Peconic Bay Scallop Season Off To 'Decent' Start

NORTH FORK, NY — It's that time of year again. That delicious moment when the Peconic Bay scallop season kicks off and suddenly, the talk on social media turns from traffic woes and other concerns to photos of the mouthwatering little morsels of sweet perfection suddenly appearing on dinner plates across the East End.

The season, which always begins on the first Monday in November, kicked off last week on Nov. 5, and so far, experts are weighing in and explaining that, with fewer of the beauties available in northern locations, the demand has increased on the East End.

Charlie Manwaring, owner of Southold Fish Market, said while the season this year is "okay . . . it's not as good as last year."

Many of the areas where baymen go to find scallops are lacking grass, he said. "Once they go through an area where it's sandy, they're going to catch them up," he said.

And, with few scallops found in New England and Martha's Vineyard this year, all eyes are on the East End, Manwaring said. Prices, he added, have jumped about $5 from last year, when scallops were abundant, to about $20 to $22 per lb.

"There are no scallops in other parts of the East Coast, so that's what happens," he said.

Ken Homan, owner and president of Braun Seafood in Cutchogue, said it's a been "a decent season," at first blush.

Because areas including Cape Cod have fewer scallops this year, he said: "Scallops are in pretty high demand."

Homan said those craving the delicious bites of heaven needn't worry about a local shortage. "There are pockets in the bay; we have quite a while," he said, adding that the season lasts until March 31.

But, he added, weather is always a factor; last year, Homan said, the bay froze in late December/early January. Storms and other issues can have an impact, he said.

And, he agreed, the outlook this year is not "quite as good as last year. The gravy's over," with not as many baymen working, he said.

Patch photo by Lisa Finn.