DeCosta Wins Scallop Shucking Crown At "Scallopalooza" Event
Jason Graziadei •
Scalloper Bobby DeCosta took home the shucking crown at the inaugural Nantucket Shellfish Association (NSA) "Scallopalooza" event at Cisco Brewers on Saturday.
The celebration marking the end of the island's commercial scalloping season was organized by the Nantucket Shellfish Association, and featured demonstrations, food, raffles, music, and more to raise money for the NSA's Youth Shellfish Education and other programs.
But perhaps the most highly anticipated portion of the event was the shucking competition, which was divided into a "pro" division and an "amateur" division.
DeCosta claimed victory in the pro division, narrowly beating out second-place finisher John Holdgate, along with the rest of the field that included Andy Lowell, Jim Sjolund, and Olivia Lash.
DeCosta donated the $200 prize back to the Nantucket Shellfish Association.
The amateur competition was won by Dayton Geddes-Key, who beat out a field that included Nantucket Police Department Chief Jody Kasper, Pete Burke, Tim Vieth, and Caleb Gomes.
Scalloper Carl Sjolund provided a shucking demonstration for the kids at the event, while John McGarr served as the emcee, and Scott Capizzo was the DJ.
The last bag of fresh scallops was also auctioned off to benefit the non-profit organization.
Nantucket's commercial scalloping season ended on Friday, the day before the Scallopalooza event, with an estimated 10,000 bushels caught by the island's fleet for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
