19 Proven Tips For Finding Seashells On The Beach

How find seashells on the beach.

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How To Find Seashells On The Beach

Finding seashells on the beach is one of the most rewarding things to do on a coastal vacation. It’s fun for kids and adults and will teach you about marine life in the area.

The following tips will help you find fantastic seashells on any beach you visit.

Before you hit the beach, read this shell identification guide. It will help you look for rare and prized shells.

1 – Go Before or After Low Tide

Best tide for shelling

The best tide for shelling is about an hour before or after low tide. 

High tide will bring those beautiful shells inland. As the tide recedes, you’ll be able to see the treasures the tide left behind.

Remember to look up the tide charts for the beach you are shelling at to prepare for the best hunting time.

Sea Shelling Bag
Seashell Collecting Bag
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2 – Go Out Early In The Morning To Beat Other Shellers

The best time to go shelling is early in the morning

The best time to go shelling is before anyone else gets there. Even if you’ve found a great beach to shell at, the best shells will be found by the first people there.

Serious shellers are even known to bring a flashlight and hunt before sunrise. (Yes, some shellers go out when it’s still dark!)

I love shelling in the early morning. I usually have the beach to myself to hunt for seashells and watch the sunrise.

3 – Wade Into The Water A Few Feet 

Where to find the best seashells - wade out into the water

Sometimes, the best shells can be found by wading a few feet into the water, especially if the beach has already been picked over.

This works well if the beach has a shallow shoreline with gentle waves that allow shells to wash up in one piece.

And it’s helpful to have a net handy to catch the shells before they wash away. In fact, a net with a long handle will allow you to reach far into the water to capture shells.

The ocean side of Shackleford Banks on the coast of North Carolina is a great place to find large conch shells. Many people have great luck by wading into the water to pull out these treasures.

Shelling Net


Shelling Net


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4 – Look Through Grass and piles Of Seaweed

Where to find the best seashells look in seaweed

If you only look at the shoreline for seashells, you may miss out on hidden treasures.

Grass and seaweed can be one of the best places to find seashells. Many people will walk right by a clump of seaweed and not even notice the delicate shells hiding there.

Goggles
How To Find sheashells with goggles

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5 – Dig Into The Sand

How to find seashells on the beach by digging in the sand

Digging into the sand can also help you find seashells. Bring a shovel to dig up partially buried shells.

You can even find shovels with a built-in sifter to separate the sand from the shells.

Shovel With Sifter


Sifting Shovel for finding seashells on the beach


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6 – Hunt For Shells After A Storm

The best time to find seashells is after a storm

One of the best times to hunt for shells is after a storm. Powerful storms can cause strong currents that provide excellent shelling.

Try to visit the beach after a hurricane or strong wind. You’ll most likely find rare and unusual shells.

Shell Identification Guide


How To Identify Seashells Book


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7 – Go In The Off-Season

The best time to find seashells is in the off-season.

The off-season may be the best time to find seashells, as fewer people visit the beach in the colder months.

Consider bringing waders, scuba boots, or water shoes to keep warm and dry while you search the water’s edge. I like using a Sand Dipper or Sand Flea Rake to search the water for shells to keep my hands warm and dry.

Scuba Boots


Scuba boot to find seashells on the beach


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8 – Wear Polarized Sunglasses

How to find large shells at the beach - use polarized sunglasses

I always wear polarized sunglasses at the beach to protect my eyes and help me find shells on the beach and in the water.

UV rays are hard on the eyes, and the bright sun can keep you from seeing the best shells.

Polarized Sunglasses


Polarized sunglasses for shelling


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9 – Search Tidal Pools And Marshes

Search tidal pools to find the best shells

Tide pools and marshes can be a great place to look for sea creatures.

Crabs, mussels, urchins, starfish, and sand dollars are some of the marine life you may find in a tidal pool.

Read More24 Best Shelling Beaches in NC, Including Secret Spots
Read MoreThe 16 Best Sea Shelling Tools Ever
Read MoreWhy Ocean Isle Beach Is A Hidden Gem

Beach Shovel

10 – Find Remote Beaches

Find remote beaches to help you find shells

The more untouched a beach is, the more shell treasures you may find.

Beaches and islands that take a ferry to get to will often be worthwhile to visit.

Portsmouth Island is a wonderful shelling destination in my home state of North Carolina because you have to take a 45-minute ferry to get there and have a 4WD vehicle to get around.

11 – Hunt For Shells During Full Moon Or New Moon

When is the best time to go shelling? When there is a full moon.

A full moon or new moon can produce extreme waves that bring wonderful shells to the shore.

You’ll have extra shelling success if you combine a full moon with a low tide or a recent storm.

12 – Search For Shells In Inlets

Search inlets to find the best seashells

Many people hunt along the ocean’s edge for shells but don’t forget that deep currents run through inlets, producing interesting finds.

Explore inlets and marshes with a kayak to search sandy shores for shelling treasures if possible.

13 – Find A Beach That Allows 4WD Vehicles

How to find shell beds with 4WD

In North Carolina, we are blessed with many beaches in the Outer Banks that you can explore with a 4WD vehicle.

This allows you to search remote beach areas that few people can visit, which means more shells for you.

Check the beaches in your area to see if any allow 4WD. Or, visit us here in NC!

Here is one of my favorite 4WD tours along the Outer Banks. It’s a 2-hour tour along the beach where you get to spot wild ponies. Check out the tour Here

14 – Take Your Time Looking For Seashells

Take your time to hunt for seashells

Hunting for seashells takes time and patience.

Sit down by a bed of shells and enjoy your time looking through them. It can be very therapeutic. 

And it’s so rewarding when you finally find a scotch bonnet, conch, whelk, or whatever special shell you’re hunting for.

15 – Pick A Good Spot To Find Shells

Find a good spot to go shelling

You’ll likely find shells at any beach, but to find the best shelling spots, go where the locals go.

And how can you know that?

Check out local shelling Facebook groups – like this one in North Carolina. Members in these groups are serious shellers and discuss the best spots to look for shells in the area.

You can also ask members about where to look for shells in the area you are staying.

Another tactic is to ask the owners of the hotel/home you are staying at. They’ll know the area well and likely point you to spots that aren’t well-known.

I’d also suggest searching reviews about the beach you’re staying at on Tripadvisor. Use the search bar to put in the word “shell”. All comments about that beach that mentions shelling will come up.

16 – Find Lodging Near Shelling Area

Find a beach house near where you want to go shelling to find seashells

Some of the best shelling beaches are hard or impossible to access unless you’re staying at a home in that community.

Stay as close as possible if you cannot find lodging on a beach. This will make it easier to get out early in the morning before other shellers are out.

My favorite place to book a home is VRBO. The advantage of booking a home over a hotel is the extra space you will get inside the home and outside. This is the way to go if you have kids or a pet. 

When looking for a hotel, I prefer Hotels.com. My husband and I have used them for years because you get a free hotel night for every 10 nights you book.

18 – Don’t Take Live Shells

Shelling at Ocean Isle Beach in NC
A whelk shell I found at Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina.

When I visited Sand Dollar Island in North Carolina years ago, people were hauling out live sand dollars by the bucket.

It’s legal on Sand Dollar Island to collect live specimens, but it was sad to see so many sea creatures going to their death.

Typically, if a shell contains a sea creature, you’ll need to leave it there. You can always take a picture or visit a local gift shop to buy shell souvenirs to take home.

19 – Bring The Right Equipment

The Sand Dipper is a tool used for finding seashells and shark teeth at the beach
My Sand Dipper is one of my favorite tools for finding seashells.

All you need to find seashells is good eyes, patience, and luck. 

But having the right equipment can also help. Consider bringing these items to your next shelling adventure (or read my article on the best shelling tools.)

  1. Shell Bag
  2. Sifter
  3. Shovel
  4. Polarized sunglasses
  5. Water shoes
  6. Waders
  7. Scuba boots
  8. Sand Dipper
  9. Seashell identification guide
  10. Goggles
  11. Sand Flea Rake
  12. Bug spray
  13. Sunscreen
  14. Sun hat
  15. Grocery sack for litter 

20 – Know The Local Laws

Scotch Bonnet on Atlantic Beach Shelling NC
Picture of a rare Scotch Bonnet I found on Atlantic Beach in NC.

Check local laws to know the rules in your area regarding shell collecting. Some beaches won’t allow you to take empty shells, as an empty shell can provide a home for a growing sea critter.

21 – Search In Inlets Near The Ends Of Islands

One of my favorite places to shell is on the ends of islands near inlets. The ocean washes a lot of shelling treasures to these spots.

When I shell in North Carolina, I’ve had a lot of luck finding shells at the ends of Ocean Isle Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Topsail Island.


Read our Ultimate Seashell Identification Guide HERE!

Get a free, printable Seashell Identification Guide HERE!

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Hi! I'm Kristen

I'm based in North Carolina, and love finding the hidden gems of the Carolinas and beyond! I explore quaint towns, adventurous outdoor activities, and fantastic food to help my readers plan their own unforgettable travels.

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55 Responses

  1. I’m so jealous that you live in North Carolina! It’s a great place, as I have extracted from rumors, and the best seashells are always within reach. On the other hand, I love the beach but live in the center of the country. Good luck with your seashell hunts 🙂 !

  2. As kids, I remember doing this to bring home colorful shells for our aquarium. Reading your post brought back beautiful memories of childhood and collecting shells for fun. Thank you, for sharing.

  3. I’ll share this with my grandkids! They are headed to the beach in Florida in two weeks.

    1. That’s awesome. I’m dying to get down to Florida to do some shelling. There are some great spots there like Sanibel Island.

    1. You have a lot better chance at getting the shells before they wash away if you have a net.

  4. This is an awesome list! My daughter loves to look for shells! When we were in Aruba, we found a live conch. We took plenty of pics, the kids got to hold the shell for a bit, then back into the water he went!

  5. These are the best and such helpful tips for finding seashells on the beach. I had no idea there were so many pieces of equipment that you could use. Definitely an art and a science behind shelling!

    1. It’s so much easier to walk up and down the beach looking for shells when you have a good bag for holding them, a shovel, and good sunglasses.

  6. My mom loves shells and my daughter is moving to North Carolina. Hopefully, there’s a place close to her so I can take my granddaughters there to collect shells for my mom. Or better yet get us all there. Looks like North Carolina will have so many nice beaches.

  7. I remember, I would go with my family to the back beaches. The sea shells were amazing and big. Nowadays, in many places here. especially the National and State Parks, it’s not allowed to collect them and other forms of nature.

    1. You have to be careful not to disturb the sealife. Even if the shells are empty, you may not legally be able to take them.

  8. I love seashells, they’re just so beautiful. I try not to take too much when I’m on a beach though, now litter though, that’s something I’ll gladly take away 😜

  9. Fantastic tips and advice for shell hunting! I can’t believe people take live shells… Lesson are learned every day! Thank you for sharing your great insight!

    1. It was really sad to see so many sand dollars taken live. I hope it isn’t allowed anymore.

  10. Wow, this is amazing! I just learned so much! I wish I lived close to a beach, because I would totally go shelling!

  11. I live in Pawleys Island, SC and walk the beach often. I love when there is a low tide at sunrise. That is the best time for finding seashells! I enjoyed your article and look forward to reading others.

  12. We LOVE finding shells on the beach! One time I went for a run on the beach, except I kept stopping every 20 feet to grab yet another cool shell I saw. I came back to the hotel after way too long with full hands 😉

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