During the low tide evenings this past week, we didn’t find gobs of shells on Sanibel or Captiva but we found the best empty beauties in the Blind Pass channel in between Sanibel and Captiva. With the full moon causing extreme tides, the water rushes through the pass so quickly at the lowest tide (ankle deep) I like to just wait for the shells to roll by my feet by near the jetty rocks. If you want to see a video from last year that shows how they roll by CLICK HERE
We also hit the low tide at the Lighthouse Beach…
This was my favorite night last week because I met Michayla from Pensacola with lots of beautiful shells in her shell bag…
I also met Paige and her mom Nikkie from Kentucky. It’s always so much fun to meet new friends that love shelling as much as I do!
And lookie who else was shelling at Lighthouse Beach… our good friends Susan and Lee from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. They definitely love shelling as much as Clark and I do.
It’s always so much fun to see the live creatures at ow tide like FIGHTING CONCHS…
I’m not absolutely positive, but I believe that this is a SEA HARE EGG STRING. Seriously, it was this color… almost turquoise!
We are very used to seeing SEA PORK at low tide but this SEA LIVER looks a little different because it’s flatter and a little slimier. They are dark purple when still alive then turn whitish when they die so I’m assuming part of this colony on the right has already died off and the left side is still hanging on. Of course after I took this photo, I returned this colonial tunicate to the tidal pool where I found it.
So while we were shelling Lighthouse and Blind Pass… Gary, Jane, Anna, Claire and Ella from Arkansas were shelling near Tarpon Beach when they hit a VERY sweet honey hole. Gary said ” Just at the shelf line we found a PEN SHELL bed. After about 2 hours of digging we had 8 large horse conchs – our best shell hunt ever!” I’m sure this will be a day in their lives they will never ever forget. Shellzam!
I love summer evenings walking the beach when the sun doesn’t set until way after 8pm then the full moon rises to brighten the sky and pull at the sea.
Wow, great stuff! Love those sea hare egg chains!
Love your sunset/moonrise pictures. I don’t think I’ve ever seen sea liver or the sea hare egg chains. Great finds. Is that a golden olve in the top picture? Pat
In Arkansas they usually “dig for diamonds” but this family hit the diamonds in Florida. Way to go neighbors!!
Amazing! Especially the family with the eight, count ’em EIGHT Horse Conchs! Gosh, some people are lucky to find one in their lifetime of visits…that is so totally awesome! Hmmmmm….maybe I will have to start digging in December! Love, love, love the sea hare egg string too. My toe nails are that color right now. So pretty, that color. Thanks for sharing all your adventures, Pam.
Ooooh, I’m sick with shell envy!! We were digging in a pen shell pile at Sandpiper Beach. We dug for at least an hour and a half and made some great finds, just no horse conchs.
It’s funny that they found those. After we’d turned every pen shell in the tide pool, I told the hubby I’d be so upset (aka jealous) to find out there had been monster horsies nearby :)
Awesome find guys, I know it was very memorable!
I set out for seashell goals on Saturday! Although my seashell hopes were diminished; I was blessed to find a Message In a bottle!!!! Yes yes!! A message In a bottle! Wow! It was from an elementary school in Venice Beach, FL…. Was found on Honeymoon Island!!!! Yay me!
That was such a great low tide. We got to spend our last night with friends and found hundreds of beautiful shells that night. The beach was full of gorgeous oceans gems this past week.
I am wondering if there is a connection with pen shells and horse conchs? Do they tend to be found near each other? What would a pen shell “bed” look like? How did that family know where to dig? Was the shelf line at the water’s edge or under water?
Hi Diane! Horsies and pens live and feed in the same conditions. Take a look at another family I saw finding great shells in that same area a while back- it’s probably the same way this family found their horse conchs…http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/2013/04/21/tarpon-beach-top-shelf-shells. Hmmm lots of question you have on this one…. Looks like you want to find a horsie next time you come to Sanibel, huh? :)
Also, to see a pen shell bed look here…. http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/2011/05/18/sanibel-seashell-egg-casings/
Hi Pam!
Thank you for responding and linking me to other great information. I have never seen a pen shell bed but now know what to look for from viewing the picture. I have found some small horse conchs but would love to find a whopper. It is high on my list each time I come and even bought snorkel gear. That will make Clark shudder with fear since I told him I don’t swim. Rest assured, I do have a life vest to keep me floating and will not go in deep water. Shellotte will be my snorkeling partner! I signed up for the August shelling cruise. Looking forward to seeing you again!
Diane,
In my experience, I found my large conch by a cluster or “bed” of pen shells. It was in about 8-12 inches of water.
Way to go family from Arkansas!
The water has never been shallow enough by the Blind Pass rocks for wading (in the times I have visited). I’ve never even seen a little sand there (only in pictures). Good for you guys who are visiting now, looks beautiful there!!
Thanks, Janet. I will venture out a little farther than the shoreline the next time I search. Congrats on finding one for your collection.
Great job guys! So much fun! It’s all about the hunt! Wish I was there. Thx for sharing as always Pam
Mary Ann
East Granby. CT
Holy smokes look at all those Horse Conchs!!! I am Sooo very jealous! I have yet to find a Horse Conch that is anything but tiny….and only a few of them. Ugh! Maybe our next trip this summer….fingers crossed. So happy for them!
This message is for Pam the Artist. In Conde Nast Traveler a few months ago, there was a featured product that caught my imagination. Check out a new tech small business in Gainesville at fractureme.com. They print photos on the glass itself. They’re very green, and very cool. I love their enthusiasm, including the “Dance of Joy” that they do when they “harvest the glass from The Glass Tree to print my photo”. Can’t you just see some of Pam’s gallery photos printed on glass? The photo looks like it’s floating in front of the wall. The color saturation is amazing. Price is about the same as for a quality-printed photo and a frame. Be sure to sign up for their newsletters; the next one will be tips from a Nat Geo photographer. They have a rewards plan, and affiliate arrangements for businesses. I hope that ya’ll enjoy their photos as much as I have.
I have never seen a Sea Hare’s egg casing! What a beautiful color! And a Sea Liver! Never heard of that! This is one of the many reasons I love this blog! Always learning something! Plus making me want to get back to Sanibel and do some more exploring! Thanks again Pam!