Venice, Florida: “The Shark Tooth Capital of the World”
Venice is a small seaside town off of Florida’s Gulf Coast near Sarasota. Besides the salty seafood, cold cocktails, and gorgeous sandy beaches, Venice is known as the “shark tooth capital of the world”. The beaches in and around Venice, Florida are abundant with all sorts of shells, fossils, and shark teeth. Read on for tips on finding shark teeth, the best spots to search, and how to make the most of your day in the Florida sunshine!
Why Are There So Many Shark Teeth Washing Up in Venice, Florida?
Millions of years ago this entire area was underwater and sharks were abundant. The water has receded and these prehistoric sharks are long gone but their fossilized teeth still remain, buried deep beneath the surface. The coast of Venice lies on top of a deep fossil layer. Storms and waves drive the fossils slowly into the shallower waters and up onto the beach.
Fun fact: Sharks can have over 15 rows of teeth, adding up to nearly 350 teeth at one time. With no deep root holding the tooth in, the teeth fall out pretty often causing a shark to lose several teeth a week. Sharks can go through over 20,000 teeth in their lifetime!
What Makes Venice the Best Place to Find Shark Teeth in Florida?
The waters in the Gulf of Mexico are calm and clear so it is easy to wade into the ocean and casually sift for shells and shark teeth. Also, the ocean floor off the coast of Venice is gently sloping, so fossils, shark teeth, and shells slowly wash ashore.
Venice Beach also has dolphins, manatees, sea turtle nests, and plenty of shells to find. The sand is powdery and the water is warm, there is free beach parking and plenty of picnic areas. So even if you aren’t the one hunting for those shark teeth, spending a day here is still paradise!
Note: Another place to search for shark teeth in Florida is at Fort Clinch State Park on Amelia Island, along the coast of the Florida/Georgia border.
The Best Areas on the Beach to Find Shark Teeth
You can find the fossilized shark teeth by either snorkeling in the clear water, sifting through the sand, or even walking along the shoreline if you have a good eye! Head to where there are tons of shells and start sifting through little by little. Most people searching for shark teeth stay in the very shallow water where the waves are breaking, although some take guided charters out much deeper in search of the elusive but magnificent “Megalodon tooth”.
You can see we found the opposite of a Megalodon when we first started looking, finding two tiny teeth! Since these are fossilized shark teeth, look for dark black triangular shapes when sifting through the sand and shells.
Tip: Beware the rocks and shells that mimic shark teeth! A true tooth will have a short root and long crown, and the textures are different.
Where in Venice Can I Find Shark Teeth?
Most of Florida’s Gulf beaches in and around Venice contain an abundant source of fossilized shark teeth. Avid shark teeth hunters recommend any beach area south of the Venice Jetty, from Venice Beach all the way down to Manasota Key. Be sure to visit the highly coveted spots – Caspersen Beach and the Venice Fishing Pier – to get your hands on some prized shark teeth finds.
Caspersen Beach
Many people come to this part of Venice Beach specifically to search for shark teeth. In addition, Caspersen Beach features a boardwalk and nature trails that allow visitors to explore the surrounding dunes and lush foliage.
Note that the sandy beach area is short and not very conducive to relaxing under a large canopy, and you will find tons of other visitors searching for these ancient artifacts on any given day. There are also large rocks along the shore so a good pair of water shoes is extremely helpful.
Tip: Find the stretches of dark sand in the water, that is where most of the fossils will be!
Venice Fishing Pier
We had much more luck finding shark teeth when searching near the Venice Fishing Pier. This area is more “beach-like”, with long stretches of white sand and water that was easy to wade into. We packed up our beach wagon with chairs, our beach bag, a small canopy, and a cooler, and set out for the day. Emily and I swam and searched while David enjoyed a peaceful afternoon reading in the shade: win-win!
We were told to start looking about 100 yards from the pier in either direction and that was good advice, as we (along with people surrounding us in the water) were very successful.
Along with finding teeth in these areas, another plus to staying near the pier is that the restrooms are close by and you can grab a cold beverage at Sharky’s on the Pier. We popped in between rounds of swimming for a light lunch and the conch fritters and fish tacos were outstanding!
Tips for Finding Shark Teeth in Florida
You will see people using all sorts of methods to find shark teeth at the beach. Some stroll along the beach scanning, which is not the most effective way. Some sit in just a few inches of water and use a hand sifter, a kitchen strainer, or even just their hands to scoop up sand and piece through it for a tooth. Again, this works but is not the most efficient way to find teeth.
For success in shark teeth hunting you need some sort of a sifting device and a little patience. Stores along the downtown Venice area sell shark teeth sifters in all shapes and sizes, starting at $35 and up. Shark Frenzy and Fossil Frenzy are two stores selling shark tooth sifters. These work by letting the smaller grains of sand slip through the mesh, leaving larger chunks of shells and (hopefully) shark teeth.
If you are just visiting and don’t plan on doing this often, it is easiest to rent one right at the Venice Pier. These devices have a long handle so you can scoop a good amount of sand even in a few feet of water, and then a metal screen for sifting (see photo; Emily and I took turns with the sifter or “shifter” as she called it).
What is the Best Time for Shark Teeth Hunting?
The best time of day to find shark teeth is at low tide. Also, searching right after a storm has come through is ideal because new shells and fossils will have been brought up closer to the shoreline.
What Else Do I Need for a Successful Day at Venice Beach?
- Sunscreen and UPF clothing– a must for spending an afternoon on a Florida beach
- Shell collecting bag– doesn’t have to be fancy, just make sure the mesh is small enough to keep even tiny teeth inside!
- Snorkel and mask– optional, use these if you want to go out a little ways and dig for shark teeth
- Hat and/or sunglasses– the Florida sun reflects off of the sand and the water, so it is helpful to protect yourself from all angles
- Beach umbrella or quick pop-up canopy– for when you need some shade
- Beach chairs, towels, and maybe a cooler with cold drinks
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Venice, Florida- and the entire Gulf Coast for that matter- is a gorgeous place to visit, whether you are looking for that coveted shark tooth or just a relaxing idyllic beach weekend.
More beautiful Florida beaches to explore:
Happy Travels!
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