Kinda looks like Captiva’s Blind Pass, right? Nope. We took a little day trip down to Little Hickory in Bonita springs for a shelling adventure. Our blog buddy Carla told us about the north end of Little Hickory and posted some pictures on the iLoveShelling facebook page which got us antsy to check it out. It’s only about 40 minutes from Sanibel (if that) going through Fort Myers Beach so it was no problem to find it and the parking is easy (just look for the signs) and hang a right when you get on the beach.
Little Hickory beach access
Little Hickory jetties
2 fighting conchs at low tide
Little Hickory seashell collection
We found lots of fighting conchs! We normally don’t pick up or keep FIGHTING CONCHS any more but we collected these for Jesse at The Mucky Duck. We haven’t been finding many shells other than minis (not that there’s anything wrong with that :))on Sanibel lately and Jesse is low on “stock”. He’ll have plenty for a while and they are absolutely perfect.
Little Hickory low tide
This was obviously low tide, so many shells were just barely covered by sand. It was so much fun seeing a tiny bit of a NUTMEG, TULIP or WORM SHELL peeking out of the sand, digging around it with my toe, seeing it was whole, then reaching down to find a keeper. We found lots of broken CONES but we weren’t lucky enough to find any to bring home but we were still happy with our haul. These were our best finds….
Little Hickory best seashells
From top left to right- SHARK’S EYE, WORM SHELL, NUTMEG, 3 TRUE TULIPS then a JUVENILE HORSE CONCH (candy!), MOON SHELL, the first smaller shell is a baby LACE MUREX (so cute!), baby KINGS’ CROWN, PEAR WHELK, WORM TOP. Then a KING’S CROWN, another MOON then a TOP SHELL. Sorry the picture isn’t that great to see them up close. We only put 2 hours worth of quarters in the meter so our time was running out.
Big Hickory Seafood Grille
We had a really good lunch after working up a big appetite out on the beach. Right across the street from the parking lot is Big Hickory Seafood Grille. Yum!
Thanks, Carla, for giving us this day trip shelling tip. It was well worth the short drive (no traffic this time of year) and we had fun exploring another area.
I love this little place. We went last week & only put $2 in the meter cos we really didn’t see any action on the beach. Then when we rounded the jetty and it opened up into the little…oh what fun. I was praying the entire way back “Please don’t let me get a $150 ticket” and I got back right when my time was up.
I see ya found some worms :) BTW – I’ve already scoped out the next really low tide out there. Aug 6 & 7 are gonna be really low late in the day. I’m taking my sister who will be here from Tennessee. I can guarantee more than $2 is going in the meter that day.
Please tell me where this is you are talking about. My family and I fly in on the 4th and would love to check it out. We are staying on west gulf dr, on Sanibel.
Tara
The photo’s are beautiful,we are going to check this place out in a couple of weeks,not sure we’ll make low tide but still. It seems Carla always hit’s the jackpot at this location :) Thanks for posting these photo’s,I’m a little worried about getting lost when we go,no fun with kids saying..Are we there yet :)
I want to go there!
Thanks for sharing – I just got back from Sanibel and still have my warm fuzzy from being there. I love to shell and I love Sanibel. Wish I’d known about this placeas it looks lovely (you take the best pictures) but will file it away for my next trip. I love your blog. It makes me feel still a part of the island somehow. Thank you again.
Some pretty nice shells there! Also looks quite lovely and not crowded. Will have to add this destination to my “to do” list when we get to Sanibel! What time of day were you there? Also, the restaurant looks charming. Thanks, Pam.
Why dont you keep fighting conchs anymore?
Oh, Pam!! I’m so glad you finally made it out there and I see it was worth the trip! Isn’t it pretty? It is my favorite spot both for its beauty and the fabulous shells we have hauled out of there! I’ll probably be out there tomorrow. Thanks to your blog, more people will find it! Keep it up, Pam and have a great week!
Oh, my!!! We’ll be there Sat. and Little Hickory is on the list. Probably go early in the week in case we want to go more than once. Thank you so much! p.s. Give us a Sanibel shell report Friday, please.
Pam, can’t wait to tell my sister Sue about this day trip to take. Hoping to get her on her laptop (she’s a computer newbie) to check your blog.
Hi Pam. Just wanted to say that in the photo called “Little Hickory best seashells”, I see at the front there you had both of the species of Shark’s Eye, the regular one and the one with the higher spire. Quite a nice shell of that second one too! Actually I think the one at the top right looks like that second species too. Anyway it was a nice haul of shells all round! Some very pretty things!
What an awesome post. Leaving Sunday for our annual Sanibel trip and looking for something fun and different to do as far as shelling. I hope we have lots of pics to ad to this post in the coming weeks!
Hi Pam , do you have your dates for the first of March,2017. Coming down for shell festival,and would like to take one or two of your shelling trips. I miss your dates lay March Still went shelling, but missed you. Thanks ,love all the photos. Sandy