Boom Shellalaka! This is what you call a shellacious prize find! A huge, perfect, colorful, empty  TRUE TULIP.
Joyce from Alabama found this gorgeous specimen on the Captiva side of Blind Pass in the shallow water sand bar on a very low tide Friday evening. Her husband Dan was right there by her side to help her shellebrate. Congratshellations! Lucky Dog!
She probably found this about the same time I was shooting a little video showing the tidal water running out of the pass and catching a few shells. At the end of the clip, I show Dan and Joyce shelling in the background and comment that I’m sure they found some good shells too. I had no idea HOW good. Ha! Check it out…Â
I loooove that spot when the low tide is still receding and just strong enough to carry the shells along with it.
Augusta, Philip, Sybil, Guy and  Pierre from my old stomping grounds Chattanooga, TN (I lived there 1988-91 and loved it!) were especially thrilled to find FIGHTING CONCHS since they are a Fighting Irish family. Cute!
I met another happy family… Emma Caroline, Jeb, Carolyn and Keith from Mississippi had bags filled with shells from the Sanibel side of Blind Pass.
Marie from PA was bound and determined to find treasure. I saw her pacing back and forth on the outer sand bar and couldnt wait for her to come back int to see what she got. A beautiful lemon yellow HORSE CONCH…
And more pretties…
Marie is only half of “Two Crazy Girls from Philly” (as she commented on iLS Facebook). Here she is with her best friend and other “crazy girls” Sue…
The shells were still at the same spot I showed you on my last post…
We all felt like lucky dogs just to be out on the beach on such a beautiful Memorial Day weekend… even the real dogs were having fun doing the Sanibel Stoop!
Yes, Lucky Dogs indeed.
Your are making it so hard for me to be home, I am going to have to stop looking at your posts. Although we went to the Lake yesterday and found some great Lakeglass now to make pretty things with them. Love Sharene.
Joyce, that is the most beautiful, empty, true tulip I have ever seen!!! Simply gorgeous! What a fantastic find!!! Absolutely love it!!! :)
Pam, You need more hands to grab those shells! Love that Tulip!
WOW!!! What great finds, this is so exciting t read about. I scheduled our vacation around the tide chart. We will have 5-6 negative tides while we are there. I just can’t wait 23 more days until my feet touch the sands of Sanibel. Pam, we will see you soon, we are scheduled to be on the Shelling cruise with you on June 19th. I hope I am as lucky as Joyce and Maria. My ” wish to find” list keeps getting bigger and bigger, I too would ike to find a BIG true tulip.
I decided the same as you. My next trip to Sanibel will be scheduled around the tides and moon phases. I was at Blind Pass Saturday’s morning low tide. Lots of shellers there. It was my last day, had to leave Ft Meyers at 2pm so took a last look at Blind Pass on both sides. Got some great shells: Fighting Conch, Olives, Apple Murex, Florida Cone, Pear Whelk, Fighting Whelk, wormies and a good part of a banded Tulip and Jewel Boxes. Had a ball and went home Very Happy!
WOW, that is one amazing shell!!!!!!! Words cannot express how wonderful of a find that is!!!!
We were at the Lighthouse today and didn’t find much, but we’ll be at Blind Pass for low tide. Can’t wait!!!
Awesome Tulip….Love it.
Awesome tulip! I was there with you on Friday. I’m even in the pic to the right of the 2 friends on the beach. Thanks again for the baby whelk. :)
What fantastic finds! When we were there in February, the conchs and tulips were scare when I was out shelling. I did find some new shells. Hope the shells keep rolling.
Pat
Wonderful stuff Pam, thanks for your great posts!
That tulip is stunning!! Reminds me my fave video of yours where you found one like that. It had the slow motion replay…i think it was at lighthouse beach.
Donna,
That is my favorite video too. I always go back and play it over and over.
Congratulations Joyce!
I found a bunch of pieces of tulip shells. Maybe if I glue them together I can get one good one like Joyce did :D
Know what you mean! Same with me.Hoped to get a true Tulip or any kind in one piece but just found pieces but I still love them! Years ago we could find Tulips everywhere but that was 40 years ago!
Thank you Pam for your website. I live in Ct. and look forward to all your exshellant reports. You do such a wonderful job. Thanks again. Be there again soon I hope.
Gasp! and Gasp again!!! yes, I actually gasped when I pulled up this wonderful site to do a little shell lurking…. what a beautiful true!!! congratulations!
Good morning Pam! I have looked on the tide chart for the week of June 23-30. Needlessly to say I am NO expert at reading the chart! It looked to me that there will be negative low tides but only late at night. Do the charts indicate the lowest point at the time listed? Do you have suggestions for being at the beach at the right time to get optimum shelling?
Love love love your posts. Makes me feel like I am shelling right beside you. :-) And that is the most gorgeous tulip shell I have ever seen. What a find!
We were in Sanibel a couple weeks ago. Brought my dad and my cousin this trip. They are hooked…. I found my first wentletraps and a flat. Can’t wait till next year…
Just when I think it can’t get any better, boom – this incredible true tulip rolls in. I’m so happy to see our beautiful beaches continue to produce the best shells ever!!
That True Tulip is one of the biggest I’ve ever seen! It’s sure one to add to the list of “must find” items…thanks. Those low tides really look low for the San-Cap area. Makes for awesome shellin’ that’s for sure. Good Luck All! Sure love to see what everyone finds…it’s exciting.
Gorgeous!!! Such a great find :)
What a beautiful shell. I am jealous. Loved your video.
What wonderful shells! That tulip is AMAZING ! WOWZA!!!
That dog is a cutie pie!
Thanks for another wonderful video Pam. I was right there with you reaching into the water. Next trip I will really have to try to be at the Pass with the tide rolling out like that. How fun to have to just reach in the water as the shells roll past you.
I love seeing seeing your pics and reading your posts! Hoping someday I’ll be able to call Sanibel home, but will have to settle for favorite vacation spot/happy place for now. Sanibel Island in T-minus 11 days. Can’t wait!
Pam, I’m coming in to Captiva on June 13 for 5 days. Is there any chance I can hook up with you to shell?
Thanks,
Sherry