Low tide shelling in Florida. Getting up early to hunt for seashells and special South Marco Access!

[@bonnerdebbie]

I have noticed that the longer you are a shell collector the more you appreciate the tinys. Thanks Sharmon, lovely walk on the beach. I went to Fernandina Beach with my daughter looking for shark's teeth, they find bigger one's there than at my local and Guana Reserve where we normally go. It was 42degrees, windy and basically a bust for teeth. I have been in Florida most of my 66 years and anything under 75F and I am cold, so I was very cold even bundled. I found a huge barnacle and a shark tooth and my daughter found 5 teeth and then went to her lower calves in sinking sand so wet feet for the rest of the morning. But we had a good time, the ride there and back plus stopping for awesome fish sandwiches. Have a super week!

[@pennywebb867]

Sounds like a fun day!

[@SWFBeachLife]

I am finding the more I shell and the older I get, the more I want to appreciate the entire day/experience. So when I'm not finding the bigger specimens, I am perfectly happy to start looking for tinies, which frankly are just as much fun to find. I like slowing down and finding all the things I might not normally take the time to appreciate 🥰 The day with your daughter sounds like you made a fabulous memory and even got some souvenirs!

[@Danstarla]

Even on the other side of the world I have used your advice regarding 'coffee grinds' to look for specific shells. For me its to find urchin shells which often are caught up in seagrass however i found a rare for the location wentle trap also on the weekend using that method. So thank you for the tip!

[@SWFBeachLife]

Oh that's wild! If/when I go to my international destinations I am going to keep this in mind!

[@Monicacride]

Beautiful shelling day. I love SW Florida! Marco here I come in June. Hee hee… great finds! ❤️🥰

[@cazee100]

I like those common egg cockles quite a lot. Hugs and stay safe xx

[@SWFBeachLife]

I like that they aren't too common! xoxo 🥰

[@shugandruslewis]

I so appreciate your enthusiasm for all nature! Your optimism is inspiring! Thanks! I’m learning a lot too!

[@SWFBeachLife]

Thank you for the kind words! 🙏🏼

[@vasilikikayafas8436]

Omg!that lightning whelk looked like it got dipped in sherbet ice cream! 😂😂

[@SWFBeachLife]

Weren't the colors neat?

[@vasilikikayafas8436]

@@SWFBeachLife yes! They were awesome!

[@jenniferholland8696]

Well hello Shell Sista! So glad you were able to come down and shell. Everyday it is a little different but I love it!! Happy to see you enjoying the tiny shells as much as I do. Until next time……❤❤❤

[@SWFBeachLife]

It was so special to find that beautiful top snail! Thank you again for the invite and the access! ❤️❤️❤️

[@jolynnburns4306]

I love the littles!! TRUE TULIPS!! Love them, well all of them. Fun as always! It is getting cold? Hope you have a great week and see you Sunday! XOXO

[@SWFBeachLife]

It was in the 50's this morning but it warms up in the afternoon. At least I don't ever have to worry about snow! 😃

[@vasilikikayafas8436]

I hear you saying how this beach is open now, that beach is open but I am checking the website for honeymoon and caladesi and still not open! I’m hoping they open soon! I m flying down for 10 days at end of December and I would love to see it open by then! 🙏🙏🙏 This will be the first time ever for me winter shelling and I CANNOT WAIT! I’m planning at 2 day trip during my stay to your neck of the woods to go with Ali and Hemingway! I would love to meet you when I go! That would be a treat! ❤️☺️

[@vasilikikayafas8436]

Omg! After I wrote this I checked again! They are open now! 🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️🤸‍♀️

[@SWFBeachLife]

I hope you have a wonderful time with Ali and Hemingway! I keep meeting more and more beach friends so you never know - out paths may cross!

[@teriturnbull8859]

For those of us who have never seen the Ocean but hope to one day I thank you so much for these little trips. They mean so much !

[@SWFBeachLife]

You’re welcome! I hope you get to see the ocean someday!

[@carmaela2689]

The tiny shells are my favorite. They often have the prettiest colors and patterns and I think they look beautiful in glass containers

[@SWFBeachLife]

They really are a work of art!

[@ittybittykittymama7582]

Hello, my Beach Angel! I've been patiently waiting for you! Yes, let's go to the beach! So glad you got access to this great shelling area! What a wonderful way to greet the dawn! Even I would get up early for this! Yay! You sure were having a fun time! I wish I could have been with you. I will be, Lord willing, next year about this time! We'll have a blast! Much love and many prayers for you! R 🐬

[@SWFBeachLife]

I wish everyone had a hobby or activity that gives them a much joy as going to the beach gives me. I'm so glad I'm able to share! Thank you for your support and kind words each week 🥰

[@lisawilson3759]

The little ones are magnificent

[@mariejung73]

Love the tinies!

[@suelarivee385]

Its always a pleasure to watch you

[@SWFBeachLife]

Thank you for choosing to spend some time with me at the beach!

[@BettyRobinson-gg5tz]

So cute!!!!!😍😍😍😍😍 I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!!!! I always enjoy watching you!!!!!💖💖💖💖😍😍😍💕💕💕💐💐🤗🤗🤗🤗🙏🙏🙏🌹🌹🌹🌈🌈🌈❤❤❤❤😂😂😂😀😀😀😉😉😉😘😘😘😘🌺🌺🌺🌺🐚🐚🐚🐚

[@SWFBeachLife]

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving too! Thank you for watching!

[@debbiejones6265]

First, I have to say I'm so excited about my Rose Murex I bid on and one. And I'm so happy to donate to your cause. :) love those ceriths and that orange horse conch. wow. pretty True Tulip. And a Wentle trap. So cool. love that baby's ear. I've never found one. Very cool. Love the beach time segment. I feel like I'm right there on the beach. :) I've never seen the egg cockles either. So cool to see. holy moly on that apple murex. Beautiful. All those true tulips. lol. Love those turrid. pretty. Love the Shelling. It's my decompressing time every Sunday. Thank you and happy Holidays. :)

[@SWFBeachLife]

Thanks for watching and for your kind donation! I hope the holidays are wonderful for you and yours!

[@LilyBurana-d9g]

You're killin' me, Sharm!!!!! We're thinking of Marco over President's Day Weekend.

[@SWFBeachLife]

Not going to lie - that sounds pretty much like heaven!

[@denisem6754]

I’m longing for Marco and will hopefully be there soon. It was wonderful to hang out on south beach for a few minutes, even virtually. Love the minis, adore the Turrids, the Wentletrap and the Baby’s Ear. Great haul, looking forward to next week’s video.

[@SWFBeachLife]

I am glad I could bring a little bit of Marco to you! Happy planning!!

[@loukrudewig3414]

Beautiful shell day. Thank you for sharing.

[@SWFBeachLife]

You're welcome! I love sharing the treasures of the beach.

[@debblair5761]

Awesome shells! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! 😊

[@SWFBeachLife]

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving too!

[@debblair5761]

@ I did. It was cold like we normally have. I live in the north east . But I do get to travel once in awhile.

[@andradavis7201]

i jusy love watching your videos.............fan forever in red oak tx........thank you for your time...........taking us with you to the beach

[@SWFBeachLife]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@maggieslifeisawildride512]

I was so excited for you (and us) for getting to that elusive area and what finds too!

[@SWFBeachLife]

I was just happy to see what was around this corner this time! Turns out all the fabulous tinies were hiding over there!

[@shellstories]

Awesome score with that Beautiful top shell, I've never seen one of those guys before. Cool to see all those minis in abundance too, love finding those (especially when it's a slow day for larger shells). It's crazy to see how much that inlet side beach has eroded, but I'm sure the currents there will help build it back up eventually. Can't wait to see what you found at Sanibel!

[@SWFBeachLife]

Helloooo!!! I have a "semi" photographic memory and it was so funny I remembered the first one of those I found over on Shell Island. Can I remember what I needed when I walk in a room? Nope - but shells I remember! That beach got hammered with Milton but I do hope those winter winds will help push some of that sand back where it belongs 😃

[@beverlyhoward5029]

Don't be embarrassed about liking Bubble Shells. I think there are very cool. I recently looked up the Shoulderblade Sea Cat (Dolabella Auricularia) that I saw in a shell book. It is from a group of Sea Hares that have internal skeletons. And it turns out that the Bubbles are in a closely related group because they are too big to withdraw into their shells. So they are kind of like Sea Hares with an external fragile shell. The taxonomy is hard to follow but Sea Hares are in family Aplysiidae. Bubbles are in order Cephalaspidea along with the HeadSheild Slugs.

[@SWFBeachLife]

Hello shell nerd!!! That totally makes sense! The live bubbles I've seen photos or video of have that ribbon-like body like the sea hares, so I can see how they would be related. I'd LOVE to find a live one but I suspect I'd need to be diving to see that. I love the ocean!

[@lisacenturelli3239]

Those of us who can no longer walk miles have been trying to convince you about the beauty of the littles, minis and micros!! Welcome to the club! Plus they fly back to the northern US wastelands very easily... lol. About five more weeks and I'm putting my toes in the sand there!!

[@SWFBeachLife]

Alas, it has taken me a bit to really fall in love with the tinies, but I'm there 🥰 I actually look forward to tiny days - clean up is so quick!

[@andradavis7201]

thank you for the beach time ..............

[@vasilikikayafas8436]

Clicked so fast! 😂😂😂

[@leeannciampa5489]

My granddaughter Lacey loves your videos too watches them with me all the time , she is 8 and says hi❤

[@SWFBeachLife]

Please tell Lacey I thank her, and you for watching my videos. I hope you are learning some neat stuff about the beach!

[@dreesexton4269]

I'd love to see you sit and sift through a big shell pile just to see how many different, cool tiny shells you'd find 🎉

[@SWFBeachLife]

Hey, you never know! I go to where the shells are!

[@tammyannpepin-dagostino5442]

I love watching your beach walks!!! Namaste!! I truly appreciate YOU!! Thank you so much!🐚

[@SWFBeachLife]

🥹 Thank you so much! ❤️

[@gingermackeen5741]

You taught me another cool fact! Didn't know that about the juvenile snowy egrets. Thank you! Sharmon I think the tiny baby's ears are more rare to find than the bigger ones so congrats!😊 I noticed last week you've added some embellishments to your intro. 😁👍 Darling pitted murex! And a bunch of darling "bebes"! Thanks, my friend. xxoo

[@SWFBeachLife]

I'm lucky that so many things interest me. I can't remember what I had for breakfast, but I remember shells and critters! ❤️❤️❤️

[@jessiesgirl4413]

Grateful for the small things and for you😊 Love all your adventures and treasures🐚💛

[@SWFBeachLife]

I'm so happy to share the beauty with you!

[@michelfrey1542]

We just came back from a week in South Marco Island! The shelling was ridiculously marvelous near the rocks and up at Tigertail Beach. We also took the Hemingway Shuttle out to Keewaydin and found some nice shells, including a large Lightning Whelk, but it did not have the quality, variety or abundance of South Marco at this point in time. Originally from Florida with many many shelling trips in the Sanibel/Captiva area that we cherish, but must say that this was shelling excellence!❤

[@SWFBeachLife]

Well you certainly hit all the good spots! That whole area is fabulous, not to mention the 10k islands. I'm so lucky to live in SWFL!! 🙏🏼

[@juliamaul7334]

I love all the tinies!!! Love the true tulips. Let’s face it, I love all the shells!!!❤❤❤

[@SWFBeachLife]

Me too! Show me a shell and I'll show you something I love about it!

[@meganmarielittle5338]

at around 5:20 I also saw a wentletrap in the handful of shells besides the fly spec cerrith.

[@SWFBeachLife]

I still don't see it! All I see are fly speck ceriths 🤷‍♀️

[@nelliehamstra1751]

I would take it and put a cactus in it. Nice flowerpot.

[@pennywebb867]

Lovely day and some terrific s hells, several of which i didn't recognize! A gentle request for us long time viewers. How boring would it be to get a pile of shells in focus and pause long enough for us to stop our video, before your hand blocks the view and blurs the background. Then those of us who want to can enlarge and search the area, see what we can find before restarting the video and seeing if we found the same shell(s) as you? Just an idea...meanwhile keep doing what you do. You are an inspiration and a natural teacher. ❤❤❤

[@SWFBeachLife]

I LOVE this idea! I can pause and then show what I saw and you can compare. Thank you! I love trying new things!

[@miriammacdermot5601]

Greetings, Sharmon! Thanks again for sharing yet another shelling adventure. If I had to choose one favorite from your finds today, I'd pick the larger egg cockle. I don't know why, but I really think those are so cool. Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving Day. Now it's on to Christmas. Have a great week!

[@SWFBeachLife]

I like the egg cockles because I don't find them all the time. Anything unusual is neato! I hope you too had a great Thanksgiving and are getting ready for the holidays!

[@BeverlyDahman]

Thanks for taking me on your beach walk. I love Marco because of the awesome shells and because I don’t need to walk as much to find shells. I have been rewatching your videos from a year ago and learn new things each time I watch them. One video answered my question about whether there was such a thing as an albino lace murex. My question about a couple of other videos is: How windy does it need to be for it to be considered a high wind event? Thanks for being our beach expert! 💙💚💜

[@SWFBeachLife]

I think a few days of winds over 15mph would do the trick! I've been wrong before though. I did go once after winds and there wasn't much to find at all. The beach always keeps me guessing! Thank you so much for watching!

[@lesliejac6720]

Love that you did tiny shells and love south Marco beach! (But please don’t make it too popular!)

[@SWFBeachLife]

LOL I know what you mean! There were so many shellers in that one location! I'll have to find another "secret spot" and not share 🤣

[@lightningwelk]

do you k ow how lucky you are for being able to do this every time you want? i’m stuck in a big city praying for the day i can move to Florida.

[@SWFBeachLife]

Yes, yes I do know how lucky I am. I appreciate every trip to the beach!

[@Tinkergrumpybuns]

You should bring a kids play sieve when going for tinies…. ESP. Wenzel traps! Thanks for all your information.

[@SWFBeachLife]

I have them - I will have to remember to throw one in my backpack!

[@DebraL-m1d]

I like the eggs and buttons and babies ears! I hope to gather some of that gorgeous naker (?) from the pin shells to fill a jar. No one seems to want it. I actually like some of the oysters if they look like skeleton feet or have interesting shapes or colors. Very picky, but have kept a handful.

[@SWFBeachLife]

Some of the oyster shells are really neat. I think they look like pelican feet!

[@sam_bernstein_]

You need to come visit us in NC! Lots of babies ears here on the southern beaches 🥰

[@SWFBeachLife]

I've heard! I am going to get there one of these days!

[@l.m.8468]

I loved this video. ❤ I always enjoy when you go to Marco for some reason. Today is the first time I've heard you say you were thankful for the access. I've seen people walk that area around that crop of rocks hunting shells in other videos. I assumed it was for anyone who just followed the waterline along the beach? Do you have to have permission to walk that area of the beach? Thanks for the video! 😊

[@SWFBeachLife]

You can really only get around that jetty at low tide, and the last time I went (before Hurricane Milton) I couldn't get around the jetty at all. One of my beach friends was staying in those towers right on the beach, so they listed me as a guest and I was able to start my shelling behind the buildings. As it turns out you are right - I was able to walk around the jetty but I didn't know if that was going to be possible. I'm glad it was so I could shell behind and in front of those buildings 😃

[@l.m.8468]

@SWFBeachLife Oh gotcha! Thank you! I've learned so much from you! We're coming down from Arkansas Christmas week! I'm so stinkin' excited! I'm looking forward to trying to hunt there during low tide (hopefully I'll get around that jetty) but we also booked everwater guide to take us to 10k islands one day. We also plan on hunting on Sanibel of course! And more places! 12 whole days baby! Wish me luck! 🤞🤗

[@SWFBeachLife]

@@l.m.8468 Good shell luck to you!

[@jacksarty3081]

Sharmon!! I was at this Exact spot on the 17th as well, from about 5am-8am!! Super bummed I missed you :(

[@SWFBeachLife]

No way! Yup - I was there and I actually ran into a few beach friends. All us shellers were concentrated on that southern tip. I'm sorry we missed each other!

[@Averagetunafish3683]

Went to upham beach on Wednesday. There were piles of shells in some spots. They were still dumping the sand back on the beach. We drove down the entire length of the pinellas county barrier islands (only because we tried going to Clearwater at first) and there was tons of sand and debris. Gonna try to go to pass a grille this upcoming weekend

[@SWFBeachLife]

I know so many beaches up that way are still closed. I loved my trip to Honeymoon Island when I was up that way. Hopefully it won't take too much longer and more beaches will start opening up. I remember Sanibel was closed for about 4 months after we were hit by Hurricane Ian in 2022.

[@amyboggs766]

Variety! Love when I can find a great mix. Would you mind telling us what month you’re shelling in? Thanks and loved the video

[@SWFBeachLife]

The date was on this video a few times, but I don't always remember to do that :-) This was shot mid-November 2024.

[@revmomvpable]

Charmin, I made it to the Ft Myers Beach on Sunday. My sisters and I are trying to check out tides. What site do you use to get the correct low tides for this area? We have been enjoying Marco Island on this video tonight. Thanks for your fun shelling videos!!! Love you!

[@SWFBeachLife]

I use a free app called Tides - I show you in a previous episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZzTiXibmrpskLc I hope you have fabulous luck on FMB - I heard the sand dollars are still around!

[@bethhaas9859]

Wentle at 5:13!!!!!!

[@donnasnyder6890]

Yes I saw that too😮

[@windymountain3841]

Winkle trap!

[@SandyTowz]

YES!!! It was right there!!! EERRGGHHH 😮

[@SWFBeachLife]

LOL - I still don't see it! I see some fly speck ceriths, but no wentletraps 🤷‍♀️

[@SandyTowz]

@SWFBeachLife Maybe it was a fly speck cerith but it sure was white!! 😁

[@FloridaBeachWalks]

The wentletrap!!! Do you notice a "season" for seeing more of them at all?

[@SWFBeachLife]

Hmmm - no I didn't notice a season, but I discovered them at an evening low tide on Sanibel. I'll have to pay attention and see if I find them more in any particular season. I have a hard time finding them on the beach and I normally find them in the water - so I guess for me that means summer!!! 🥶

[@FloridaBeachWalks]

@@SWFBeachLife ok thx for that. I'm going to try and take some time to "really" look for them next time I'm over there. I think they are so stinking cute! Happy Shelling

[@sandybrown7621]

When it’s too cold to wear shorts but you want to shell at the water’s edge what do you wear ?

[@carmaela2689]

Clam diggers! Or capris....or a wet suit?

[@sandybrown7621]

@ Oh right !!!! I have capris 😂🤣. What was I thinking !!

[@SWFBeachLife]

I wear boots and I don't get wet! Today it's 50 degrees and no matter how warm the water is - when you get out it's pretty dang cold! 🥶

[@sandybrown7621]

@@SWFBeachLife Thank you

[@roxiegs348]

7:53 I think you may have missed a wentletrap, but it could’ve been a serith. Go back a few seconds.

[@SWFBeachLife]

Yes, some of those oyster shells look like bird feet to me. I've seen really beautiful things made form them. People can be so creative!

[@emilysmith8153]

U ALWAYS SKIP OFF AUGERS and those r some of my favs

[@SWFBeachLife]

I love augers! I don't always show them but I think they are gorgeous. Wait until you see the awesome slipper snail I found on Kice Island! That video is coming on 12/22.

[@vasilikikayafas8436]

Of course it’s 6:23 am and of course there is a headlamp on! ❤️🤣🤣🤣

[@SWFBeachLife]

I'm just lucky it wasn't that cold out yet. The cold is here now!!!

[@emilysmith8153]

U should pay more attention to slipper snails and and MORE attention to Augers

[@dibrown3996]

Was that a Wentletrap in that handful of shells yopickedup.

[@SWFBeachLife]

No, they were fly speck ceriths. I will show the difference in those shells the next time I find them both.

[@userrobinmp]

❤

[@melissalillegard7945]

How far are you from Cedar Key? Other KZbinr that I follow live in Otter Creek. Were devastated by the devastation

[@SWFBeachLife]

I'm in Fort Myers, about 5 hours south of Cedar Key. I was sad to hear about all the devastation from those hurricanes 🥲

[@DebraL-m1d]

I know you are SWF, but I'd like to see you shelling in NC sometime. Is that even remotely possible?

[@SWFBeachLife]

Holden Beach is a place I'd REALLY like to explore. I take notes and save the tips that people give me so when the time comes, I'll have a little bit of research done already. Where do you suggest?

[@DebraL-m1d]

@SWFBeachLife I've only been to Kure Beach (not usually great) and South Port ( the "Point" had a lot of shells, but we didn't really get to shell there because we had to hurry and catch the ferry back to Fort Fisher. They say Holden was loaded with good shells after storms this year, but I didn't get to go. Outer Banks and Portsmouth Island, they say. I haven't been.

[@DebraL-m1d]

@SWFBeachLife And Topsail is said to be the place to find shark's teeth. Never got to go there, either.

[@SWFBeachLife]

@@DebraL-m1d Thank you!!

[@pamelaferguson257]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@pochito1113]

I love Marcos islan ... I miss you PARADAISE !!!!

[@DebbieM1140]

❤