Since we knew we’d be gone for the entire day, Clark and I packed up a cooler, snacks and a change of clothes to head for Marco Island, Florida for a day trip from Sanibel. Clark’s Rotary Club had an event in south Marco that we wanted to attend (he is still President – so proud of him!) so we figured if we had time on the way home, we’d stop at a beach. We did! We stopped at Tigertail Beach!
This is the very first time we’ve been on this beach so we had to get the lay of the land by looking at the map (above). We decided to wade through the little lagoon to get to the gulf side beach on the other side…
On my way over, I saw Jonathan and Rachel carrying handfuls of SAND DOLLARS…
Wow! They said they found them all along the beach in the surf line…Cool!
So wading through the lagoon and down a sweet beach path we went… to find our first treasures from the Gulf Of Mexico.
All I started seeing was ROSE PETAL TELLINS! I love them!
And double SUNRAY VENUS CLAMS…
We could not find any SAND DOLLARS but that’s okay because we found so many other goodies like these two FLAT SCALLOPS. Clark’s beautiful orange one is on the left, and I found the larger perfect (heehee) purple one on the right.  I call them “FLATS” but they are really called  ZIGZAG SCALLOPS .
Clark found the prettiest PURPLISH SEMELES!
We both found CANCELLATE SEMELES as well…
I was thrilled with all of the multi colored JINGLE SHELLS and those ROSE PETAL TELLINS!
From Tigertail Beach in Marco, Florida traveling back by car to Sanibel Island it took us about 1 and 1/2 hours by way of interstate 75…
We didn’t even get there until after 4 pm and we stayed about 3 1/2 hours to have a wonderful evening exploring a new beach.
I am so glad we had the time to stop and take our time to walk down to the north end of the spit. It took us an hour and 1/2 each way so I’m so glad we had plenty of water and thank goodness we always have shelling supplies and sunscreen in the car at all times. This was our loot we brought home… and yes, Super Sheller Clark found that gorgeous ALPHABET CONE I put right smack in the middle of our fabulous collection. Thanks Tigertail!
Join us on our next trip tomorrow, Saturday April 12, as we are taking a shelling cruise to explore the island of Cayo Costa! Clark and I will show you where to find the hidden treasures of that beautiful island… CLICK HERE.
You did very good for not going early. I go to Marco but find that if I don’t get there by sun up, everyone beats me to all the wonderful shells. I try to time if for low tide at sun up and do head to Tigertail for the sandollars.
Hi there, I was wondering what type of shell that piece is in between the olive and the zig zag scallop? It looks similar to a juonia. I have found a piece like this yrs ago and was wondering what type of shell it is.
Yes, Beverly. It’s a part of a junonia! Clark found it ;)
You found some beautful shells-semeles, tellins, etc. I noticed you have a new bracelet with an olive-did you make it? It’s very pretty. Hope it doesn’t rain this weekend.
Pat
Pat, I did make it! Thank you! I used the wrong type of string so it didnt last… but I’m making another one to make sure it stays on better. I’ll show it when I get everything right.
Pam, I was going to comment on your bracelet too! It’s beautiful! I love olives and was wondering if you had to drill holes or how you got the string through? LOVE all the shells from Marco Island. The pink ones are gorgeous…as they all are!
WOW!!! Pretty amazing loot! You guys did really well. Love it. Thanks for sharing.
I can’t wait to be a resident so we can take these little trips….there is so much I want to go see around there!! I love the rose tellins, I have 2 pair, that we got on our honeymoon on Sanibel 15 years ago and have not found another one!! What a great trip for you guys!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
I think you can find a lot of sand dollars if you go snorkeling.
Wow, awesome! I love Tigertail Beach! I went there a couple of years ago, and the water in the lagoon area was waist deep and looked kind of like a lake. Fun adventure!
Sherri from MN
Wow, now I HAVE GOT to go there!!!!!! Beautiful shells!! I see some I don’t have in my collection! Great finds!!
Nice haul! Love your olive bracelet. I set aside about five or six pieces to string on necklaces. I thought about an olive necklace, but I love the bracelet idea.
Just finished packing away all of my little gems in little plastic jars of various sizes. works great!
Thanks for the juvi quahog ID. I’m fascinated by the shells that have letters etched in them. Sunray Venus, lettered olive, juvi quahog, And another shiny as yet unidentified shell I found at Blind Pass. Seems like a mystery that connects humans to the sea.
Happy hunting tomorrow, and hope to see you on the beach next time!
Marco Iisland was on my Beach List. Will have to make sure we do it. Do the tides effect the deepth of the water?
YES! much easier to go -and return- at low tide, especially if you are carrying lots of stuff. you will get wet(ter) at high tide.
Tks we will have to ck for low tides.
Marco island is our home away from home!!! We just love it there! We always find lots of sandollars on tigertail! The white fluffy sand is to die for there!! Our other favorite spot is at the end of the island on south beach! U have to walk around the rocks of the jetty! It is usually just my husband and me! Maybe I should not give away my secret spot! Lol we can sit there for hours and watch the shells just roll in! It always makes me smile when someone talkies about Marco:) it is an awesome place. Thanks for sharing Pam ;)
Sarah from Kentucky
Haven’t been to Marco Island yet but its on my list!!!
Great shells…love the tellins!!! I didn’t realize it only takes an hour in a half to get there!!
This was perfect timing! I will be in Marco the middle of May for my son’s wedding. I was hoping to get a little shelling in, and you have led me straight to it. Thank you, and I can’t wait to get back to Sanibel in Feb.
What a great shell picture — would make a wonderful poster!
And such beautiful flats. On Nevis I found two flats, one extremely dark and one reddish with nice zigzags.
Pam,
Love the pink tellins. I was looking tonight at all the lovely shells we’ve collected these last 3 yrs. And remembering how excitied I got each time I found a favorite shell. It never gets old.
tigertail is indeed an interesting venture…if you drive there you have to park and cross the lagoon as noted to get to the beach..and if you arent there at low tide to cross in each direction its not too easy…some people get stopped by the lagoon and think that is the actual beach itself! there are some funny reviews on trip advisor where people talk about the ugly slimy disgusting beach, and its clear they never realized they had to cross the lagoon to get to the actual beach.
We are on Sanibel now, haven’t been real successful. Anyone else find that? Main goal was to take home a couple of wenteltraps, haven’t found one. Been to the lighthouse several times, blind pass, tarpon bay, coquina, what’s up? Did we pick the wrong 10 days to be here? Any suggestions?
I wanted to find sand dollars at tiger tail beach but didn’t find one even after seeing lots of people with stacks of them. But how could I be upset after finding all of the other jewels? Remember its a treasure hunt and if u r looking only for one particular thing u might miss the other beautiful treasures in your path.
Oh, we’re lookin’ just not finding much. Got one nice alphabet cone, on Coquina.
Looks like you had a wonderful time there Pam (and Clark!). I was at Tigertail Beach last time down in Florida and did cross the lagoon too. For first timers, it’s always what am I going to find in this water! When I went it was thigh deep (I’m 5’7″) and when I returned about 2 hours later, it was maybe 6″ higher and about 30 min to high tide. I still found lots of shells even when the tide was not at the lowest. You can walk around the lagoon as well but it will take you probably another 20 minutes. If you google earth Tigertail Beach you can see more realistically what the beach/pond looks like. Congrats on your finds Pam, I also had found lots of rose tellins and it was a very nice day. They post the tide information before the beach which you should take note of :)
My husband and I love to go shelling at Marco; Tigertail especially. We never come back empty handed. It is beautiful there.
Susan,
We just came home from Sanibel last night but had great success on all beaches we visited except Cayo Costa. There I found an olive but everything else I found I have already so I was giving to other shellers who didn’t have them. It still was a very nice trip as we saw a large pod of dolphins on the way home on the Playtime.
This past week we went to Bowman’s 3 times (and a nice gal and her husband from Syracuse) befriended me and my husband and gave us shells we didn’t have. I was so excited I forgot to get her name but if you’re reading this, again, thank you so much for helping us! I love the Murex!
We had great luck at Bowman’s and Lighthouse as well where I got so many minis. Every time a wave came in I felt like I was looking at candy in the water, the colors were so beautiful.
We also went to Ft Myers beach one day around noon and found some nice shells. All other days we went shelling between 5 and 6 pm when the sun wasn’t so hot and beach not so crowded. It was so peaceful.
I packed all my shells (6 plastic tubs, 3 plastic bottles of minis and two Miller Lite cans) into my suitcase as I knew I couldn’t carry them on the flight (too much other stuff to carry home). And they all made it safe and sound! Tomorrow I’ll start cleaning and sorting.
I miss Sanibel already but found myself doing the Sanibel Stoop this morning in front of the dryer, picking up and matching socks. I chuckled so myself once I realized what I was doing.
Thank you everyone for your most welcomed shelling advice.
Pam, I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you while I there but your name is always mentioned on the beach. I can’t tell you how many times someone would ask or I would overhear “Do you go to iloveshelling.com? Do you know Pam? Have you seen Pam?” I felt like a member of the Shelling Society!
Terry
Terry! What a lovely shelling report!!! Thank u so much for sharing your info and for telling us what you found and where you found them. There really is such a nice shelling community on the beach and I’m thrilled to know you talked to people about iLoveShelling and hearing that it brings shellers together. Shellers rock!!!
Just found your site and subscribed. Love it and shelling. Leaving for Florida next week planning on going to Sanibel for some shelling. Looking for nothing in particular but some relaxation walking on the beach and seeing what we find. hope to see u out there. Joy Indiana
Wish I would have seen the info about your trip today, would have signed up in a second. Hope you and everyone else had a fantastic time and found oddles of shells. We still have 3 days, I won’t give up….I’m taking a wenteltraps home…..hope I don’t have to tackle an older girl for the one I see her pick up..:)
hahahah. i hope you don’t have to tackle her either! LOL But if you do see someone picking one up, usually where there is one… there are others. While using the unspoken “personal shelling space” (never pick something out of someone else’s place where they are digging or scraping- ACK!), look in the line where he/she found the wentle. You will find one eventually…. oh I sure hope so for your sake. :) Best of Luck, Susan!
the last two times i went to sanibel and the beach shelling was poor, i scored multiple wentletraps at Bowditch County Park in Fort Myers Beach, you can find directions online or ask at the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce….go walk to the north end where the small breakwater is…look at the beach drift around the jetty, on either side but right near the jetty…. (wherever you see drift) and there should be something there…its a good beach for minis in general. i got several dozen tusk shells there and the usual small murex, olivellas, augurs etc etc…parking is even cheaper than on sanibel!
I love your shell bracelet!!!! Did you purchase it on the Island or make it yourself?!! I will be there next week, and am so excited to get there. This will make my fourth trip.
Misty, I made the bracelet myself! Thank you!
I wonder what the creatures that live in jingle shells are like