These shells are the cream of the crop! This is any shellers dream to find a handful of shells like this. I’m talking… not just a TULIP… but a gorgeous nice size red TRUE TULIP. And not just a FLORIDA CONE, but a deep orange FLORIDA CONE with a purple tip. That PEAR WHELK is so yellow! And that size HORSE CONCH? Not so easy to find. And as you can see, I could go on. I just can’t believe I haven’t spent more time at Tarpon Beach (at the end of Tarpon Bay Rd on the Gulf side). It’s been a gold mine the last few weeks! Laura and Ken from CT were shelling with their family Jaime and Matthew who live in Fort Myers hit the right spot…
Matthew told me the whole family has been shelling for over 20 years on Sanibel so they know what to look for and knew they had some top shelf shells.
And they love to search the water!
The water wasn’t the only place there were shells. The WENTLETRAPS are there as well. You can see this one trying to hide in the sand…. sorry buddy! I see you!
I was so surprised to find a BABY’S EAR too…
Clark and I also hit Sanibel’s Blind Pass this weekend too. There are lots of shells still on the canal side of the pass under the bridge.
That’s where we met Jude from NY decked out in her skin suit to cover up from the harmful rays of the sun. Hey Judy, that’s pretty smart! (I couldnt resist)
She was thrilled with her finds! She found everything from WORM ROCK to a DOUBLE ALTERNATE TELLIN to a COCKLE full of minis…
Right under the bridge, Janet from Sanibel (too shy for me to take her picture!) found this awesome FLAT SCALLOP.
Clark and I found a few goodies this weekend that we’ve never found before! I get so excited to find something new! I hate to be a little bit of a tease but I have to get some good pictures of them then I’ll show you our finds tomorrow. Okay, okay…. I’ll give you a hint on our finds. The one I found is a shell that’s a little rounded on the TOP. The one Clark found isn’t a shell but it protects a MOLLUSK but not SHARKS.
Oh the colors of those shells are gorgeous! We’ll be down in a few weeks – I’m furiously taking notes!!
I want to be there so badly!!!…i love shelling!
Those are beautiful shells! Can’t wait to be there in 11 days!!!
Lucky you! I have to wait to May 11! Not soon enough!
oh – I’m guessing a Top Shell and a Shark’s Eye! :D
I’ll have to go to Tarpen beach. Those shells are awesome! Love that flat scallop,etc.
Pat
I just went yesterday to Bowman beach. I am going to check out Tarpon at the full moon. Thanks for all the info.
The flat scallop is so colorful and big..a great find!
Love those colors! Ooooooo, really love doing the I spy!
Was at Blind Pass Saturday! The shell pile is GONE…. Waves were huge, had a rough time standing in the water… Found some great shells by the rocks though!
Ohhhh thanks for the great share. The shells are beautiful, the colors are vibrant and that Scallop is amazing! Beautiful beach jewels indeed :-)
I’ve got to ask– can you shell in Alaska? Are there seashells that far north?
We have clam shells in Alaska.
Currently shelling in Sarasota area, hopefully Sanibel in the next day or so.
Thanks for satisfying my curiousity. We’ll be doing an Alaska cruise this summer– maybe I’ll be able to take home a clam shell as a souvenir.
Woo Hoo!!!
We read your posts all the time. It was great meeting you. We did have a great day shelling and really enjoyed discussing the day with you. Happy, Happy Shelling!!!!!!
I got a whole jar of shells Saturday!
Great finds! Have not seen that area around Tarpon Bay Rd. / Beach that good in a LONG time!! Love the dark colors.
I am counting the days until my return to Sanibel! 173 more days!
Pam you have to help me find my own baby’ ear and wentle trap on May 19th. Can’t wait!!!
I will! Just remind me, Okay? I get so excited and going in so many directions, I forget who is who. hahahah but how can i not get so excited with a boat load of iLoveShelling shellers! LOL
I am also signed up for your shelling cruise on the 19th. Then I will check into Island Inn. Cannot wait! So looking forward to meeting you and other compulsive shellers!
So excited :)
Thank you again, Pam, for a little slice of Heaven!
Hey Pam, did you notice the rice olive along the blade of grass directly above the baby’s ear in your photo? Can I spot ’em or what?
Wow that’s a micro-mini! You’ve got to have great eyes to actually spot those on the beach!
Couldn’t make it to Sannibel. It will remain on my bucket list. I will continue to do virtual shelling with you. I can’t wait to see the shells you found over the weekend.
We have traveled to Ocracoke Island, NC. Horrible rain and wind. I found a worm rock, never seen it before. Hopefully will clean it off see what the sand covers. Thanks for showing the one found there. Wishing you a shellious day!
Faye, you MUST get to Sanibel sometime in your life. It is a shelling paradise. I used to go there when my kids were small( 25 years ago) and not will be going back in a few weeks. I can hardly wait. If you are passionate about shelling, it is the perfect place to relax and find inspiration!
Extremely beautiful shells! And a gorgeous view of the Gulf at the end with some dramatic dark clouds over it! Such a great seascape! :)
Found my first wentletrap last March on Manasota Key. It was the first shell l found the day I arrived! Almost thought it was a fluke but it was the beginning of a awesome two weeks of shelling on the Key and Boca Grande. Can’t wait to shell Sanibel. It has been many years since I have stayed there.
Your website sold me on making my upcoming destination for vacation, Sanibel Island. It’s a fantastic site, informative, entertaining and full of amazing images. The YouTube videos are top notch too!
10 days. I can’t wait. We still have 2feet of snow……
We were at Tarpon Bay Beach late yesterday afternoon and our son found a HUGE live Tulip… just beautiful. It was probably 7 inches long. We admired him for a quick minute then returned him to the water… a little bit deeper, so no sheller would be tempted to keep him! ;)
We finally made it to Sanibel today. Overflowing with beautiful shells. I even found a sweet little candy corn shell. We also went to Bowmans beach this morning and found LOTS of beauties, we left before it got too hot. It’s 25 degrees back home in Alaska today ! :-)
I have been a sheller since I was 4 or 5
I grow up in Phila. Pa. Went my summers at the beech in Cape May NJ We never
Had shells like what you all are finding in Fla. ARE the shells there all year on just some months. We went twice before find a few BUT nothing like you picture on I love shelling. Please can you tell me what are the BEST months are? I have been making shell items for years Would love some of those beautiful shells Just looking at the pictures dreams are in my head. Our daughter is in SC but we are in NC BUT we were in Pa all my life. I have dreams I want to get done. My honey of 53 years had some minor things this year other then his new hips 20 years ago. But I Had cancer twice & many other problems A mini stroke in Dec. So I use every minute we have 3 grand adults & they gave us 8 Great grand children& one on the way..Sorry for being so long windy.
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Irene Pollack
Elizabeth City, NC