Bay Scallop regulations in New York

Scallops · Shellfish & crabs · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? A bay scallop is a keeper today if it measures at least 2.25 inches, with 1 bushel per day.

Bay Scallop size limit, season and daily limit

Where	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
NY certified shellfish areas	November 2 – March 31	2.25 inch minimum	1 bushel per day

Notes

Dredges up to 36 in wide, no mechanical retrieval, no dredging on Sundays. Town rules may be stricter.

Exact NYSDEC wording

Season: First Monday in November through March 31
Size: 2 1/4 inches mid-hinge to mid-bill, with an annual growth ring
Limit: 1 bushel per day
NY certified shellfish areas — as printed: “Bay scallop — at least 2-1/4 inches (mid-hinge to mid-bill) and showing an annual growth ring; recreational limit 1 bushel; may be taken only from the first Monday in November through March 31.”

Source: NYSDEC, captured 2026-10-04 (2026 season).

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About the bay scallop

Species of bivalve

Argopecten irradians, formerly classified as Aequipecten irradians, common names Atlantic bay scallop, bay scallop, and blue-eyed scallop, is a species of scallop in the family Pectinidae. An edible saltwater bivalve, it is native to the northwest Atlantic from Cape Cod to the Gulf of Mexico.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from NYSDEC, not Wikipedia.

All 48 New York species A–Z →

Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Bay Scallop in New York?

2.25 inch minimum in New York state waters.

How many Bay Scallop can you keep per day in New York?

1 bushel per day.

When is Bay Scallop season in New York?

November 2 – March 31.

Is my Bay Scallop a keeper today?

A bay scallop is a keeper today if it measures at least 2.25 inches, with 1 bushel per day.