Collecting Colorful Seashells In The Gulf
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Mother Nature has been providing lots of gifts from her sea this week! Not only did she give us all the Beach Bling on the east end, we were finding some excellent shells off West Gulf Drive west of Tarpon Bay Road this weekend.
In the water at the shoreline, Clark found a few ALPHABET CONES, colorful juvie HORSE CONCHS, SHARK’S EYES, dark colorful LETTERED OLIVES and BANDED TULIPS, a double CALICO CLAM and a double ALTERNATE TELLIN.
I was shelling the nice piles on the beach…
I found this sweet little pinkish FLORIDA SPINY JEWELBOX…
And 6 sets of pink and yellow ALTERNATE TELLINS. Here are two of them…
Candy!
Just in case you didn’t catch it in the first photo, take a look at how pretty and dark orange this FLORIDA CONE is. Clark found this just as we were about to leave the beach. It’s my fave shell of the weekend!
drooling
ME TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What great finds! The shells are beautiful! I especially love the sharks eye!
Now that’s a nice assortment. I don’t think I’ve ever seen shell piles at Tarpon Bay Rd. Just wish we were there.
Wish I was there..beautiful Florida Cone and my favorite-
Horsies!!! Awesome shark eyes too!
Pam and Clark – Great shells! Beautiful colors! Hope to find some like that – we’ll be there in *6* days!!!
I love this website! I look at it all the time. Sure wish I was at Sanibel! I miss it!
Beautiful! We’ve been here in Sanibel since late Saturday afternoon, but have not found a great many shells yet. My best find was a lace murex yesterday. The weather is a bit of a disappointment, but I’m holding out hope we get more sun soon!
I love the cones…especially that Florida cone.
The shell pile at Blind Pass made for some excellent digging yesterday.
Awesome shells coming in….sure with I was there!
Beautiful shells! Clark is beginning to look a lot like Capt. Brian!
hahaha. Funny you should say that! Clark just had another “chunk” taken off his skin by the dermo so I’ve been worried about him getting too much sun. After I showed Clark Capt Brian’s hat, I told him he should get one with that much coverage. Anyway, I bought him one and I think he likes it!
We just got back from Sanibel Saturday. I was hoping to run into you but maybe next time. Couldn’t believe all the live fighting conch-everywhere! I got some great shells, but still no junonia! I will keep trying!!!!!
Got back last night from a weekend of shelling on Sanibel and the array of shells was spectacular! Blind Pass Beach had huge shell piles, but the beach was littered with smelly pen shells, so I had to walk quite a bit south to distance myself from the stench. Bowman’s Beach was a treasure trove yesterday and no smelly pen shells. Found a horse conch, cones and lots of fighting conchs. And lettered olives galore! Great weekend of treasure hunting!
We came home Saturday and were tempted to stay on the plane for the return trip! Wore my “I Love Shelling” tee shirt hoping you’d spot me, Pam, but it was not to be. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was stooped over the whole time! Tried to post a pic of my treasures, but not having any luck. Will try again later. Already dreaming about next year…
We will be visiting this summer in July and was wondering what is the best type of shoes to wear in the water shelling. What are the ones that Clark is wearing in this picture? Also, what do you suggest to bring shelling to put smaller shells in such as the tellins to protect them?
Thanks and have a blessed day…
Awwww….what great shells…….happy for you guys!! But wish I were there. The water color is amazing and I love seeing shell piles like that! Beautiful!! I, too, thought for a moment Clark was Capt Brian! Have a great week you just put a smile on my Monday!
THREE days & counting till our girls’ getaway!!!!! I will be out with my I Love Shelling lighted hat & Shell Sifter looking for treasures….Is there anywhere I can get an I Love Shelling tee shirt while I am on the island? I thought Santa was bringing one but he forgot!
There might be a few tees and tanks left at MacIntosh Books on Sanibel. Other than that, you have to order them online now. Sorry, I just couldn’t afford to stock all that inventory any more. Yikes!
Unbelievably spectacular shelling! They look like they belong in a jewelry store. We’ll be there in 6 days. Keep those shells rolling in.
John & Kathie
Southlake, TX
So beautiful!
Pam and Clark,
I’m glad to hear you are keeping safe from the suns rays with a big hat. I love Clark’s funky shoes! Not to complain, but I’m looking for a water shoe that will protect my toes (and ankles, preferably) from the swirl of the sea shells but haven’t found them yet. Do those keep the shell pieces OUTSIDE OF the shoe?
Those “toe” water shoes are fantastic! We got ours at the shoe outlet (eerrrr- i forget the name) at Tanger Outlets right off island in Ft Myers. yes, they keep the shells OUT. But they don’t do anything for the ankles of course. If you want ankle protection, you need to look for scuba booties.Hope this helps!
We use scuba boots also. They work great! They’re real flexible,comfortable and keep everything out from the ankle down.
Sounds great! Thank you for your replies, Pam, John and Kathie.
By the way, those orange shells are “to-die-for!”!
I’m going to have to quit looking at this site, Pam, until we can sell our TN home and move to Sanibel!!!!!! It’s killing me!!! (Beautiful shells, by the way!) Johnnie
That’s one nice looking scoop (and florida cone). Do you have any info on where to purchase a metal scoop like that?
Clark got his at Bailey’s Grocery/Hardware Store on Sanibel
I was there last week and didn’t see any that were metal. I’ll call them and see if they will be getting in any. Thanks!!
Jeff Bailey,
I believe I saw scoops for sale at Periwinkle Place out on the veranda, but I don’t remember for sure if they were metal or blue plastic. That was a month ago. Good luck finding it!
I think there would probably be a good secondary market for those long handled metal scoops if someone on Sanibel would be willing to buy and sell them used. Perhaps they already do. Vacationers who can’t carry them home in their luggage would be happy to use one and get a few dollars back at the end of the week, day, etc… (Hint, hint, all you enterprising Sanibellers, or is it Sanishellers?)
Really nice haul, y’all! Great shell piles…great finds. Don’t ya just love the candy!
Great color!!! Love the jewel box pink, wow!
Have fun guys & be safe!!
Wishing I was there!
Mar
We were just there for the first time this past weekend. I had a goal of finding the sanibel six. I found five of the six. My husband, I believe found all six. The cone was what got me. After seeing this post, I’m wishing we had gone to where you were. Even though I didn’t find the cone I did find some very cute little shells on my last day that I am very happy that I found, including a juvie horse conch, one that may be a juvi true tulip and others. Since we are still traveling, the shells are packed away. I can’t wait to get them home tonight and de-smellify them again since the first time didn’t work, and look at the treasures that we found.
thanks for all of your post that taught me all that I know about the diffrent type of shells and where to find them.