Hunting for Fossilized Shark teeth at Caspersen Beach is one of the most exciting things we've done as a family since moving to Sarasota, FL. We found so many shark teeth that it was hard to keep track of them all! In fact, we had so much fun on our first trip to Caspersen Beach that we've been back numerous times since then, and have brought friends to enjoy it as well!
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Our Family Adventure to Caspersen Beach
We got up early in the morning and packed all of our gear. After a long drive, we finally made it to Caspersen Beach. The beach was beautiful! There were other people there too. Some had come from far away, but most of them lived nearby and shark tooth hunted regularly. There were kids having fun playing in the water and families searching for shark teeth. As for us, we tried our best to look for shark teeth together! It was hard work because these beaches are very sandy (and full of shells!).
After just an hour of searching through sand and pieces of shells, we found ten shark teeth! But we didn't stop there; it was so fun playing a game of iSpy trying to find the teeth as we sifted through all the shells, sand, and rocky pieces that we continued searching for hours!
Fun Fact: According to oceaninfo.com, Some species of shark can have up to 3000 teeth at any given time, of which they lose 100 daily. Over the course of their lifetime, it is said that they have a turnover of 35,000 teeth. (That's a lot of teeth!)
What items do you want when Shark Tooth Hunting
A shovel (or any digging device)
A bucket to put the shark teeth in
Shell bags or another container for holding your finds (optional, but highly recommended)
Water shoes (or any footwear that will keep your feet safe) The sand here gets really hot, not to mention all the rocks!
Umbrella(s) and chairs for shade and comfort (For when you need a break from searching)
Where to Park When Shark Tooth Hunting in Caspersen Beach
Parking is available at the beach, and it's free! If you want to get a good spot to park, show up early. We got there around 8:30 am and there were still plenty of spaces available. Even so, it was completely full by 10 am or so. There is a parking lot that is closer to Venice Beach that has more parking, but it is about a mile away from the "best" shark tooth-finding spot, and the only way there would be on foot!
What to Wear While Shark Tooth Hunting
You don't need to be a shark tooth expert to enjoy this adventure. All you really need is a pair of water shoes, a hat, and some sunscreen! Our daughter loves to snorkel around us while we are searching in the sand.
Wear your swimsuit and bring a towel. You'll be walking around in the sand, so you might as well get comfortable doing it with your swimsuit on (and then change back into your clothes when you're done).
Bring a beach bag to carry your tools, snacks, or other items that might make the experience more enjoyable for you or your group.
Don't forget the camera! This can be one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences where everyone wants to relive their memories later on, so don't forget to take pictures during the hunt—or even beforehand as you're preparing for it!
How to Find Shark Teeth at Caspersen Beach
Fossilized Shark teeth can be found in the sand on the beach, but they are more likely to be found near the waterline. Look for shells and small objects that might have been washed ashore also! The best time to hunt for shark teeth is at low tide when the sand is exposed, but watch out for tiny sea creatures!
Look in the sand at low tide
Using your shovel, scoop up the sand and rocks from the waterline and add them to your colander. Begin sifting the sand through the colander and using your hands look through all the dark pieces to find your fossilized shark teeth. (Bonus: You may even find some fossilized sting ray dental plates)
Watch out for small sea creatures while looking through rocks or shells. We ran into tiny crabs and shrimp during our adventure, make sure to put them back where you found them!
We had a blast!
It is a lot of fun to learn how to find shark teeth and make your own collection. You might be able to find as many as 5 or 10 teeth in an hour. If you have the right tools and know what spots are best for finding these ancient teeth, then it's not hard at all! And when you go shark tooth hunting, the most important thing to remember is to have fun! You may not find any teeth at all, or you might end up with more than you can handle. It was such a rush finding all the different shapes and sizes of teeth, and sharing with my husband and daughter every time I found one. The biggest takeaway from this adventure is that you should enjoy yourself and have fun as a family doing something new!
Let me know in the comments if you have ever been to Caspersen Beach and went Shark Tooth Hunting! How many teeth did you find?
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