TREASURE ISLANDS

Travelers from all over the world visit the islands of Southwest Florida to search for riches of a di erent sort.

BY LYNN WAALKES

Coquinas and cockles. Sand dollars, conch and starfish. Tulip shells, periwinkles and lightning whelks. Bivalves and gastropods and the rare junonia.

Like a pirate’s chest brimming with untold treasure, Sanibel, Captiva and Marco Islands reward seekers with exquisite seashells, both rare and common, tiny and large, plain and colorful. Residents and visitors alike adopt the “Sanibel Stoop,” bent over at the waist to spy and pluck prized shells from local beaches.

“People come to shelling for many different reasons,” says Sam Ankerson, executive director at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel. pictured above. “Maybe it’s a love of the outdoors, or the thrill of the search, a relaxing activity on the beach with loved ones, or the curiosity of a budding marine biologist.

“There are about 400 different species of mollusks that are native to Southwest Florida, which feature an amazing variety of beautiful and beguiling shells,” he added.

COURTESY THE BEACHES OF FORT MYERS & SANIBEL

Sanibel’s curved, east-west geography forms a natural scoop for waves washing shells ashore, making it the top shelling island in North America. Your chances of finding cockle, conch, coquina, lightning whelk, murex, olive and tulip shells are excellent. However, because it travels a longer distance from the sea floor, an intact junonia shell is a rarer find. The cream-colored oblong shells sport a spotted brown exterior.

At Bailey-Matthews, you’ll get a colorful, fascinating introduction to conchology, the study of seashells, and malacology, the study of mollusks. You can observe live mollusks, including the junonia and a giant Pacific octopus (not all mollusks have shells), purchase seashell guides at the store museum and handle live specimens at the touch tanks. Sign up for a daily beach walk with one of the museum’s marine biologists.

“We love being a resource and destination for people with an interest in shells, the animals that create them, the marine ecology of our region, and conservation education,” Ankerson says. “Our exhibits include shells from all over the world, as well as the Beyond Shells living gallery of aquariums, touch pools, and more than 50 species of marine life.”

CONCHOLOGY 101

Seashells come in two basic varieties: gastropods (single valve) and bivalve (hinged). Gastropods include conchs, whelks, junonia and murex; bivalves include clams, scallops and cockles. Sand dollars, a kind of sea urchin, can also be collected, if not alive. A sand dollar

that has cashed in its chips is bleached white and is hairless.

Seashells and mollusks are essential players in island ecology. They filter and cleanse ocean waters (remember why you kept snails in your childhood fish tank?), provide a source of food for fish and birds, and help keep sand beaches from eroding. Florida law protects mollusks, and it is illegal to collect “live shells,” that is, any shell with a creature inside, whether it seems alive or not. Collectors are also urged to limit the amount they collect to ensure shells remain plentiful.

Shells range not only in size and appearance; the mollusks and shells each have their own personality and quirks. Fighting conchs are vegetarians. Cockle shells are footed and can jump several inches. Lightning whelk shells have a left-handed tail, are large, and were used by the early Calusa natives as lamps, utensils, jewelry and tools.

BEST PLACES TO STOOP AND CONCH-ER

In general, you’ll find smaller shells on Sanibel and larger ones on Captiva. Marco Island may be a better bet for finding rarer shells, probably because it’s only accessible by boat and gets less foot traffic. Book a boat tour to improve your chances of finding rare and large shells.

All Sanibel and Captiva beaches are great for shelling, but each offers its own advantages. Turner Beach and Blind Pass beaches tend to be less picked-over, as they get fewer visitors. The beaches are great for fishing and jet-skiing, but strong currents make them unsuitable for swimming. Gulfside City Park and Bowman’s Park offer picnic tables, barbecue grills, restrooms and outdoor showers. Bowman’s Beach includes nature trails and a spot to launch kayaks and canoes. Lighthouse Beach has a wide variety of shells, great fishing and local trails. Shells tend to get picked over quickly however, so arrive early.

If you just can’t find the shell you’re after, visit one of the many seashell shops on Sanibel, where you’ll find plenty of shells and shell-themed crafts. You can buy rare and large shells and shells for crafting at Sanibel Seashell, the first seashell shop established on Sanibel. For a broad array of gift items, visit She Sells Sea Shells, where you’ll find shell jewelry, Christmas ornaments and flowers.

Regardless of where and how you choose to seek these treasures from the sea, you’ll collect more than pretty seashells during your stay. Each shell has a story to tell, providing great memories of your visit.

COLLECTING SHELLS 101

Shell aficionados recommend the following for a great experience shell collecting:

• Any time you’re on the beach, equip yourself with sunscreen, water, a hat, sunglasses and shoes. Bring a pail or mesh net and a scoop to collect shells.

• Go at low tide. You’ll also find the most shells after a storm, which makes winter months ideal for shell collecting. However, summer gives you far better weather for enjoying the area and all it has to offer.

• When walking on sandbars, shuffle your feet to avoid disturbing fish. Stepping on a stingray can result in a nasty wound and put a serious crimp in your day.

• Check for signs of life, and if in doubt, leave the shell creature where it is. Taking a live mollusk can result in a hefty fine and jail time.

• Wash your shells thoroughly to remove strong odors. Soak shells in a solution of 70 percent water, 30 percent bleach, then scrub to remove algae and the flaky outer layer.

Use eye protection!

• Apply mineral or baby oil to give your shells a nice sheen. To ensure no odors escape, pack your treasures in an air-tight bag.