Seashell Treasure HuntSand dollars, moon snails, conch shells, pin shells, periwinkles, whelk and olive shells are just a few of the indigenous seashells found here. And, as long as there are no creatures living in them, there is no limit to how many of these one-of-a-kind souvenirs you can take home with you.
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Shell-lovers from all over the world make pilgrimages to tiny Sanibel Island's Gulf Coast, considered the best shelling spot in North America according to Travel & Leisure Magazine.
Sanibel Island Shelling – Travel & Leisure Ranked Sanibel Island #1 of the Top 10 Best U.S Shelling Beaches. Shell-lovers from all over the world make pilgrimages to tiny Sanibel Island's Gulf Coast, considered the best shelling spot in North America according to Travel & Leisure Magazine.
Shell Island offers swimming on its Gulf side and Bay side. The undeveloped Island has water all around it for ultimate fun and a lot of room for relaxing comfort. Snorkeling is also a fun activity to explore the turquoise waters.
Although January, February and March are some of the best months to go shelling on Sanibel and Captiva, Stefanie Wolf, a marine biologist at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, said that because of the high winds the islands have been experiencing this spring, now is an opportune time to go shelling.
The recreational collection of sea shells is allowed depending on whether or not the harvested sea shell contains a living organism, the type of organism it contains and where you will be collecting. Sea shells containing live organisms cannot be sold unless the seller has a valid commercial saltwater products license.
Junonia is one of the rarest shells to find. It's highly coveted among beachcombers. Because Junonia snails live on the ocean floor, their shells aren't likely to wash up on the beach. Once a Junonia dies, its shell is more likely to stay buried than to travel the 60 to 150 feet to the sand.
Even though Shell Island might feel like a personal paradise, you don't need any special permission to visit. If you own a personal boat or choose to rent one during your time in the area, you can boat to Shell Island and anchor close to shore.
The Real Reason Sanibel Has an Abundance of Great ShellsIt's because it's one of the very few islands that run perpendicular to the state of Florida, whereas most islands run the same way as Florida, which causes the ocean currents to have the beaches primarily flushing water downward.