BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — September 29, 2014 — Scallop hunters used to travel to Citrus County to launch their search for the tasty bivalves nestled in shallow sea-grass beds in the Gulf of Mexico.
Now Hernando County is gaining a reputation among scallop enthusiasts, and that could account for the boost in people patronizing local motels, tackle shops and other businesses this year during the months of scallop-hunting season.
Occupancy at area motels and hotels in June and July increased .4 percent, while innkeepars raised their daily rates an average of 2.34 percent during this year’s scallop season, according to statistics from the Hernando County Tourism Bureau. Lodging revenue went up 1.37 percent, the bureau reported. August numbers were not available at the end of last week.
Dwayne Adams, manager of Hernando Beach Suites & Condos, said his business was booked almost every weekend with scallop hunters. He called it his best season ever.
Adams said people prefer coming to Hernando to avoid the crowds in Citrus.
“Scallops are getting more known in this area,” Adams said. “Citrus County was always the big draw, and people started realizing that Hernando has scallops, too.”
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