The southwest coast of Florida has always been the most popular part of the state for shelling. From Anclote Key near Tarpon Springs, southward to Cape Romano near Marco, wide areas of sandy shoreline are exposed during low tides, particularly in the winter. Busycon and Triplofusus, two of nature’s larger snails, dot the sandbars and bay margins. Strombus, Dinocardium, Neverita, Oliva and Fasciolaria can be found popping out of exposed sand. Smaller forms leave their distinctive trails in the sand, or cling to any available hard substrate.

    For me, nowhere beats the Cape Romano area. I first started visiting the islands and flats south of Marco by canoe over twenty years ago. I was struck by the relatively colorful and uneroded specimens I found. The Busycon perversum (Linnaeus, 1758) [Lightning Whelk] were spinier than any I’d seen to the north, and exhibited a wide range of pastel shades. Conus anabathrum Crosse, 1865 [Florida Cone] and Naticarius canrena (Linnaeus, 1758) [Colorful Moonsnail], uncommon farther north, were found in good numbers inside the barrier islands. Everything I’d found in the Tampa Bay area was here, and more. Abundance, diversity, size and overall quality were the best I’d seen.

    I’ll divide the shelling in the vicinity of Cape Romano into three types, and give examples of each. These categories may be applied to any part of southwest Florida.

    These flats, when tides are very low, appear as exposed areas of sand, shell and grass. They are transition zones between inside, or bay environments, and the open Gulf. Equivalents to the north would include the mouths of passes where a similarly rich mix of Gulf and bay fauna is found.

    Just east of Cape Romano Island, two areas, "Pompano Flat" [25.52N 081.38W], also known as "Pompano Hump," and flats at the northeast side of "The Hump" [25.51N 081.40W], with acres of very productive shelling at winter lows, are always worth the visit.

    The past two winters, Phyllonotus pomum (Gmelin, 1791) [Apple Murex] and C. dilectus (A. Adams, 1855) [Lace Murex] were abundant at both spots. Very large Calliostoma tampaense (Conrad, 1846) [Tampa Bay Topsnail] were found at Pompano. Busycon perversum, including several albinos and a beautiful abnormally dextral specimen, were also found at Pompano. Several albino Triplofusus were collected at these spots as well.

    An interesting discovery for me was that Calotrophon ostrearum (Conrad, 1846) [Muave-mouth Drill] are very commonly found with the Busycon egg cases that are ubiquitous here.

    Hespererato maugeriae (J. E. Gray, 1832) [Green Erato] and several columbellid forms were among the species netted from the surrounding grass beds.

    Sandy beaches and bars on the Gulf are also worth visiting. These barrier islands include Keewaydin Island, just northwest of Marco, Tigertail Beach at Marco, and the islands to the southeast of Marco, Kice and Cape Romano Islands. The most productive areas are near the ends of the islands where the broadest bars develop near the passes.

    Strombus alatus Gmelin, 1791 [Florida Fighting Conch] and Busycon are common. Smaller forms include Epitonium and Olivella species. Several live Ficus papyratia (Say, 1822) [Atlantic Figsnail] were found, with their siphonal canals poking from the sand like the similar Fulguropsis spirata (Lamarck, 1816) [Pear Whelk]. Red forms of Fasciolaria tulipa (Linnaeus, 1758) [True Tulip] were found popping out of the sand at Tigertail this last winter. Remember, a few days of westerly winds (which often precede the lowest of wind-driven tides) can bring even more exotic species ashore, dead and alive.

    Several years ago, I found all the barrier islands littered with colorful Argopecten gibbus (Linnaeus, 1758) [Atlantic Calico Scallop], still snapping their valves (and fingers of collectors). Reasonably fresh Scaphella junonia (Lamarck, 1804) [Junonia] have also been washed ashore here. My favorite recent find was live Arcinella cornuta Conrad, 1866 [Florida Spiny Jewelbox], with very elegant and Spondylus-like spines, blown ashore at Cape Romano.

    Protected by the barrier islands, Marco area bays are well known to collectors as the place for Naticarius canrena and Conus anabathrum, along with the usual bay habitat sand-dwellers.

    Triplofusus giganteus (Kiener, 1840) [Horse Conch], Busycon sinistrum and Fulguropsis spirata (Lamarck, 1816), Cinctura hunteria (G. Perry, 1811) [Eastern Banded Tulip] and F. tulipa, Neverita delessertiana (Récluz in Chenu, 1843), Dinocardium robustum (Lightfoot, 1786) [Atlantic Giant Cockle], Trachycardium egmontianum (Shuttleworth, 1856) [Florida Pricklycockle] and D. muricata (Linnaeus, 1758) [Yellow Pricklycockle] are among the common larger shells here. A variety of lucinids, terebrids, tellinids, muricids et. al. will be found here too. Netting sand and grasses, and closely examining dead shells encountered will substantially increase the number of species found.

    Typically productive locations include the bars and island margins on the Marco River and inside Caxambas Pass. The terrain is often muddy and soft, so wear well-tied or zippered shoes.

    On the inside edge of Kice Island, I found a peat bed near low-water. I was able to extract the pholads Barnea truncata (Say, 1822) [Atlantic Mud-piddock] and Cyrtopleura costata (Linnaeus, 1758) [Anglewing], and the look-alike Petricola pholadiformis (Lamarck, 1818) [False Anglewing]. Several Martesia species, also pholads, were found in waterlogged wood nearby.

    While a visit to Tigertail Beach does not require a boat, it is not legal to collect live shells there, or anywhere on Marco. Rangers will likely check your bucket. Tip: don’t bring one. Most other areas are reached only by boat. Pontoon boats or airboats may be chartered at Marco or nearby Goodland. Most captains now frown on live shelling so be upfront with them about your intentions.

    The collectors who return from the trips with buckets full of whelks and tulips contribute mightily to the increasingly hostile environment we collectors find ourselves in. Please – be selective and discreet. Do it for the environment, and for the rest of us who want to pursue a legal and respected hobby.