speak.
other than that have fun.
make sure your dive flag is up and take a float with flag if possible.
the wankers around at the moment dont give a rats about rules so be really carfull when surfacing.
if possible id be accending up the anchor rope of the boat so you dont get run over.
cheers cam

[Fish-cador]

hope you catch the big one as big as the SHELL logo.

[lunner]

Not sure if the same rules for abalone apply to scallops as well. ie you can only take them using snorkeling gear and not scuba gear.

[Salmon]

There used to be a beach I went to as a child where you drop off to about 2m of water maybe 300m from the shore then a massive sand bar in about 30cm of water.
There were thousands of scallops there but they seemed to have vanished
I miss them

[cameronpatrol]

Scuba is all good to use as far as i know.
maybe check DSE/DPI fisheris whatever they are nowadays.
bag limit 100 per person.

used to be a good spot off the channel marker off rye ramp bout 1 km out. and just of whitecliffs.
seem to be flogged out now though.
cheers cam

[Brett]

You can certainly use scuba gear to collect scallops, I'm pretty sure you can use it for abalone also.

[lunner]

lmao... checked with dpi. You're right Brett, dunno why I have always thought it was illegal to collect abalone and scallops using scuba gear. The guy i spoke with went on to say that spearguns are not allowed for the collection of abalone and lobsters.

[Linc]

Thanks for the info guys, now I've got to decide between Rye and Portsea. it sounds like forum members have heard a lot more about Rye scallops than Portsea.

The guy i spoke with went on to say that spearguns are not allowed for the collection of abalone and lobsters.

That bit is correct

[Linc]

Went out yesterday off Rye, 3 of us on snorkel managed 53 scallops in a few hours, it just got too much work as the tide started to get stronger, but was good right on low tide. Thanks for the advise fellas