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Shelling Questions and Answers
Short, practical answers to the questions people ask before they go shelling on Siesta Key, Sarasota and Anna Maria Island. New questions are added regularly.
Season, tide and time of day for Siesta Key and Big Pass.
Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria timing tips.
City Island, Sarasota Bay and calm-day shelling.
Why low tide wins, and how moon phase and wind change it.
Hours, safety, stingrays and sea turtles after dark.
Simple checks before you keep a shell or sand dollar.
13 common finds on local beaches, each with a guide.
Gear and clothes for day and night shelling.
More guides
Shelling is easier with a guide
You do not need to know the tides, the beaches or the shells. Pick a location, show up 20 minutes before 8:30 PM, and we handle the rest: gear, the light, the safety briefing and the show-and-tell at the end.
Fun Florida Tours runs a guided night shelling and snorkeling tour in shallow Gulf water at Siesta Key, Sarasota and Anna Maria Island. You wade in from shore with a guide, the group shares one bright LED light pod that lights up the bottom, and the water stays under 4 feet deep, so you do not need to be a strong swimmer. After 60 minutes in the water we spend 15 minutes on the sand for show-and-tell, where guides name everything the group found. Empty shells are yours to keep; anything alive goes back.
Updated October 2026. Conditions change with weather and season. Nothing is guaranteed. Rules vary by location and can change, so check posted signs and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myfwc.com).