If you’ve ever seen dolphins gracefully jumping through waves during the day—or playfully splashing under a starlit sky—you might wonder: When are dolphins most active? The answer may surprise you! Dolphins don’t follow our human routines of daytime productivity and nighttime rest. Instead, their activity levels vary throughout the day and night based on factors like feeding, socializing, and environment.

When a customer calls wanting to know what tour is at the best time to see the dolphins, well truth is, we don’t really know.

Dolphins Have Flexible Schedules

Dolphins are known for their adaptability. As marine mammals, they’re constantly on the move, with unique behaviors during both daylight and nighttime hours.

Daytime Behavior:

During the day, dolphins are often seen feeding, socializing, and playing near the surface. These behaviors are especially common in areas with plenty of sunlight, which makes it easier for them to spot prey or communicate using visual cues like body movements. Daytime is also when humans most frequently observe dolphins, simply because it’s easier to see them in the daylight.

Nighttime Behavior:

When the sun goes down, dolphins don’t go to sleep like many land animals. Instead, their activity levels may remain high, especially during nocturnal hunts. Many species of fish that dolphins prey on are more active at night, giving dolphins an opportunity to feed in the darkness. Their echolocation skills are particularly valuable during these hours, allowing them to navigate and locate prey in near-total darkness.

How Do Dolphins Rest?

Dolphins rest in a way that allows them to stay semi-active around the clock. They engage in something called unihemispheric slow-wave sleep, meaning one half of their brain sleeps while the other remains awake. This unique adaptation lets dolphins surface for air, keep an eye out for predators, and even continue social interactions while “resting.”

Factors That Influence Dolphin Activity

Whether dolphins are more active during the day or at night can depend on several factors:

•Location: Coastal dolphins, like ours near Fort Myers Beach, may follow prey schedules, which can vary between day and night.

•Season: Seasonal changes affect the availability of prey, influencing when dolphins are most active.

•Species: Different dolphin species may have different activity patterns, as their diets and habitats vary widely.

Are Dolphins More Active During the Day or at Night?

There’s no definitive answer to this question—it all depends on the situation! Dolphins are highly adaptable creatures, capable of thriving at any time of day. Whether they’re hunting, playing, or resting, dolphins showcase their incredible abilities around the clock.

So next time you’re out on the water, keep an eye out for these amazing marine mammals. You might catch a playful leap in the sun—or a mysterious splash under the moon.

Learn More

•Learn about dolphin echolocation and hunting habits at NOAA Fisheries.

•Explore fascinating facts about dolphin sleep at the Dolphin Communication Project.

Ready to see dolphins in action, no matter the hour? Join us for a tour and experience the magic of Estero Bay’s wildlife up close!

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Dolphin fort Myers beach

Dolphins: Guardians of Florida’s Estuaries

Florida’s estuaries, like the breathtaking Estero Bay near Fort Myers Beach, are among the most dynamic and vital ecosystems in the world. These coastal habitats, where freshwater from rivers meets the saltwater of the ocean, provide rich feeding grounds and nurseries for countless marine species. Dolphins, the charismatic ambassadors of these coastal Florida waters, play a critical role in maintaining the balance and health of these ecosystems.

Why Are Estuaries So Important?

Estuaries are sometimes called the “cradle of the ocean” because they serve as nurseries for fish, crustaceans, and other marine life. The mix of fresh and salt water creates nutrient-rich habitats essential for young marine animals to grow before venturing into the open sea. In our area of Florida, this includes stone crab, grouper, and shrimp, all economically important species. According to NOAA  estuaries provide habitat for 68% of the U.S. commercial fish catch. These ecosystems also act as filters, trapping pollutants and protecting inland areas from storm surges.

Estero Bay, Florida’s first aquatic preserve, is a prime example of a healthy estuarine system. It’s teeming with life, from lush seagrass beds to mangrove forests that protect the shoreline. And of course, dolphins are residents here near Fort Myers Beach.

Dolphins’ Role in Estuaries

Dolphins are apex predators in estuaries, helping maintain the balance of marine life by preying on fish, squid, and other smaller animals. Their hunting habits indirectly influence the population and health of prey species, preventing overgrazing of seagrass beds or the depletion of certain species.

Moreover, dolphins serve as indicators of estuarine health. If dolphin populations are thriving, it often signals a healthy environment. Conversely, declining dolphin numbers can be an early warning of issues like pollution or overfishing.

Experience Dolphins in Their Natural Habitat

Watching dolphins in Estero Bay is not just a magical experience—it’s an opportunity to witness their role as caretakers of this ecosystem. Our dolphin and sunset tours take you through the heart of Estero Bay, where you can observe these intelligent creatures in action.

Our tours are led by certified naturalists or a biologist who are passionate about sharing their knowledge of dolphins and the surrounding wildlife. Whether you’re spotting a dolphin leaping through the water or learning about the delicate balance of the estuary, this experience is both educational and unforgettable.

What You Can Do to Help

You don’t have to change your entire lifestyle. I recommend one change that is easy and doable for your self. Some ideas you can do:

•Reduce your use of single-use plastics to prevent ocean pollution. All those bottles of plastic in the store, lots of pollution goes into making all those plastic bottles, and there is also pollution involved with recycling them. Is there one item in your house you can buy without being in a plastic bottle? How about using a bar shampoo, or bar soap. Or what about food? Buy mayonnaise, peanut butter or pickles in glass jars. It’s not only healthier for your body, but not eating food out of plastic containers is a great place to start.

•Advocate for estuary conservation efforts in Florida. Educate yourself on laws, and reach out to legislators to advocate for what is important to you.

•Educate yourself and others about the importance of dolphins and estuaries. You don’t have to lecture people, just drop a line here and there casually mentioning little tidbits of information. Planting seeds is very effective

Join us on a tour to discover the beauty of Estero Bay, the back bay of Fort Myers Beach, and the incredible dolphins that call it home. Not only will you create lasting memories, but you’ll also leave with a deeper understanding of how these magnificent animals help keep Florida’s estuaries thriving.

Book your tour today and let’s share the experience together!

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As you set out on the calm Gulf waters Sanibel to Naples, stop and drift fish over seagrass beds and estuaries, like Estero bay by Fort Myers Beach, where sea trout love to lurk. These elusive creatures are known for their sharp strikes and acrobatic leaps, providing an adrenaline-pumping experience for anglers. Artificial lures like soft plastics or live bait such as shrimp are excellent choices to entice sea trout into biting. One of my all time favorite rig set ups is to use a popping cork to float the bait about a ft off the bottom. Knowing water depth, tide, and wind direction is key to set up a successful drift. Let Capt Mike be your fishing guide and he can consider all those details. You just pay attention to your line, a cold beverage and think about whether you want trout tacos or trout sandwiches. 😎

Fort Myers Beach, nestled on Florida’s Gulf Coast, is a haven for anglers seeking a variety of saltwater species. With its rich marine ecosystem, the area is particularly renowned for the abundance of sea trout and black drum. These game fish provide not only a thrilling fight but also a delicious reward at the end of the day.

A saltwater fishing charter near Fort Myers Beach offers a thrilling combination of sport, nature, and culinary delights. Whether you’re an experienced angler or a novice seeking an exciting adventure, the waters around Fort Myers Beach provide the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable day of fishing. So, gear up, cast your line, and get ready to reel in memories that will last a lifetime.

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A recent client with her catch. I’d like to 

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On a typical morning in April, the captain and I are preparing to disembark on a three-hour dolphin and shelling cruise. In tow, 40 eager passengers from all walks of life sit jovial around the large open-air vessel Phoenix. Our shared destination, Big Hickory Island, a pristine barrier island only accessible by boat and well-known for excellent shelling and proximity to the calm blue-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, sits firm in everyone’s minds.

Early into the trip, we approach a bird rookery. Though relatively small, this “bird island” supports well over one thousand individuals overnight – with thirteen different species represented. Here we find the densest nesting colony of Brown Pelicans within the fifteen square mile Estero Bay. Over two years ago, the State of Florida designated this rookery a Critical Wildlife Area (C.W.A.) and since then, nesting among the Brown Pelicans has increased 40% – an outstanding short-term gain we are determined to see persist.

Continuing south, the captain and I, as well as our guests hear a piercing splash! Upon looking to the stern, we have two Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins jumping and surfing in Phoenix’s wake. Dark grey in color displaying pink bellies and launching several feet into the air, the two dolphins appear to be having a blast. By now, every eye on the boat is fixated towards the action, goggling at every motion. Now and again, one of the two will surf beneath the waves, though still clear, on its side or even upside down. After a dozen jumps, the dolphins fall off and are observed a few hundred yards behind us and we maintain our journey.

In time we reach Big Hickory Island, situated directly south of Lover’s Key State Park. The boat is beached, and the passengers begin to unload onto the soft quartz sand below.

After an hour of shelling, swimming, and roaming, everyone is back, seated, and ready for departure. Partially disintegrated Quahog Clams, Lightning Whelk columella, gleaming Florida Fighting Conchs, and coveted Sand Dollars are among the finds that I commonly identify to interested parties.

Upon approaching the Coon Key slow-zone, I start to make my rounds to discuss the biology of Lightning Whelks. With two Whelk shells in hand I explain, “This large shell is approximately 40 years old… And this smaller shell is only about 1 month old!!” I begin to slowly move my hand around the larger shell as if I was dialing a rotary phone, showing how each whorl can represent up to 5 years. The audience is captivated upon the discovery that the muscular animal within builds one shell over its lifetime and that it never leaves that shell in life. Though what really leaves a lasting impression is when the Lightning Whelk’s diet is brought into light – it is a quick-moving predatory carnivore that enjoys eating other snails and bivalves alive!

Once all the questions are answered, Phoenix is steadily approaching the marina. The captain and I have successfully stewarded a sliver of the overall daily influx of Southwest Florida tourism and to us, that’s making a difference. We strive to build a collective compassion among tourists and residents alike, for that is the only way to continue to protect and conserve these grand places and their many unique marine creatures. This concept was summarized best by Baba Dioum, a forestry engineer in Senegal, when he firmly stated, “For in the end we will only conserve what we love. We will only love what we understand. We will only understand what we are taught.”

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It was Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver’s Travels) who first said –

“He was a bold man that first ate an oyster.”

When you really think about it, was he wrong? Sure, we know now that they’re delicious, salty morsels from the sea but the first person to have picked one up thinking “I’d like to eat that” might have been crazy.

But to be fair, not only are oysters a food source for many of us, they are also a major food source for several of our aquatic birds, crabs, sea stars, whelks, fish, and even raccoons. Oysters are also high in calcium, iron, and protein, so they’re even a pretty healthy treat, most of the time. (National Geographic)

Did you know?

Oysters are a type of shellfish, living in brackish water or saltwater estuaries (like Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve), that are able to filter feed by sucking up the water around them and finding food particles, while also removing pollutants from the water. In fact, just one adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water every single day. This means that as few as 100 oysters in an estuary can suction out nutrient pollutants from surrounding water and disperse clean and clear water at a rate of 5,000 gallons a day (Rink2Reef).

Not only are oysters good for water quality, but their “cultivation and harvest provides significant economic value to coastal communities, they provide a safe habitat for fish and crabs to hide from predators, and they protect underwater vegetation and waterfront communities from waves, floods, and tides” (NOAA Fisheries).

However, their ability to filter massive quantities of water daily also means that they can sometimes retain toxins from phytoplankton in their flesh, making them unhealthy for human consumption. For instance, while we in Estero Bay don’t typically harvest our population of oysters for consumption, due to shallow waters and high temperatures making the likelihood of bacterial presence higher, there are also many protective measures in place due to the Bay’s designation as a “Coastal Aquatic Preserve.”

Luckily, here in Estero Bay, oyster beds are quite abundant.

However, oyster existence may still be threatened by excess pollution, boating, and invasive species which in turn threatens our Bay’s water quality and well-being. Many organizations are trying to combat this, by promoting oyster recruitment (finding a suitable place to live) and growth in order to improve water quality.

One such organization resides locally at Florida Gulf Coast University’s (FGCU) Vester Marine Field Station. This organization known as Rink2Reef ™ Oyster Habitats Waterways Restoration Program accepts broken and discarded hockey sticks from “the NHL, NCAA hockey teams, American Collegiate Hockey Association clubs, high school hockey teams, local hockey clubs, kids’ hockey leagues, and anyone else who plays hockey and breaks sticks” and builds them into cage-like structures suitable for oyster recruitment.

While hockey sticks seem like an unlikely way to create an artificial oyster reef, “broken hockey sticks are non-recyclable and made from environmentally friendly material”, making them the perfect substance. “When oysters spawn, their larvae swim around and feed on phytoplankton (algae). After a few weeks, they look for something hard to settle on, like a carbon-composite hockey stick structure under a dock. This attracts other filter feeders such as mussels, clams, barnacles and tunicates, which attach to oyster shells. This habitat creates an active ecosystem for other species and small fish populations to once again collect and grow. The 9.17-cubic- foot hockey-stick units become home to as many as 400 oysters.” If you do the math, that means a single Rink2Reef ™ habitat could clean up to 20,000 gallons of water per day.

Scientists and volunteers from FGCU spend hours every week cutting, drilling, and piecing together these Lincoln Log type structures so that our marine ecosystems can be healthier and happier. These reefs or habitats are then deployed under docks of businesses, marinas, yacht or boat clubs, private citizens homes, or parks and recreation facilities. While other scientists from FGCU regularly monitor the deployed reefs to make sure that they are functioning properly and attracting oysters. Many of these artificial reefs are even donated or sold to other locations around the country so that more people become aware that their seemingly “useless” broken hockey sticks may be put to better use.

Of the 3.2 million hockey sticks that are produced every year, most are broken, thrown in the trash, and sent straight to landfills. What better way to recycle them than to make them into an aquatic habitat for oysters, barnacles, clams, and fishes to enjoy?

You can learn more about FGCU’s Rink2Reef ™ program and even get involved by creating your own program here: https://www.rink2reef.com

The world is our oyster

Many other organizations around the world are working on similar programs in order to promote oyster growth and water quality. In fact, NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has a specific branch for oyster restoration that has “funded more than 70 oyster restoration projects in 15 states. Some of those restoration techniques include:

• Quickly distributing large amounts of shell with high pressure hoses to provide a suitable base for oysters.

• Constructing a linear reef of shell and rock to stabilize the shoreline and protect seagrass plantings behind the reef, enhancing shoreline stability and providing additional habitat for other reef inhabitants.

• Collecting and bagging oyster shell for use as cultch (the mass of stones, shell, and grit that oyster beds are made of) for spat (young oyster or oysters). Like a quick-start habitat, these bags of oyster shell will help establish new reefs in intertidal areas.

• Creating hatcheries to provide seed oysters in areas where oyster reproduction is nonexistent or unreliable. This will establish new reefs and improve local water quality.”

To get involved with some of these programs locally, the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve office also often accepts volunteers for its seagrass monitoring, marine debris clean-ups, wading and diving bird monitoring, and water quality/oyster monitoring programs (Florida DEP).

Photos courtesy of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, NOAA Fisheries, and the Rink2Reef ™ program.

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Did you know that Orca whales are actually the largest dolphin species?

Sciencing tells us “There are approximately 36 dolphin species known to humans today, found in fresh and saltwater environments across the planet Earth. Dolphins are a member of the marine mammal group known as cetaceans, which also contain whales and porpoises. Because of the many similarities between dolphins, whales and porpoises, in addition to the fact that ‘dolphin’ and ‘porpoise’ were once considered interchangeable terms, people have commonly been confused as to the precise number of dolphin species that exist.”

Female dolphins are called cows, males are called bulls and young dolphins are called calves.

Even though most dolphins live in salt and brackish water there are a couple of species, like the Amazon River Dolphin, that live in freshwater streams and rivers.

Dolphins are extremely intelligent animals.  According to National Geographic: Until our upstart genus surpassed them, dolphins were probably the largest brained, and presumably the most intelligent, creatures on the planet. Pound for pound, relative to body size, their brains are still among the largest in the animal kingdom—and larger than those of chimpanzees. The last common ancestor of humans and chimps lived some six million years ago. By comparison cetaceans such as dolphins split off from the rest of the mammal lineage about 55 million years ago, and they and primates haven’t shared an ancestor for 95 million years.” Their intelligence is shown with their social behavior, the way they communicate (with a series of clicks and whistles), their use of primitive tools when searching for food and the fact that they can be trained.

If you are laying on the beach, out on the Gulf, or in the back bay here on Fort Myers Beach you will hopefully have the privilege to see Bottlenose dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins are the most common dolphin on the shores of Florida (FWC). Bottlenose dolphins are common, even Flipper was a bottlenose dolphin.

Tursiops truncatus is the bottlenose dolphin scientific name.  According to NOAA Fisheries, “Common bottlenose dolphins get their name from their short, thick snout (or rostrum). They are generally gray in color. They can range from light gray to almost black on top near their dorsal fin and light gray to almost white on their belly. Bottlenose dolphins living in nearshore coastal waters are often smaller and lighter in color than those living offshore.”

Bottlenose dolphins eat fish, squid and crustaceans and swallow fish whole! An adult may eat 15-30 lbs of food a day. The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program states “Often dolphins capture their prey underwater with a high-speed chase. Sometimes dolphins feed cooperatively, teaming up to herd and capture prey fish. In the Bahamas,  dolphins are known to poke their head in the sand, probably trying to catch a buried fish.  When a chase by an individual dolphin ends with a quick tight circle, it’s called pin-wheeling, as the dolphin grabs the fish at the surface. Some dolphins do what is called “fish whacking.” This is a behavior in which the dolphin hits a fleeing fish with its flukes, launching it clear of the water for 20 ft or more. Then the dolphin leisurely swims over to swallow its stunned prey. Sometimes a dolphin will drive its flukes through the surface of the water , creating a noisy splash.  This a behavior called “kerplunking.” This is thought to disorient or disturb prey fish in shallow grass patches, making them easier prey. Groups of bottlenose dolphins in Georgia and the Carolinas are known to swim rapidly toward a mud bank in tidal creeks, pushing fish up onto the mud with the wave they create. The dolphins then slide up onto the mud flat themselves, snapping up as many fish as they can before sliding back down into the water.” It is important to remember that it is illegal to feed or harass wild dolphins!

Dolphins can live in groups or alone. Dolphins that live inshore usually live in small groups made up of about 10 dolphins, and dolphins that live offshore can be in groups from 10-100 dolphins! According to the FWC “Dolphins are often heard clicking. Contrary to popular thought, clicking is likely not communication, but rather the sonar system dolphins use for navigation, food-finding and avoidance of predators. Clicks are one of three classes of sounds dolphins produce, in addition to squawks (whose purpose is unknown, although these sounds are made while dolphins are socializing), and pure tones, one of which is known as that dolphin’s “signature whistle.” Dolphins cooperate in many ways, some species more than others. As a group they may guard against predation by sharks or support a sick or injured community member in the water by keeping it afloat. A few dolphins sometimes use the lengths of their bodies to encircle and pen a school of fish in shallow water, like horses rounding up yearlings, in order to feed. In addition, bottlenose dolphins often take turns feeding according to age, size, and health. Often two males of the same age form a lifelong pair bond and spend the majority of their time together, helping each other find suitable food and mates.”

Female bottlenose dolphins are pregnant for about 12 months.  Calves are born tail first and swim as soon as they are born to take their first breath at the surface! Mother bottlenose dolphins nurse their young for almost 2 years.  Calves stay with their mothers for 3-6 years. Recently, it was found that a bottlenose dolphin adopted a melon head whale. You can read about it in Science Alert.

We often see dolphins swimming and jumping in the wake of our boat. A lot of people ask us why, and really we don’t know but most researchers say it is simply to have fun! Surfer Today has a great article on some of the other reasons researchers believe dolphins ride waves!

Bottlenose Dolphins are a protected species.  NOAA Fisheries describes the threats to dolphins as interactions with fishing gear, habitat destruction and degradation, biotoxins, and illegal harassment and feeding activities. “Bottlenose dolphins are easy to view in the wild, but this also puts them at increased risk of human-related injuries and death.  Feeding and attempting to feed dolphins is harmful and illegal because it changes their natural behaviors and reduces their wariness of people and vessels.  They learn to associate humans with an easy meal and change their natural hunting practices by begging for handouts and taking bait/catch directly off fishing gear. Dolphins also teach these unnatural and risky feeding strategies to their calves and other dolphins.  Dolphins are then more vulnerable to vessel strikes and to fishing gear entanglements and ingestion. They also may fall victim to extreme retaliatory acts (such as shooting) by frustrated boaters and fishermen. Dolphins may also be disturbed or harassed by the presence of humans and watercraft. Harassment is illegal and occurs when any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance has the potential to injure the animal or disrupt its s behaviors. Any human-caused change to a dolphin’s behavior may constitute disturbance or harassment. Certain critical survival behaviors are particularly vulnerable, and disturbance may lead to injuries or death.  Long-term negative impacts include compromised health, reduced reproductive success, and displacement from, or avoidance of, important habitats.” (NOAA Fisheries)

Seeing a dolphin is always very exciting, but remember to never feed or harass dolphin.

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What lives in shells?

The shells found on the beach are mainly mollusks.  Mollusks have a very large number and variety of species (estimated over 110,000)!  Mollusks found living in sea shells include gastropods (i.e snails), bivalves (i.e calms, oysters, and mussels), polyplacophora (i.e chitons), cephalopods (i.e nautilus), scaphopods (i.e tusk shell).  Mollusks make one shell and live in it for their lifetime.

Hermit crabs live in shells that are left behind on the beach.  As hermit crabs grow they change their shell.

According to Fun Facts About Hermit Crabs:

How are shells created?

Mollusks make their own shell by excreting mostly calcium carbonate from the mantle.

Scientific American says:

“Seashells are the exoskeletons of mollusks such as snails, clams, oysters and many others. Such shells have three distinct layers and are composed mostly of calcium carbonate with only a small quantity of protein–no more than 2 percent. These shells, unlike typical animal structures, are not made up of cells. Mantle tissue that is located under and in contact with the shell secretes proteins and mineral extracellularly to form the shell. Think of laying down steel (protein) and pouring concrete (mineral) over it. Thus, seashells grow from the bottom up, or by adding material at the margins. Since their exoskeleton is not shed, molluscan shells must enlarge to accommodate body growth. This pattern of growth results in three distinct shell layers: an outer proteinaceous periosteum (uncalcified), a prismatic layer (calcified) and an inner pearly layer of nacre (calcified).”

What determines a shell’s shape and color?

Shells are certain shapes and colors mostly for protection from predators.

The Australian Academy of Science tells us that:

“Some of the elaborate structural features in shells provide extra strength without making the shell extremely thick. Compare the ribbed and ridged surfaces of some shells, like scallops, with the corrugations in cardboard. Shells from tropical areas, where along with the diversity of food comes a diversity of predators, often have elaborate arrangements of spikes and horns that act as protection. Some shells are shaped in ways that help the animal embed itself within the sand or sediment, or to stop it from sinking too deeply.

One of the archetypal shell structures is the graceful spiral created by many gastropods. These shells generally consist of chambers in which the animal lives. As the animal grows, it needs a bigger chamber, and so it adds a new one onto the shell.

Shell spirals have an elegant geometry, where for any rotation angle, the distance from the origin of the spiral increases by a fixed amount. This is known as a logarithmic spiral. The other interesting thing about spiral shells is that the vast majority of them rotate to the right—they are dextral. Sinistral shells, whose spirals rotate to the left, are very rare. This hasn’t always been the case—the fossil record shows that the predominant direction of spiral shells has swapped back and forth throughout geological time.

It’s thought that tropical shells are more varied and colourful as a result of the greater diversity of food sources available to them as compared to their cold water counterparts, which generally exhibit darker, duller colours. Some colourings work extremely well as camouflage, allowing the animal to blend in with its surroundings and hide from predators. Some shells, like pipis found along the edge of the beach among the breaking waves, show large amounts of variations in their colours, similar to the variety seen in a beach strewn with pebbles. Some scientists also think that some shell markings act as a sort of guide to the animal for further shell growth.

But this doesn’t really explain all the variation we see in some shells’ colours—some shells live in the deep ocean, where the darkness makes a visual camouflage somewhat redundant. And the colouring seen in some shells, such as the deep purple of a mussel, are only on the inside of the shell, visible only after the animal has died.”

Are sea stars, sand dollars, and sea urchins considered shells? 

According to CoastalCare.org: “Some exceptions to the generalities above are echinoderms and crustaceans. Echinoderm means “spiny skin.” Examples of echinoderms are sea stars, sand dollars, and sea urchins. These animals have a hard exoskeleton made of calcium carbonate called a test. After the animal dies, the test remains intact. These easily recognizable skeletons called can sometimes be found in number on the beach.

Crustaceans like crabs, lobsters, and horseshoe crabs also have shells which can easily be distinguished from shells of mollusks.”

What shells can you take home from the beach?

You are able to take shells from the beach as long as there is no live animal in the shell. The FWC says: In Lee County, you may not harvest or possess any shells that contain a live organism except for oysters, hard clams (quahogs), sunray venus clams and coquinas. You will need Florida recreational saltwater fishing license is required in order to harvest a sea shell containing a living organism, even when harvesting from shore.

Telling if a shell is alive depends on the type of shell.  If it is a bivalve and it is closed it is alive, if it is open and closes on its own it is alive.  If it is a spiral shell mollusk you can tell it is a live by looking inside.  If it is empty it is dead and you can take it home.  If you find a sand dollar on the beach you can tell it is alive if is a deep brown to purplish color and it produces a harmless substance which turns the skin yellow if you touch it. If a sand dollar is a silvery white color it is safe to take home from the beach. Starfish have tiny tube feet that will move when alive.  Sea urchins have tiny spines, if it is “bald” then it is dead.

What are some of the shells you can find on Fort Myers Beach?

• Conch
• Junonia (very rare and highly coveted)
• Lightning Whelk
• Cockle
• Scallops
• Murex
• Tulip
• Olive
• Coquina

The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum has a great shell guide to help identify shells!

When is the best time to go shelling? 

It is probably best to go shelling during low tide first thing in the morning or after a storm that has been blowing in from the water.  The strong currents and winds blow more shells ashore after a storm.

Where are all the big shells?

The biggest shells are probably the heaviest and therefore they are most likely out at sea!  We need strong winds and currents to bring in large heavy shells.

Give a small shell a chance!  They have beautiful detail and colors as well!

What is the biggest shell ever found?

Tridacna gigas, or a giant clam is the largest shell ever found! https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/what-creature-makes-the-biggest-seashell/

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