Sea shell hunting is a popular activity in Florida, particularly after winter storms stir up some of the more unique and highly-valued shells. While you can find shells on almost any beach, there are a few beaches, in particular, that provide particularly good sea shell hunting.
The Lee Island Coast on the Gulf of Mexico offers many opportunities for sea shell hunters. The 100 barrier islands there yield about 400 species of brightly-colored shells. Sanibel Island, in particular, is one of the top spots in the country for sea shell hunting. The shape of Sanibel slows down the shells' movement and they land on the beach with little or no damage.
Toward the southern tip of Florida, on the western side of the state, just north of Naples, lies Bonita Springs. There are five beaches in the Bonita Springs area, but Barefoot Beach and Lovers Key State Park are the most popular for sea shell hunting, yielding a wide variety of shells and conchs.
Panama City is another top location in Florida for finding sea shells and sea glass. Keep in mind, however, that the beaches in Panama City are grated to remove trash and debris daily, so it is important to hunt for shells first thing in the morning when there are few people on the beach and the shells are undisturbed.
Search for sea shells during low tide, because low tide will give you the largest expanse of beach. Begin your search approximately an hour before low tide and work until an hour after low tide. You can find tide information easily online and most public beaches post the times for high and low tides.
One of the best places to find sea shells is the point on the beach where the highest waves stop, otherwise known as the shell line. Another good location is a drop in the surf line, where the waves break before rolling onto the beach. You can usually find the best shells there, but keep in mind you can only search for shells there if the weather permits.
