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Sanibel & Captiva Islands
Shelling Guide
Sanibel
and Captiva have earned their reputation as the Shell Islands honestly. They are
actually made out of shells, like some magnificent work of shell art
created over thousands of years. When islanders dig gardens in their backyards,
they find conchs, whelks, scallops and clam shells often perfectly intact.
The
best
shelling,
of course, is found on the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva Islands. The islands
rank tops in the world for their shelling because of geography.
Sanibel does the twist as it parades along the coastline among a string of other
more orderly, straight-and-narrow islands. The east-west torque of Sanibel's
south end acts like a shovel scooping up all the sea shells that the Gulf
imports from Caribbean and other southern seas. The abundance and variety of
shells
have made Sanibel and Captiva Islands shell -obsessed. People come from all over
the world, drawn by the song of the seashell. They parade along the sand
doubled over in a stance that's been dubbed the Sanibel Stoop. Every March, they
gather to compare and appreciate shell collections and shell art at the
annual Sanibel Shell Fair & Show. Throughout the year, shell shops sell
seashells by the seashore (and by the thousands). Shells are the dominant motif
in
island decor and boutique gifts. You'll find everything from finely crafted
"shell igrams" to Lucite toilet seats with seashells lacquered in. (No home
should be without one!)
Learn more about Seashell Ecology and Seashell preservation in our
Guide to Florida Seashells.
Where
to Shell
All of the Gulf-side
shelling beaches
from the Lighthouse to North
Captiva
When
to Shell
At low tide when the seashells are more exposed, especially at low spring tides
(at full and new moons) and after Gulf storms have driven the shells up the Gulf
onto our
shelling
beaches.
How to
Shell
Bring bucket or net bag and scoop. Wear shoes and shuffle to expose partially
hidden mollusks and to scare away rays. Stingrays are easily frightened and
rarely
sting "shellers" if they follow the simple "shuffle rule."
What
to Expect
Shells of many types and sizes are found on our
shelling beaches.
As a general rule the smaller seashells are found on the
Lighthouse end
of the island chain
and the larger ones nearer Captiva and North Captiva. Conch, Junonia, Lightning
Whelk, Cockle, Scallops, Murex, Tulip, Olive, Coquina, are among the species
you may expect to find.
Shelling Tips
It is illegal to take live shells on Sanibel and Captiva. Respect the privacy of
non-public
shelling beaches.
Use your scoop to dredge deeper sections and drop-offs.
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