From ornate whelks to prehistoric shark’s teeth, Myrtle Beach’s 60 miles of shoreline hide extraordinary natural treasures for those who know where — and when — to look.
Best Times to Search
Timing your hunt is everything. Low tide is the golden window for both shelling and shark’s tooth hunting, as receding waters expose far more of the ocean floor. Arrive about an hour before low tide and stay through its peak. After storms, the beach receives a fresh delivery of shells and fossils churned up from the seafloor. Early morning is ideal — fewer footprints mean the best finds are still waiting. For shark’s teeth especially, winter and early spring are productive seasons, when rougher seas push more material ashore.
What You Might Find
Myrtle Beach’s shoreline yields a remarkable variety of treasures. Knobbed and channeled whelks are the crown jewels of Grand Strand shelling — large, intact specimens are a real prize. Scotch Bonnets, North Carolina’s state shell, show up along the Grand Strand as well; smooth and rounded with distinctive brown squares, any intact find deserves trophy status. Moon snails, olive shells, and angel wings round out a classic haul for shell hunters.
For shark’s teeth, look for dark gray or black fossilized triangles — these fossils are millions of years old, and their color is what gives them away against pale sand. Triangular shapes with serrated edges are the telltale sign. Rare but real, large thick teeth from great whites and even Megalodon occasionally wash ashore, remnants of prehistoric giants that once patrolled these waters.
Prime Locations
Myrtle Beach State Park tops the list for serious collectors. This 312-acre protected shoreline sees far less foot traffic than the tourist-heavy stretches, giving shells and teeth time to accumulate rather than be picked over. Focus near the fishing pier and along the southern sections of the beach.
For adventurous seekers, Waties Island is in a league of its own. This undeveloped barrier island — accessible only by boat — offers pristine, untouched beaches where seashells pile up undisturbed. The northern tip is especially productive for both shells and fossilized shark’s teeth. The quieter northern and southern ends of the Grand Strand are also worth exploring wherever development thins out and natural beach conditions take over.
Family Fun
North Myrtle Beach Activites
Fun Things to do in Myrtle Beach
Guided Adventures Worth Booking
If you want to reach the best beaches without the guesswork, the Waties Island Beach and Kayak Adventure lets you paddle with the tides from Cherry Grove out to this hidden 1,400-acre barrier island, where you’ll have time to swim, explore wide open beaches, and hunt for shells and shark’s teeth across stretches most visitors never reach. It’s a relaxed, family-friendly tour that blends easy tide-assisted kayaking with genuine coastal wonder, and one of the best ways to find seashells without competing with the crowds. Check it out and book here.
Captain Charlie’s Shelling Tour is another fantastic option. Captain Charlie runs small, personal boat-access-only shelling trips to beaches you simply cannot reach on foot, giving you a serious leg up on finding the good stuff. The tours are laid-back and dog-friendly, so feel free to bring the whole family along for the adventure. Book your shelling trip with Captain Charlie here.
If your beachcombing adventures have sparked a love for Myrtle Beach’s wild coastal ecosystems, you’ll want to check out the Black River Outdoors 4-Hour Salt Marsh Kayak Tour out of Murrells Inlet. Over about four hours, you’ll paddle through the winding creeks of the salt marsh, walk along a sandbar, and make your way out to the jetty, with real chances of spotting sea turtles and dolphins along the way. Your guide shares fascinating stories about the history, plants, and animals of this unique environment the whole time. Bring a lunch and make a day of it — book your spot here.
What to Look For
Live shells still occupied by their animal should always be returned to the ocean immediately. Collecting living specimens is harmful to the ecosystem and illegal in many areas. The shells worth keeping are the empty, bleached ones you find along the tide line.
For shark’s teeth, train your eye for black triangles. The fossilization process turns teeth dark, so color contrast against pale sand is your best clue once your eye gets calibrated. Work the swash zone — the area where waves wash in and recede — where teeth and shells concentrate together. Crouch low and scan this wet band of sand systematically. Shuffling slowly along it beats wandering the dry beach.
Collecting Tips
Bring a mesh bag or bucket with drainage holes so sand and water can escape. Wade into knee-deep water and shuffle your feet gently — you’ll often feel shells before you see them. Use your fingers to sift through wet sand and shell fragments in the swash zone, as shark’s teeth often hide beneath shell debris. Handle bleached or fragile shells carefully, rinse them in fresh water, and dry them in the shade to prevent cracking.
Conservation Matters
Shells and shark’s teeth play a role in beach and marine ecosystems. Always practice responsible collecting by taking only what you’ll genuinely keep and use, never collecting live animals, and respecting posted regulations. By following these guidelines, you’ll help ensure that future generations can enjoy the same treasure-hunting experiences along Myrtle Beach’s beautiful shores.
Finding Seashells & Shark’s Teeth Along Myrtle Beach
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