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Posted By: Guest

Subject: seashells

Where is the best beach to find seashells? The kids love looking for seashells, we will be vacationing in obx this summer.

Message Replies:

9543: RE: seashells

1/21/2007 4:52:01 PM

Posted By: Guest

You can look but you probably will not find any. Most shells are broken that wash up on the beach. I have heard it is because they get beat up on the sandbars before they can make it to the beach. I've also heard of people finding some on Ocracoke that were decent. If you look go early morning, that would be your best chance.

9549: RE: seashells

1/21/2007 5:25:06 PM

Posted By: Corey

Ocracoke is the best place for shelling on the Outer Banks, you will find the least picked over and the most whole shells down there. Also try going out in the early AM before too many people get out and after high tide.

9555: RE: seashells

1/21/2007 6:48:47 PM

Posted By: Guest

The beach is always changing, therefore the likelihood of finding shells changes, too. We always stay north of Duck, and the shells vary year by year (and day by day). At varying times, I've found sand dollars, whelk (aka Atlantic conch), and others. You might not find whole ones, or pretty ones, or specific ones, but there are usually shells or fragments to look through. That in itself is enjoyable. From Ocracoke, you can take a boat over to the beach on Portsmouth Island. Beautiful beach, and sometimes there are great shells there.

9566: RE: seashells

1/21/2007 7:53:55 PM

Posted By: Guest

a whelk is a whelk is a whelk....not a conch...channel, right, lightening

i agree with 9543, its difficult to find them. i have heard some people go soundside

9583: RE: seashells

1/22/2007 10:57:21 AM

Posted By: Ann

I agree with 9549. Along the beaches in Ocracoke is where we have always found our shells.

9640: RE: seashells

1/24/2007 11:14:55 AM

Posted By: Guest

we found a lot last year at pea island refuge beach. They were all about the same type however. It is right after you go over the Oregon inlet bridge.

13868: RE: seashells

7/5/2007 4:28:40 PM

Posted By: Guest

We are going to be staying on Ocracoke this summer. Are there a number of options for going to Portsmouth? I have info on Portsmouth Island ATV. Amy advice or suggestions.

16702: RE: seashells

8/16/2007 1:55:46 PM

Posted By: E

The Point! You have got to go to the point, up in Hatteras.....You won't regret it! Look it up on the map.....Great spot for shells! Ocracoke is awesome 2.

17479: RE: seashells

9/4/2007 7:05:29 PM

Posted By: JD

The Point is the best place I've found Sea Shells, When it's low tide, the water clear, not murky, get some googles and get in the water right about where it's waste deep to where the waves wash up. found lots there! The Shells are everywhere there, Hard to find a whole conk or welks is hard, I found ONE

17606: RE: seashells

9/6/2007 2:55:02 PM

Posted By: JD

Portsmith is accessible from Ocrcroke, never been, I do wanna go next year though. It's a 2 hour boat ride, love to go to there and Cape Lookout Seashore....both require Ferry/Boat access only. I am not exactly sure if you can go to Portsmouth on your own without a tour guide...if you could hell I am SO IN for that next time, don't care about the hike lol

21368: RE: seashells

4/8/2008 8:02:40 AM

Posted By: laura

thanks everyone for the advice!

39982: RE: seashells

6/26/2009 11:20:28 PM

Posted By: guest

you hve to go in the roped 0ff areas, the areas that the animal rights people shut down, screw the sings you arent hurting any thing, also go out in a truck real late at night after high tide and shine a light out the window you use to be able to cover miles of beach till they locked them down . fyi the point is closed and so is oregan inlet as well as most of ocrocoke. www.savehattereas.com

41006: RE: seashells

7/4/2009 10:51:25 AM

Posted By: OBXDAD

We found nothing but broken shells most of the week, then we had a storm on Thursday. Friday we found lots of new shells and even a sand dollar unbroken. Guess the storm stirred them up.

42037: RE: seashells

7/9/2009 6:31:46 PM

Posted By: Jill

We stay in Avon and I found TONS of shells, mostly scallops but beautiful WHOLE shells...great colors of burgandy and blacks. They were up by the dunes from high tide. I didn't go out until 11am...filled ziplock after ziplock...they are now in my garden at home in Charlotte!

44858: RE: seashells

7/24/2009 2:23:56 PM

Posted By: Guest

If you listen to the advice of 982 and get caught, the roped off area increases for the locals. Don't do it. Any reasonable local who sees you will give you a good tongue lashing.

45759: RE: seashells

7/29/2009 12:50:37 PM

Posted By: Guest

Most of the roped off areas are for sea turtle nesting areas. you should not be dusturbing them.

50524: RE: seashells

8/21/2009 10:44:00 PM

Posted By: Guest

Regarding Portsmouth Island, it's not that far from Ocracoke. Maybe 20-30 minutes by a small boat. We did the ATV excursion. Bring bugspray. The mosquitoes are insane at the deserted town at the center of the island. Black clouds of mosquitos rose up every time we took a step in the grass.

The shelling there was good, but no better than on Ocracoke. I've had good luck just north of Avon, too.

54130: RE: seashells

9/17/2009 9:47:48 AM

Posted By: Guest

We stay on the sound side and have found many. Most we find is on the ocean side closer to Okracoke and the point after a low tide. We've even found some beautiful blue sea glass! Please stay off of the roped areas as the areas will increase in size with every violation and it is a horrible thing to do to the locals. We are here as guests. I'd rather see the wildlife have their own refuge which makes the OBX even more beautiful. Good Luck!

55711: RE: seashells

10/2/2009 8:59:46 AM

Posted By: obxterp

We found a dozen whole conch shells one fall day a couple of years ago on the beach in Nags Head near MP 12. It was very strange as there were hardly any other shells on the beach. Just these huge conch shells lying on the beach waiting for someone to pick them up. We will have to go to Ocracoke on our next visit.

58691: RE: seashells

11/23/2009 11:14:40 PM

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11/23/2009 11:15:36 PM

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58694: RE: seashells

11/23/2009 11:15:57 PM

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58695: RE: seashells

11/23/2009 11:16:18 PM

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59582: RE: seashells

12/25/2009 11:14:40 PM

Posted By: Guest

Walked the beach above where Hwy 12 ends in Corolla and my grandson found a whole starfish. We also found several whelk shells, large clam shells, hinged shells, and a large razor hinged shell. Going out in the morning after the storm tonight to see what might appear.

64555: RE: seashells

4/3/2010 8:18:19 AM

Posted By: controlshaywire

You are going to find pretty much the same variety on any of the outer banks, or crystal coast islands (I have been to all of them over the past five years in my obsession for shells I had so much fun I moved here). The further south or out into the Atlantic the more tropical the variety. This is due to the fact that costal waters are Cooler than the warmer waters off shore. This is why more shells and varieties are found after a big storm. They will not necessarily be larger but more colorful. To get the unbroken larger shells you have to be willing to get wet the best time is the hour before, and after low tide. This will be when the (surf line) little waives crash here you will see line of smaller half broken shells is starting to come out of the water. I stand in the water about 3 to 4 feet behind this line in the (drop line flat area that drops about a foot depending on strength of waives)with a net in knee to thigh high water depending on waives. You will find the Knobbed 4-9 in, Lightning 3-8in, and less often Channeled 3.5-7.5in Whelk black, gray and tan in color. They are similar in appearance in shape to the Conch 2.5- 24 in which you find in Florida. If you have balance or steadiness problems I don’t recommend this, also if the current is very strong (check the flags) or no one is in the water I don’t recommend this. I have been knocked down, pulled under (in knee deep water), and scratched from broken shells. Never go in the water alone. It’s fun I have a huge collection, and make crafts from them. (Clear coat gives them a nice shine) Good Luck

66582: RE: seashells

5/13/2010 8:33:32 AM

Posted By: Guest

I'm trying to find out what the beautiful purple and/or purple and white striped shell remnants are that I keep finding (and collecting) on the Outer Banks. Does anyone know what they are???

67583: RE: seashells

6/1/2010 1:08:18 AM

Posted By: Guest

they are clam shells that have been tumbled probably for years! They are beautiful! I have gotten buckets full to make gifts when I go home. I actually dont want to leave now, this place is beautiful. But they are old clam shells, some are like perfectly smooth, makes great peices to do crafts!

72932: RE: seashells

8/13/2010 7:14:03 AM

Posted By: Future Guest

I will be arriving at Duck for my first Outerbanks Experience on Saturday 8-14-10. This time of year where is the best place to get nice shells?

74605: RE: seashells

8/31/2010 5:54:42 PM

Posted By: Guest

The time of year seems to make a little difference too. 13 years ago we were on the Outer Banks in Dec...no shells in Nags Head where we were staying but a trip to Cape Hatteras found many nice shells. This is true for GA beaches too....have visited St Simons Island, GA MANY times over the last 10 years and only in Dec or Jan have we ever found nice shells.

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