Claudette and Karen (Michigan)
They really DO love shelling!!! They were shouting it to the rooftops while wearing their tees they gave each other for Christmas……. because Claudette and Karen found some incredible shells.
Angel wing, sharks eye, horse conch close up
You can’t see how big that ANGEL WING is in this picture, but Claudette’s Angel Wing is perfect and larger than a dollar bill. But then you can’t help but stare at how big that SHARK’S EYE is in her left hand….huge! They should buy a lotto ticket because Karen found that HUGE beea-yuuu-tee-ful HORSE CONCH too! Look at that beautiful color on the inside…. and this picture doesn’t even do it justice.
Claudette's very large sharks eye
They found all of these amazing shells in front of Casa Ybel Resort…. and that’s where I found my best finds of the day too…… my new Shelling Sisters Karen and Claudette. LOL They are so much fun! Clark got to meet them too and kept the shelling game competition going with his good finds…
Clark seashells
That ALPHABET CONE was his first find of the day. We got to the beach around 7:30 and then continued his good luck with that HORSE CONCH. It’s pretty but Karen, you win the prize on the better Horsie. ;)
Orange fighting conch aperture
We couldn’t get over how bright orange this FIGHTING CONCH is.
Orange Fighting conch
We see FIGHTING CONCHS so often on the beach but we think this one is really cool. Again I don’t think the photos shows how brilliant the color is like the inside of Karen’s HORSE CONCH (amazing). I think there could have been a film of moisture on my lens this morning because it was so dang foggy. We couldnt see further than 30 yards in front of us and we were all soaked with mist. Do you think we cared? Not with those finds!
foggy beach
It looks like you have to get there in the morning at low tide to get these goodies but I’m so happy that the bigger shells are starting to come in! This fog is probably because the cold front is headed our way. Good shelling days, here we come!
Giant Atlantic cockle with fog
Clark and I quickly ran down to the beach last night to see if Middle Gulf would be a good place to catch the morning low tide and met these cute sand landscapers Emma, Andre, Hosanna and Pascal making their “Sand Civilization”. So creative! I’m so glad we decided to comb this beach this morning.
Sand civilazation
Wow- what fabulous shells! That has to be one of the best hauls I’ve ever seen. I am so jealous! You all must be on cloud nine.
Wow! That horse conch is something else! I’d fall over in a dead faint if I ever found anything like that in Galveston, lol. I did find a really big sharks eye today, along with some nice coquinas, a tiny auger and a cool piece of coral. Your photos are simply impossible not to drool over. Isn’t is wonderful to have access to the beach? I’m so thankful to live so close to Galveston.
Incredible. Those are gorgeous!!! I want to be there finding shells instead of being in the cold and snow :(
I LOVE these two friends, Claudette and Karen! This picture doesnt do that shark eye justice,, It was beautiful!! What I want to know is how you guys hair looks that good in that damp weather today! I am ready for tomorrow Yahooieeee.
We’re hoping to visit your Island this year! Can you recommend a good place to stay for a family of four on the beach? My kids are 14 and 21. Thanks so much!
Hi Karen,
Of course there are lots of great places to stay, but I’ll give you a few of my favorites. Check out MurexKen’s (he’s our go-to-guy when we need help identifying a shell) rental at http://SanibelSanddollarC201.com/ or try Royal Shell Vacations, Casa Ybel Resorts or Sundial Resort. Hope this helps!
Check out http://www.ilovesanibel.com and look at their rates. I’ve stayed at Gulf Beach and it was nice. I don’t know the owner’s or anything. They’ve just got the best rates for a two bedroom condo – particularly during off-season. I liked being at Gulf Beach as it was close to the lighthouse cafe for breakfasts!
Congratulations Cuz and Claudette! I am VERY jealous, I can’t wait to see your shells when you return. You are VERY lucky girls, what beautiful treasures!
We missed you Tammy! You should have been in that picture with us…. we talked about you so much, I felt like you were there. ;)
WOWIE KAZOWIE!!!! Those are some shells! Wonderful finds! How fortunate you all are! Doesn’t it get you excited to see what comes in in the next few days! THAT”S what keeps shellers going back out there …the thrill of the hunt! Yahooie! Can’t wait to see what else comes in! Thanks Pam for sharing once again. Love to everyone! Happy Super Bowl Sunday…GO PACKERS!!! (I was born and raised there)
Congratulations to my Michigan sistahs- bee-u-ti-ful shells!! I’m geeked about February 16-20—sooooo looking forward to some shellin’! :)
And Clark! What a handful of beauties-such great color! You done good, Super Clark :)
Lucky, lucky ladies!! To find the big ones like that do you have to shell in the water and/or dig for them? Just wondering….
We found all of them out of the water. The large horse was just laying in the line of pen shells that had washed up probably at high tide. I had literally just walked down to the beach at Shalimar cottages… found the horse in approx 2 min on the beach first thing in the morning. Then right next to it was an angel wing. (not pictured)
Great shells and we know that Clark loves those cones. I don’t think I can remember ever seeing so many horse conchs, live & empty. Before this Jan. I had only found 2 horse conchs and this time we came home with 7. I read where horse conchs diet includes lightning whelks, so, that maybe explains the amount of lightning whelks we found. Someone had told me that this is the mating season for horse conchs, is that true? Today I’m polishing shells with mineral oil & lighter fluid, thanks MK.
Yes, I am curious too…did the girls and you and Clark have to dig for these beauties or were they just lying there? They are truly awesome!
AMAZING!! See that green plume in the sky west of you?? That’s coming from AZ!! Awesome shells! I’m only jealous because I have to wait until October to get my next fix!!!
The “shelling sisters” and You & Clark found some amazing shells! The pictures are beautiful! It is amazing how big the horse conchs and sharks eye can get. I just have some candy corn – I will have to look for some horse conchs & cones my next trip.
All of them are beauties!! Can’t wait to get on that beach.
Lee & Bill
wow! exciting finds!
Thanks so much for posting your gorgeous pictures. They make me feel as though I could reach right into them and pick up some shells! I look forward to your post every day, as I’m having my morning coffee. Not sure when I’ll get there again but thanks so much for bringing the beach to me!
Was there all weekend..got to the Lighthouse around 7:30 am on saturday and the day was beautiful! Even tho the thick fog was unreal, it was nice and cool. Didn’t find anything like what the shelling ladies found but did very well with the wentletraps…Saw the new sandbar at the Pass..OMG! The shelling was disappointing there..Stopped by Casa Ybel but saw only pen shells as far as the eye could see which wasn’t too far ’cause of the fog :)..At the Pass found a cute young couple first time shellers and ended up sharing my shells with them. got 2 more hooked :)!!! Finished up Sunday with a huge ice ceam from Pinocchio’s! Could it be any better!!
So cool to hear about your weekend- Thanks for sharing!
Love the Sand Village—those kids have great imaginations–
Love all of your comments…and to answer some questions- Clark was using his bigger backhoe in the surf to find all his shells. I think Karen found her large horse conch very early before day break in the high tide line just sitting there (the shell that is). I don;t think anybody was digging to find these particular shells.
CShells- hmmmm, honestly, I didnt know that this was horse conch mating season, the Shell Museum would know about that. We’ll have to find out- interesting, huh?
WOW!!! I love that Orange Fighting Conch!!! It is an amazing color…never seen one that color before!! WOW!! And that photo of the Giant Atlantic Cockle on the foggy beach is absolutely gorgeous..a really neat picture!! Love it!!! Thanks, as always, for sharing these sea treasures!!! :):)
Holey Moley, Fighting Conchs!! Sounds like a cheer went up in your spot on the beach!
Hola! I’ve been following your blog for a long time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Dallas Tx! Just wanted to tell you keep up the great work!
I love this website. I will be posting my findings on this website .