When the sand bars are exposed just off the shore line, it’s so much fun to see what you can find in all the nooks and crannies of the sand barely covered by water. On yesterday’s post, I mentioned that I walked quite a few beaches for the Super Moon really low tide but I didn’t get a chance to show you what the beach looked like near Tarpon Beach (closest public parking is Trost Lot off Tarpon Bay Rd). Each beach looks so different! I took a quick video to show you what I found in the shallow water in between the sand bar and the shoreline… And you’ll see how I found the favorite shell of the day I showed you… the BROAD PAPER COCKLE! As I was walking, I saw the shape and color looked so different from the other fragments so I bent down to see what it was. Aha!
Nice Pam. I wanted to go back today, but over did it yesterday. Some times I think I am 19. Bending, digging and reaching wore me out. Going tomorrow. Where will you be. I would really enjoy shelling with you.
I really enjoyed that video Pam. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your shelling time near Tarpon Beach. It helps lessen the Sanibel shelling withdrawals.
Thanks for sharing Pam ! So wish I could be there ( will be in 27 days tho ) and feel the sand under my feet ! Yep , having major sand with drawl … LOL !!! Bringing a Sanibel newbie with me this year & she is so excited about going !! Can’t wait to share my paradise with her !! Take care lady & happy shelling !!!
I am jealous every time I read your blog. Shelling on the east coast is challenging. I think a trip to Sanibel is in my future. Maybe your next shelling trip???
Hi Pam!! My name is Laura Wentworth from Austin, Texas. I was having beach and shelling withdrawal late one night in early June 2013. Soooo I plugged in best beaches for shelling and waaalaa!! Low and behold there u were!!!! OMG!! I am ssssoooooo excited!!!!! Ever since I have logged on at least 1-3 times a day. I feel like u r my new best friend!!! Yea!! I just can’t believe there are soooo may beautiful and special shells in one place!!! What a blessing from God:). I have lots of shells mainly from the Texas coast, Alabama coast and Florida gulf and pacific coasts. I am proud of my collection, but WOW!!! I am already planning and saving for my trip to SANIBELL . But while I wait I can be there every day thanks to u and your blog!! It has helped me become energized and happy every day. OBTW–I do call Mobile, Alabama home cause I grew up there and spent lots of time on the beaches of Gulf Shores and Dauphin Island!:). Pam thanks sooooo very much!!! Can’t wait to me u and until then happy shelling!!!!:) I will be there ASAP!!
Hi again! Oooppps!! I lied. I got the oceans mixed up no shelling on Pacific beaches but shelling every summer with my great aunts who lived a block off of the ocean in Jacksonville Beach, Fl. Oh we’ll brain reversal!!!:). Laura W.
Shelling ethics question for you Pam. Walking the beach tonight in the rain, I wasn’t finding anything when I found some shell art. Some clever person(s) made a crab, spider, shark, fish, etc out of hundreds of shells. I carefully looked through the art without disturbing the design and removed the horse conch, flat scallop, augers, tiny welks etc that I found. Hubby has been teasing me all night about “looting” the work. I say far game and it obviously wasn’t made by a sheller! What do you think?
Well, well, well. Beach art looting. hahhhaha Thats a first I’ve ever heard. Hmmmm. Well what I think is that if you hadnt gotten them, someone else would have. It might be a little hasty to take them while it was freshly done but the rain eventually ruins them most of the time or the high tide washes it away. I sure hope you got a picture of it before you looted it! LOL
No pic, I didn’t have my camera with me darn it because they were really cute. We got soaked in the rain so I was glad I didn’t have it. We went down to Blind Pass afterward and didn’t find a thing so the “looted” goods made my evening!
We are headed to Sanibel in a few days. Loved your video, Pam. I’m so excited to get back to the island and start shelling that I can hardly wait!
Great video! Felt like I was walking next to you-hearing the wind and the water.
Have fun everyone.
Pat
Loved this video Pam! I feel like I am getting to know you and already call you my friend! Can’t wait to meet you in person in January!
I found a bunch of live olive shells at low tide. They were crawling into the sand. I picked one up, and it’s amazing how big they are when they flare out. *shudder*
Hi Acey, when I was on Sanibel in Jan. I walked the beach at dawn and I swear that the live olives were writing messages! Unfortunately I don’t speak or read olive so I don’t know what they were saying. Marilyn
My daughter and I enjoyed shelling on Sanibel for a few days last week. We found some nice tulips, olives and many other treasures. Some of the best we found included an alphabet cone, a bright orange Florida cone and 2 horse conchs, one measured 7″ and the other 13″! Both were in very good condition, although there are quite a few barnacles still to be removed from the big one. It was an excellent trip!
I so appreciate your pictures and videos-and I am so jealous of your life!
I so love shelling on Sanibel and hope to be back in the fall/winter…Thank you for taking the time you do and sharing all your days on the beach.
Noela
Great to watch the video, I wish we had more tide here.
Just wondering if the water is clearer in the summer months vs. the fall? We were there last fall and I don’t remember the water being as clear as it appears in your photos and videos. Great video today! Really wish I was there . . .
Amy, it can change day to day. If it rains a lot and its windy, the water gets cloudy and seem times brownish. And now that I think about it, I probably don’t take as many photos of the water when it’s like that ( not clear and blue) because its just not as pretty… And I like taking pretty pictures! Hahaha I’m sure if you look back though, I’ve taken gazillions of photos with folks showing their shells and the water is not brilliant bright blue… Because its not like that every single day.
Thanks Pam. I do live in beautiful Colorado where the blue skies are gorgeous, but there’s nothing like looking at the ocean water when it’s so wonderfully clear . . . :-)
Pam,
Loved the video of shelling at Tarpon Beach during a low tide. We go in the evening, when the tide is also low, and the sandbar is walkable. Found a seven inch lightening whelk – older shell – and no crab inside! It was buried in the sand and I had to dig it up. This was in the same area that you walked in the morning. Still enjoying the “super” low tides, and the conchs on the sandbar “dancing” their dance. Hundreds! My daughter also used her net and caught (and immediately released) the biggest shark’s eye (moon’s eye) molllusk! The size of this mollusk does not do the pictures in the shelling books justice! It was huge! Many “firsts” this trip and this was one of them! Linda K..
Beautiful video
Just loved this video. I could feel the water on my feet & smell the salt water as you walked along! Thanks for bringing back the fond memories for me…..hope to see you soon, Sanibel!
What a treat after a long day at work!
Thank you, Pam!!
Hi,
I just saw the video and felt like I was walking right along with you. It was wonderful. The beach is beautiful. I will be in Sanibel again soon. Love it. Debbie Winston
I found all of those shells at that same beach last week. Even though the beaches were crowded I still found shells many had walked by. And many of them were up on the sand in plain sight! I found mostly all live shells on the sandbars so I changed to a different area of the beach. If you’re not finding shells in one area of the beach, try another. There are shells all the way from the dune down to the sandbars at low tide.
I usually shell at Honeymoon Island in Dunedin Fl. It is one of my favorite places to shell. I have only been able to go Sannibel once, but sure do plan to go back sometime. I decorate picture frames with the shells I find…broken ones make lovely accent pieces! I’d love to send you some pictures of some of my “Shellacious Frames” :)