Manatee or seal shaped rock
Do you see the seal or manatee shaped rock in the jetty? Mary Jo Shannon pointed it out to me at Blind Pass. Yes! THE Mary Jo that we get lots of fun comments and feedback from on this blog. I ran into her and shelling buddy Sue on the Pass side of the jetty (since there still isn’t much shelling on the right side…. my old fave).
Sue and Mary Jo (Michigan)
Sue grew up shelling with her family then taught Mary Jo the treasures she could find on the beach. After finding her first shell, she was hooked too. Then she couldn’t believe how nice all the other shellers were and that they all wanted to show off what they found. They laughed and called it the “Secret Society of Shellers”. Yes! It is!
Dead Man's Fingers?
They taught me something too. I told them I had found this dark brown sponge that looked like deer antlers but felt like styrofoam the other day but couldn’t find much info on it. They told me it is called DEAD MAN’S FINGERS.
Live limpets Blind Pass jetty
Live Limpets
Even though I didn’t find many shells, I always love to look at the colors of the jetty rocks when there are STRIPED FALSE LIMPETS on them. So colorful! Do you think members of the Secret Society of Shellers are the only ones that would enjoy this?
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LOL, funny to call it a secret society when all of us work hard to recruit everyone we meet on the beach! Sanibel shellers ARE a really friendly bunch, though. And I agree, finding some live marine life is (pretty much) as good as finding a great shell. Every walk on the beach is a good walk!
I’m so happy to discover that I’m a member of the secret society!! I feel validated somehow! We found Dead Man’s Fingers at Pointe Santo last week. I brought home a piece but I’m not sure it’s ever going to lose the “dead” smell!!!
I have purchased Dead Man’s Fingers before, but I have never seen one at the shore, and I am so impressed with your find, Pam!! That is so neat!! I do believe that you are in the perfect spot to find some of the most amazing things on the seashore!!! Best wishes in your continued Beachcombings!!! I love all of your photos, and I use them in identifying some of my finds. Thank you!!!
I love your site and was wondering if there was a list I could get on to get your posts sent to my email. Thanks if you can.
Limpets? True or false? Are those shells on the rocks true limpets or false ones? I believe that they are the Striped False Limpet, http://shellmuseum.org/shells/shelldetails.cfm?id=156 In some developing countries, the locals will often pop such false limpets off the rocks, scoop out the soft parts and eat them fresh, a snack as they are fishing or whatever. They apparently enjoy them. Although I enjoy trying new things, I have never gotten the courage to try them, either fresh or cooked.
Thank you MurexKen! I’m not sure I’ll try this “sashimi” just yet either.
Maybe Andrew Zimmen of Bizarre Foods needs to make a trip to the pass.
Aren’t the barnacles pretty too? Like animal flowers. Whenever I collect a shell with barnacles on it I sometimes leave them on—-they look so interesting.
Those dead man fingers are very interesting looking. Wonder if they stay that color over time.
They were totally dried when I picked them up on the beach with NO smell. Maybe they’ll stay… fingers crossed.
One of my favorite days on Sanibel Island!! The shelling was challenging for the first couple of days, but just being on the beach in the sunshine and warm Gulf waters was enough :). Shells started rolling in on Monday( 10/25); saw my first live olive- amazing!- and found a good size sand dollar And an arrowhead sand dollar-GREAT finds! I found enough beautiful shells to keep me warm during the cold winter ahead; sometimes I can hold a shell in my hand, close my eyes and be right back on the spot where I found it! You, too?