7 Tips for Shell Collecting on the Emerald Coast

I love shell collecting. Its such a relaxing experience to listen to the waves, breathe the salt air, feel the sand in your toes, all while finding surprises on the shoreline. Shell collecting can be one of the most relaxing, enjoyable activities here on the Emerald Coast. But if you are seeking unique finds its good to know when to go and how to look. I encourage you to try different areas. Explore from Navarre to Okaloosa Island, to Destin and beyond. Get to know what each location can bring. There are plenty of shells for the taking. Here are some of my top tips for having great shell collecting days:

1. Go early, go often, preferably during low tide.
1. Google "Tides" and the corresponding zip code and you will get a glimpse of when high and low tides in our area occur. At low tide shells are revealed in areas you might need to snorkel at a different time of day.
2. It is true that the early bird get the worm. You are not the only shell collector on the coast. Sure, there is plenty for the taking, but early shell goers have the advantage of scooping up the truly unique shells. Try getting to the beach just before sunrise. Not only will you have a chance and some unexpected treasures you will also get to enjoy the amazing one on one experience with our areas' beautiful sunrises. I love going shell collecting early because I can watch nature get started with its day, i.e. I love seeing the dolphins, the Pelicans and plenty of other beach birds as they get moving and feeding.  
3. Keep in mind that some days just don't have shells in them, but there is plenty to enjoy at the beach, especially if you go early. The area I live in is so touristy that I prefer to shell in the fall  and winter because it doesn't seem like I can get there early enough to get ahead of all the early risers here in the summer.
2. Visit the beach the next few mornings after a strong storm.
1. I have tested this method with excellent results. Storms kick up and bring in new waves of shells to the shore. 
3. On your first pass look in the sand where the waves were, not where they are now.
1. There is a lot of sand to cover when you consider high and low tide areas. If you are visiting the beach at low tide then look in the sand where the waves left a mark at high tide. It could be 20 to 50 feet from where the shore is at the moment. 
4. On your return check in the water where waves break just before the shore.
1. getting in the water is one my favorite things about shell collecting. If you look right where the waves break on the shore and create a shelf area sometimes you can find pockets filled with shells. I have had the most success finding sandollars this way. If the water is flat and shallow walk in a bit further and observe the sand. Take it all in, enjoy your walk back and you just might find something truly unique. Be careful though some beaches don't allow for this method. Navarre has a particularly steep coastline and the waves break too hard some days for my taste.  
5. When you can, go snorkeling
1. Sometimes the fun shells are waiting for you just beyond the shore. Get some exercise in and go snorkeling. Just keep in mind that shells with living creatures in them should be left where they are.  
6. Relax and trust your eyes to find the unique shells.
1. Sometimes I can get a headache trying to focus in on a specific area or look deeper in to the water. Your brain is smart. it can tell a circle from a crowd of edges. If you have a particular shell in mind that you are targeting, just relax and let your brain do the work. I do this with sandollars and jingle shells. I know my brain will pick out the smooth roud sanddollar from any group of shells. Jingle shells sparkle/shine differently from the rest, so I know my brain will give me a nudge when I see one.
7. Never take live shells, it’s illegal. 
1. In our area this would apply mainly to lettered olives and coquinas. If you swim out to a sandbar to collect shells then much more would apply. Coquinas are those cute little shells that wiggle back into the sand as waves retreat. They come in beautiful colors and I have known people that say they have collected and eaten them. But it sure seems like a lot of work to make that a meal and coquinas provide valuable nutrients for shore birds. Make sure you don't see a creature hiding in its shell before you decide to take them home. 
2. Consider planning a weekend trip to St Joe's Bayou during scallop season or St. George Island during Oyster season if you are interested in a different, live shell adventure. 

Links: 

Florida Wildlife Commission - Bay Scallops
Florida Wildlife Commsion - Oysters and Clams




Happy Shelling!

Got Mullet?

Look at that Mullet Eye - They see everything!

The past weekend we woke up before daybreak and headed to the nearest dock to check on mullet in the area. It was a beautiful day and it turned out to be a great day for seeing schools of fish. We saw multiple schools of Jack Crevalle. Schools of lady fish or skip jacks and We are getting very close to the Mullet Roe season, when mullet school in the thousands in our area. I'm getting super excited about this because we are finally seeing schools of mullet here and there. This summer was bleak for mullet catching, so I think seeing schools early, before the roe is an excellent sign that next month is going to be good for mullet catching.

So let's talk mullet. In our area (Fort Walton Beach/Niceville/Navarre) I've learned that the mullet that jump out of the water are black mullet. They can grow to be pretty big - up to 7 pounds. When you look in the water and see mullet and the tails look like black v's, those are silver mullet. They are much smaller, but I actually prefer the taste of silver mullet to black. Mullet are vegetarians. If you ever get the chance to observe them feeding take it as its quite interesting. They kick up sand from the bottom and move in a circular fashion when feeding. Mullet also appear to be very social. Yes, you will see them by themselves, but usually they feed in twos and threes. I often get the sense that they are happy fish. It's nice.

Since mullet are herbivores you can't exactly fish for them with a rod and reel. Net throwing is the way to go and it is an art. Recently we met a lady who took up net fishing because she witnessed the roe season last year. She said it looked like there were fish for miles and she said to herself, I'm going to get some. It's well worth the effort.

Silver mullet catch

A big issue I am having is figuring out when mullet travel. It certainly relates to tides and wind. Mullet really like placid water. By placid I mean you are looking at the water and the surface is still. With tides it appears that they stop and feed in between tide changes. So they will move distances as the tide is changing, but when it slows they stay in the area they are in to feed. A guy we met in Panama City said they move against the tide. For example if the tide is moving out they are moving in and vice versa. I haven't really tested that one, but to me the point is that they are moving. Right now I'm testing out the theory that movement is best two hours before a tide point, high or low. Still testing that. Sometimes waiting for mullet seems like a waste of time, but there are lessons to learn here as well. Looking into the water is something that has actually taken me years to learn. It's easy to be tricked by a shadow, or something like grass at the bottom. Everything seems to move like a fish. If the wind picks up its even harder to distinguish the surface from the bottom to see the in between. I My favorite tool is polarized glasses. It doesn't work all the time, but most of the time it helps cut the glare and penetrate a bit further out into the edges of your scope of vision. I try to find the bottom then I look at the top of the water and I compare the two. Then I look at the shadows at the bottom. If the shadows are there each time I look that means its not a fish. Seems simple enough, but your mind can trick you into believing you see fish. When you actually see enough fish you get to know the difference.

Now for eating mullet. Many, if not most people I talk to eat their mullet fried. But there are other ways. I like them as fillets saute'd with butter and onions. Its quick and a bit lighter feeling than deep fried. One man we met while mullet fishing said he likes canned mullet. That's an intriguing topic and I'm hoping we can get enough extra mullet this year to considering trying canned mullet.

If you think mullet is a trash fish, think again. It is prized by locals and coveted internationally. A couple of years ago my husband and I met some commercial netters from Alabama who came here to our area to target mullet in roe. They said the roe gets sold for export to Asia as its a big part of cuisine there. On that note I have to say when I get my hands on some roe this year I'm certainly going to try it.

I think we live in such an awesome area of the world. Even if you don't mullet fish go and observe a mullet fisherman. Its fun to see the throw and especially the excitement of the catch.

Links:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission - Mullet