I Found A BIG ONE!!
By
I Found A Big One
This was the best Easter shell hunt I’ve ever had!
OK, Clark and I found it together……but I picked it up first! heehee. Yeah, I’m still a little giddy from all of the excitement. It’s not every day that we find a WHELK that BIG!
We didn’t have a lot of time today for boating since we had to take our boat back to Salty Sam’s Marina in Ft Myers Beach where we keep it in dry storage. So we just did some island hopping (Easter bunnies!…….. sorry…..still giddy) off Captiva and found this mac daddy WHELK in some shallow waters on one of the out islands. He had some scum on him but it came right off with a little “sand exfoliation”.
12 inch whelk shell
Foot long whelk
We found some other cool stuff too but I’ve run out of time so I’ll show those pictures tomorrow. I’d just like to savor this for the night.
What a great find!!! Happy Easter!!!
Oh boy am I jealous!
Wow! What an amazing couple of days! I am aching to be there.
Count me among the jealous! Out of curiosity, how far is it from the north end of Captiva to North Captiva and Cayo Costa? Kayak-able for an average paddler, or does one need a motor?
Sara- it’s not far to North Captiva. On a very calm day when there is not a big tidal change, you could probably make it without a motor. I’m not a kayaker but there are problems to consider-… the current is very strong when you cross over Redfish Pass (the waterway in between the 2 islands) and it gets VERY rough. Please be very careful if you try this so you have to be aware of the weather (winds, tide and storms) at all times. If you rent the kayak please be sure that they will permit you to cross the pass. Come to think about it, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a kayak cross over so maybe someone else will know.
Sara- please read the other Pam’s comment below about the kayaking. Wow. Scary! Please don’t try to kayak across Redfish Pass!
Fantastic find. That might be the largest one I’ve ever seen.
what a find!!!!!!!!!!but then every days find is a feast for my eyes….i found your blog by mistake but it has become a daily must for me to get my sanibel fix….my sisters and i found sanibel 8 years ago and make a trip there as ofter as possible…will be there the last 3 weeks of april and hope to run into you one day shelling…..we are avid shellers so all of your wonderful pictures bring back many fond memories……thanks for sharing them with us.
Wow! It’s as big as your head! Happy Easter to you!
We’ll be there April 24th on a ‘spur of the moment’ trip for a week….keep the stories coming so I can figure my plan of attack!! Thanks so much for keeping us informed….I visit your blog everyday and am enjoying all the adventures with you!! Thank you Thank you…Thank You!!
That is huge & awesome!!!..I think the shells are thanking you in their own way
..I’m so happy for you,I can’t wait for your next blog 
Congrats on that fabulous find, Pam! Now you see what I meant about shelling on North Captiva and the other little islands.
You’re right not to recommend anyone kayaking across Redfish Pass … it’s extra deep and there are hungry sharks cruising those waters. Even the small motorboat we crossed it in seemed inadequate, making me very uncomfortable. Plus, one afternoon I was shelling on South Seas’ beach along Redfish Pass and saw a swimmer pulled through the current there. About halfway across he went under and never came back up.
Pam
What a great Easter find…congrats to you! I love your blog…
I can see the absolute, unadulterated joy on your face- it’s such a great feeling, isn’t it?!!!!
[...] click hereand see her fabulous whelk and other ocean creatures. Possibly related posts: (automatically [...]
Oh my gosh. This is awesome! I’m sure your excitement will last for a while!!
And of course I have to have this fabulous find on my ole little blog (too).
Cheers.
Thank you for your comments!!! I’ve got more pictures from yesterday but my mac is in the shop for the night so I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to show yall more pictures of our amazing day.
[...] I Found a Big one @ I Love [...]
Oh my gosh!! That’s enormous!! I would be giddy with glee, too! Fabulous find!
What a happy happy easter gift…………………….so wonderful!!!!!!!!
Im giddy also for I arrive for three weeks on Sat. Look for the lady with long handled tweesers with a super Sabibel Stoop.
Sanibel sister Linda
Sat.
I need a Whelk like that for my collection!
[...] said in her email. I am sure it made her day- I think it will make her week and month (just like my 12″ WHELK!). I think this might be like finding a JUNONIA. They are pretty rare to find in this perfect [...]
Wow! Cool shell!!! I’m super-jealous.
My Mom and I are heading down to Sanibel for a week and I’m hoping that I can find some amazing shells like all of yours!
;o) any tips? tee-hee
We are coming to Sanibel the week of July 4th. I am sooo exicted. I have already told my fiancee and son that they will have to go do things without me because when I get to the beach they will not be able to pry me from it. He knows this is true! lol
We were in Cancun in March and found a hugh conch shell (8″ – 10″) in one piece! I know the giddy feeling, I was jumping up and down screaming. It was almost the highlight of our trip, but he made it perfect by asking me to marry him that night on the beach. That is too much info, but I had to let you know the only thing that could have been better than finding that shell!
Do you find shells that size very often? And if so where? I would love to have a mate for mine!
Congratulations!!…..on your engagement AND your huge conch! No, I don’t find them very often that size but that’s what make them soooo special too. I know you’ll have a great time when you are here so good luck and let us know if find some treasure. You can post your bet shots on my face book page. http://www.facebook.com/iLoveShelling
I found half of a junonia on Clearwater Beach 2 weeks ago. Unbelievable, as I know they are extra rare in these parts north of Sanibel, right? As it’s not whole, I supose it’s not worth much, right?.
Check this out- http://iloveshelling.com/blog/2010/05/02/junonia-necklace/
What a great find !
I love sea shells too . Last holiday we where in Portugal and I have found a lott of shells there .
Love from the Netherlands ♥RINI♥
Are you pandering to the foot fetishists or showing off the large whelk?
thats a HUGE WHELK! awesome find!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!