Best shelling in Florida

Ranked by BeachNut’s shell category rating, then by today’s overall beachcombing score. Click any beach for a full profile, daily score and what else people find there.

• Anclote Key Preserve State Park

  Tarpon Springs, Florida

  Excellent

  Boat-only barrier island with a historic lighthouse and untouched shell beaches.

  Shells rating: Excellent

• Bean Point

  Anna Maria, Florida

  Excellent

  North tip of Anna Maria Island where the Gulf meets Tampa Bay; strong currents concentrate shell.

  Shells rating: Excellent

• Beer Can Island (Greer Island)

  Longboat Key, Florida

  Excellent

  North Longboat spit with driftwood, strong currents and heavy shell drift.

  Shells rating: Excellent

• Boca Grande Public Beach

  Boca Grande, Florida

  Excellent

  Gasparilla Island beach near the lighthouse with excellent shell and tooth mix.

  Shells rating: Excellent

• Bowman's Beach

  Sanibel, Florida

  Excellent

  A long, quiet stretch on the west end of Sanibel with a wide wrack line and one of the most reliable shell piles on the island.

  Shells rating: Excellent

• Captiva Beach

  Captiva, Florida

  Excellent

  North end of Captiva at Redfish Pass, the classic sunset and shelling beach.

  Shells rating: Excellent

• Cayo Costa State Park

  Cayo Costa, Florida

  Excellent

  Boat-only wilderness island widely rated the best shelling beach in Florida.

  Shells rating: Excellent

• Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park

  Naples, Florida

  Excellent

  Pass-side park north of Naples, strong shelling on the falling tide.

  Shells rating: Excellent

• Don Pedro Island State Park

  Cape Haze, Florida

  Excellent

  Boat-only barrier island beach between Knight and Little Gasparilla.

  Shells rating: Excellent

• Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park

  St. George Island, Florida

  Excellent

  Nine miles of undeveloped barrier island, consistently strong for shells and sand dollars.

  Shells rating: Excellent

• Gasparilla Island State Park

  Boca Grande, Florida

  Excellent

  Lighthouse beach at Boca Grande Pass, one of the strongest shelling passes in the state.

  Shells rating: Excellent

• Gulfside City Park (Algiers Beach)

  Sanibel, Florida

  Excellent

  Quiet mid-island Sanibel access with shaded picnic area.

  Shells rating: Excellent

• Honeymoon Island State Park

  Dunedin, Florida

  Excellent

  A long barrier island with a pet beach, a nature trail and a north end that collects shells on a west wind.

  Shells rating: Excellent

• Keewaydin Island

  Naples, Florida

  Excellent

  Boat-only barrier island between Naples and Marco with untouched shell beaches.

  Shells rating: Excellent

• Lighthouse Beach Park

  Sanibel, Florida

  Excellent

  East tip of Sanibel where the pass current stacks shell against the point.

  Shells rating: Excellent