The Scoop on Shark Teeth
By Laura Deering
In February, I visited my happy place: sunny and warm Venice, Florida, where the dozen or so local beaches are simply superb. The first thing I did was purchase a metal scoop to help sort out glass, shells, and other treasures from the ocean sand. Then I zoomed to Caspersen Beach, famous for its shark teeth.
The entrance was blocked with a “road closed” sign. Whoa. Stepping out of the car and seeing hills of sand on the road, it was obvious the effects of Hurricanes Helene and Milton were still unresolved. Luckily, Venice Beach was still open, and I was able to score about ten shark teeth and some unusual shells for my collection.
The next day, before heading out to Manasota Beach, I did some internet sleuthing, and at least four other nearby beaches were closed. With the loss of beaches and influx of snowbirds (people visiting from colder areas), it was important to go to the open beaches early in the morning. This meant fewer people and an ideal tide. The good news was that my findings were about equal to that of previous years—approximately 80 shark teeth. Talking with fellow beachcombers who seemed to be reaping an abundance of finds, I learned about the latest hot spots, alternative beaches, and best of all, the scoop on finding megalodon shark teeth!
Churned up Shark Teeth
For starters, the storms did whip up some incredible finds. A local shark tooth hunter found 20 megalodon teeth over the previous several weeks, most of which were found on remote beaches away from public access. Many of them were broken or chipped, but the churning storm waves apparently contributed to the higher number of megalodon finds. When I asked my fellow searcher about scooping the sand hills that the storms left, he did not think I would find shark teeth there, as they were formed by winds, not waves from the deep ocean. He shared two recommendations when looking for shark teeth: scoop in areas with dark sand, as they are pockets of fossilized material, and scour boulders and rocks along the shore, where teeth can get trapped. While I did not find a megalodon fossil, it was amazing to admire other hunters’ megalodon finds.
Shifting Shell Bars
As for shells, it seemed to be feast or famine. Walking along several beaches looking for shells, the numbers and types varied. At Siesta Key Beach, after learning there were unusual finds, I kept my eyes peeled for shark teeth and glass. I was surprised when I spotted a worn shark tooth, as they are uncommon at Siesta Key.
It was a stunning contrast—the onyx tooth juxtaposed on the white powder sand. At Nokomis Beach, on a long walk to the North Jetty, I discovered new areas with shells piled four to ten feet high and 40–60 feet long. The colors, sizes, and quantity were at the time overwhelming, but in a good way, allowing me to find new keepers to treasure.
Fun and Sharing was the Rule
Strolling along the open beaches, much remained the same. Folks enjoyed the balmy not-a-cloud-in-the-sky weather. People collected shells from sparkling water. I even found some sea glass. Being in Venice, the shark tooth capital of the world, plenty of beachcombers try their luck, and I was not alone.
Others were smitten with shark tooth hunting, employing many different approaches. It seemed travelers ransacked their hotels and trailers for any type of sieve, including spaghetti strainers, metal BBQ grill tops, salad spinners, and even air fryer metal baskets. Those near the water’s edge furiously dug deep in the sand with child plastic shovels, making miniature sand hills. When I inquired what they were doing, they replied that they were looking for shark teeth and proudly showed me some.
Those using just their bare hands timed the waves, dashing in to scoop up fistfuls of sand and plop it on the beach to examine. There were so many people doing this that I assumed there must be a statewide sieve shortage. Joking aside, I had to give credit to two little girls with handfuls of sand and their mother, who, armed with a colander, had a tidy amount of teeth in their small bucket.
And by the looks of things, they were quite successful, giggling and doing the happy dance whenever a shiny black tooth appeared. Fun in the sun is the name of the game.
Knowledge is Power
During the hotter part of the day, I spent time exploring beach-themed museums, like the outstanding Mote Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida. Along with the thrill of seeing manatees, and admiring sea turtles, I got to explore their shell and shark teeth collections. It was interesting to learn how early Native Americans knapped shark teeth into spears, and that their burial mounds have layers of shells and shark teeth in them.
Shopping was part of research, as Venice has several shops with shells, shark teeth, scoops, and related books, as well as knowledgeable experts. Plus, the town really gets into the shark theme, having shark bike racks, small shark monuments, and a giant shark tooth in front of their Chamber of Commerce.
It’s Not What You Gather – It’s What You Scatter
With the trip winding down, I was impressed when I asked others how they were doing finding teeth. One person showed me a handful, pointing out the different types of shark teeth, and then gave them to me. Others generously provided hunting advice, and another person helped me with shell identification. When I inquired why they beachcomb, many shared how the hunt helped them not to dwell on their worries. One commented that beachcombing “helps with whatever ails you.” So true.
Soon I will be attending an archaeology event displaying some of my finds, and plan to scatter what I gathered—giving away shark teeth to the youth. Who knows, maybe one will become a professor, a scientist, or even a beachcomber.
Learn more about beach fossil finds from around the world. Articles ›
All photos courtesy of Laura and Emily Deering.
This article appeared in Beachcombing Magazine Volume 49, the July/August 2025 issue.
