We were at Sanibel in December of 1999 and the channel under Blind Pass
bridge has completely filled in with sand. We were told it was going to be
dredged back out so that the mangroves in the area behind it would still
have access to the water at high tide. We were back in December 0f 2000 and
it had not been dredged. So, the shelling is not as good as it used to be
because the pass no longer exists. I agree that the sand ledge along the
pass was a wonderful place to explore in the past but it no longer exists.
It is still fun to go there though.
Walk out in the water at Blind Pass or Bowman's beach and let your feet do
your shelling for you. Two members of our family have found great shells
that way. One was a huge horse conch that was in pretty good shape even
though it was dead - just the tip of it was sticking out of the sand.
Another was a large whelk.
The way I look at it, a bad day of shelling always beats a day at the office
any way you want to shake it!
Have fun - Sanibel is a great place to visit.
Jan
Jan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Scharle" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2001 10:35 PM
Subject: Re: New Subcriber with Question
> Hi Mindy,
> When you get to your hotel check the tourist literature or ask the desk
> clerk. There are several people that take folks out on the type of
> expedition you're describing, and they advertise quite a bit. The best
> shelling in Sanibel occurs during the winter months when currents pull
> toward the island. During the spring and summer months, the currents go in
> the opposite direction.The best shelling spot on the island is under the
> bridge between Sanibel and Captiva Islands called Blind Pass. During low
> tide one can wade out into this shallow channel and literally scoop masses
> of shells from the bottom mud. I also found some excellent specimens while
> digging in the softened sand at the edges of this channel. Observing live
> specimens is part of the fun, but even though you may be tempted, please
> observe the rules. With the traffic that Sanibel gets, the ecology of the
> area would be seriously compromised if live specimens were taken.
> Enjoy!
> Joe Scharle
> Joe Scharle
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bobbi Cordy" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2001 9:41 PM
> Subject: Re: New Subcriber with Question
>
>
> > Hi Mindy:
> >
> > We just spent 6 days on Sanibel last week. As you probably know,
> > you cannot take any live shells on Sanibel. The only thing on the
> > beaches was dead kitten paws and jingle shells.
> > We even checked the lighthouse and no wentletraps either. BUT this wind
> > might blow something in.
> >
> > Bobbi
> >
> > Miranda Cox wrote:
> >
> > > Hi all. I'm a graduate student at Wake Forest
> > > University, working on a Master's in math. I've been
> > > collecting shells for about eight years or so, but I'm
> > > from western North Carolina so I don't get to go
> > > shelling as often as I'd like. However, spring break
> > > is coming up next week, and I'm heading down to St.
> > > Pete with a friend. We're also planning to go down to
> > > Sanibel for a couple of days. Here's my question:
> > > Last time I was on Sanibel (4 years ago) a "Captain
> > > Julie" took me out to some mangrove islands to look
> > > for shells. I would like to do something like this
> > > again but I don't remember her last name or know
> > > anyone else with a boat who takes people shelling. I
> > > want to go squishing around in the mud, not
> > > beachcombing. Any information you can provide would
> > > be great! Thanks,
> > >
> > > Mindy Cox
> > >
> > > __________________________________________________
> > > Do You Yahoo!?
> > > Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
> > > http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
> >
>
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