Best Places to Find Shark Teeth in Florida

This article was recently republished by popular demand to include tips on finding shark teeth in Florida.

We also added a few places beyond Venice Beach and info on an AI shark tooth identifying program.

A Visit to the “Shark Tooth Capital of the World”

It’s a picture-perfect morning on Southwest Florida’s Venice Beach as the cloudless royal blue sky meets the far-off horizon.

The emerald-green Gulf of Mexico gently laps onto the sandy shoreline, and a few barefooted beachcombers are off in the distance.

A young boy, along with his mother and father, is stooped over searching for something on the beach. They appear to be looking for something specific amongst the shells and sand.

The little boy is holding a long-handled tool that resembles a snow shovel with a wire mesh basket attached to the end.

With his dad’s help, the boy heartily scoops sand and shells from the water’s edge letting the water and sand drain from the sieved basket.

The boy inspects the catch, sifting through the shells. He shrieks, “I found one!” as he proudly bounces up and down, holding within the palm of his tiny hand – a small black shark’s tooth.

This scene plays out daily on Venice Beach, the “Shark Tooth Capital of the World” located in Sarasota County.

The Venice Pier

The Venice Pier is right in the heart of shark’s tooth country. It’s an ideal place to begin your journey, especially if you are new to the area.

Before you search the sands, take a walk out on the scenic 740-foot pier and stop at Papa’s Bait Shop. There you can rent or buy the “Venice Snow Shovel,” the screened basket fitted onto a handle to help you dig shark’s teeth.

After a day of fossil hunting, you might want to celebrate your bounty at Sharkey’s on the Pier or the fancier Fins restaurant.

Both places have a spectacular Gulf view. You can enjoy a well-deserved and delicious fish sandwich or a beverage to toast the sunset.

History of Florida Shark Teeth

The Gulf beaches in and around Venice, hold a bountiful cache of fossilized sharks’ teeth.

Ten million years ago, the area was teeming with sharks.

Over time, as the water receded and gave way to land, the prehistoric sharks died. Their skeletons disintegrated, and their fossilized teeth remained.

The Venice coastal area just south of Sarasota sits atop a fossil layer 18-35 feet deep.

Storms and waves slowly drive the fossils into the shallow waters and onto the beach.

First-Person Experience in Venice

Back on the beach, Kitty Sala, an Authentic Floridian from New York who moved to the area, is wading waist-deep in the water, inspecting her newly scooped catch.

Already a veteran shark’s teeth hunter, Kitty spends most of her week strolling along the beach hunting for fossilized treasures.

Kitty is bubbly and eager to share some tips about her new hobby.

“Shark’s teeth come in differing sizes, colors, and shapes. Some are black, others gray or brown. Early mornings are best. Weekdays are ideal because there are fewer people.”

Kitty Sala

She continues, “The best time to collect teeth is often after a storm. In fact, it’s different with every storm because it can bring a lot of teeth or it may carry them further out. You never know.”

Kitty keeps her stash of fossils in a little pill bottle she carries. “I have found over 10,000 teeth,” she proudly exclaims.

How to Find Shark Teeth

This list regarding how to find sharks teeth is based on our own experience and talking to enthusiasts who have collected 1,000 or more sharks teeth.

Walk the Shoreline

If you want to look for shark teeth without going deep into the water, you can start by walking along the shoreline.

Typically the tides bring in large piles of shells. Spend some time with a small sifter looking through these shells.

You might find shark teeth within these piles of shells.

Dig a Few Feet Off of the Shoreline

Another great way to find shark teeth is to bring a small shovel and sifter into the water.

Go a few feet out from the shoreline. Dig up a scoop of sand and sift through it to look for teeth while sifting.

Dive Further Out from the Shore

If you are into snorkeling or scuba diving, spend some time further out looking for shark teeth in the sand in deeper water.

There are floating sifters you can bring to sift through sand and find shark teeth farther from the shore.

Use the Right Tools

Some use a shovel, a kitchen strainer, or scoop the sand and shells with their hands.

Once scooped, they return it to the beach and pour it onto the sand. Then they sit on the beach and sift through, looking for prizes. 

Other fossil parts, bits of coral, or small pebbles may catch the eye, but at least one or more teeth will likely be found in most large scoops.

Final Thoughts on Venice

Most sharks’ teeth are from 1/8” to ¾” or even a bit larger.

The huge sharks’ teeth are usually farther out and may require dive equipment to locate.

Local Venice dive boats can take you out as they cruise a few miles from the shore.

In fact, several boat captains charter trips along the Venice coastline in search of prehistoric fossils and sharks’ teeth.

Call any local Venice Dive Shop. They can recommend captains specializing in fossils.

We suggest a few Guides later in this article.

Best Places to Look for Shark Teeth

We know Venice is THE best place in the world to find shark teeth in Florida. But there are other great options.

Florida Locations

August 2024 Alert: Due to a number of different factors, including the wrath of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Debby, checking the water and road conditions before venturing out is a good idea.

A good resource is the Florida Healthy Beaches Program website. We have placed a star in front of the beaches that have issues.

• * Caspersen Beach – Just south of Venice Beach, Caspersen Beach offers a quieter spot with a high chance of finding shark teeth among the pebbles and shells.

• * Manasota Key – This lesser-known area near Venice also provides excellent opportunities for shark tooth hunting, especially around Stump Pass Beach State Park.

• Caloosahatchee River – This river in southwest Florida is another hotspot for fossil hunters, with shark teeth frequently found in its shallow waters and sandbars.

• Fort Clinch State Park – Located on Amelia Island, this park is known for its historic fort and beautiful beaches, where shark teeth and other fossils can be found.

• Jacksonville Beach – The wide, sandy beaches in Jacksonville offer good opportunities to find shark teeth, especially after a strong tide or storm.

• St. Augustine Beach – This historic beach is not only beautiful but also a great place to search for shark teeth, particularly near the pier.

• Honeymoon Island State Park – Situated near Dunedin, this state park offers excellent shelling and shark tooth hunting along its natural shoreline.

• Rock Springs Run – Located near Apopka, this spring-fed river is a popular spot for fossil hunters who often find shark teeth along its banks and in the water.

• Sebastian Inlet State Park – A popular spot for surfing, this park on the east coast also offers a chance to find shark teeth along its beautiful beaches.

• Ballast Point Park (Tampa) – Located on the shores of Tampa Bay, this park has sandy areas where shark teeth occasionally wash up.

Additional Areas Worth Exploring

• * Casey Key
• Boca Raton
• Palm Beach Island Beaches
• Mikler’s Landing Beach Ponte Vedra
• Singer Island
• Jupiter Island
• Suwannee River

Beyond the Florida Beaches

Many Florida rivers contain a treasure trove of fossils and shark teeth.

The Peace River (which flows into Charlotte Harbor) and the Alafia River are very popular with collectors.

Inland from the Gulf Coast, Peace River is famous for its abundance of fossils, including shark teeth.

Kayaking along the river and sifting through the sediment can yield some exciting finds.

Abandoned Florida phosphate pits are excellent sources for finding these prehistoric treasures.

Scuba divers often uncover massive specimens in riverbeds, sounds, waterways, and off-shore in the ocean.

Even rock quarries can be rich hunting grounds with their exposed layers of ancient earth.

A Readers Only Tip

One surprising spot where shark teeth have been found is gravel and shell driveways and paths!

So, whether you’re hiking, walking, or simply out exploring, always keep your eyes peeled.

Get a Book, an AI Shark Tooth ID Tool, a Glossary, and a Guide

Author Robert L. Fuqua

Grab a handy guide found at many local bookstores before you ventured off.

We enjoy author Robert Fuqua’s books. He offers photos to assist you with shark species teeth identification.

There are bull, sand, lemon, mako, hammerhead, whitetip, and megalodons just to name the common ones.

Some are pointier or fatter, or even sharper at the ends. You’ll have fun just looking at the variety.

An AI Shark Tooth Identification Tool

We have not tried this yet, but we will use The Beach Bop AI Identification Program the next time we go shark tooth hunting and report back how it works.

This shark tooth hunting tool features an easy-to-use interface and advanced algorithms for quick and accurate identification of various shark tooth species.

Glossary of Fossil Shark Tooth-Related Terms

Shark Tooth Guides

There are several guides we recommend. If you’ve know of a great guide, please let us know in the comments.

• Black Gold Fossil Charters – 301 E Venice Ave, Venice, FL 34285
• Sarasota Suncoast Tours – 1727 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34236
• Island Boat Adventures – 2902 Miriam St. S, Gulfport, FL 33711
• Mudslinger Tours – 1414 NW 43rd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32605
• Paddle Jax – Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Florida

If you’re a scuba diver (I am not), we have heard good things about Aquanutz Fossil Dive Charters in Venice, Florida.

• Price – $175 for a 3-tank dive; tanks, weights, and fossil bags included—plus snacks and drinks!
• WEEKDAY SPECIAL ~ $165
• Hours ~ 7:30 am ~ 4:30 pm
• Meeting Location ~ Higel Marine Park, 1250 Tarpon Center Dr., Venice, FL 34285
• Requirements ~ You must be Open Water certified (bring your C-card). In addition, they recommend that you have at least 15 dives experience or be very comfortable in the water.

Fun for the Entire Family

Looking for shark teeth is an adventure the whole family will enjoy. But it’s also fun to do on your own, no matter what your age.

By the way, it’s legal to keep sharks’ teeth. So hunt away! Before you know it, you’ll have quite a collection of shark teeth.

Florida Shark Teeth Facts

• Sharks produce 20,000-25,000 teeth over their lifetime
• Shark’s teeth sizes can range from 1/8” – 3.5” or more
• The mighty Megalodon shark tooth fact:  1” of the tooth represents 10 feet of the actual length of the prehistoric shark
• There is such an abundance of shark teeth that they are exempt from the usual fossil permit requirements.

2025 Venice Shark Tooth Festival

The Venice Sharks Tooth Festival is planned for April 13th (from 10 am – 8 pm) & April 14th (from 10 am – 5 pm)!

Attendees enjoy live music, food trucks, speakers, a kids’ corner, merchandise and fossil vendors.

For more information, visit the official Venice Shark Tooth Festival website.

Here are a few more Authentic Florida articles you may find interesting:

• A Beginner’s Guide to Identifying Common Florida Seashells
• Awesome Things To Do in Sarasota
• Sarasota Jungle Gardens Trip Guide
• Dog-Friendly Beaches & Parks in Florida
• A Road Trip to Southwest Florida’s Best Shell Destinations
• Best Beaches in Southwest Florida
• The Florida Scalloping Season Guide

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