The sun, she’d been a shinin’. The water’d been a ripplin’…and the treasures….well, they’d been buried.

Aye.

Low tide it’s finest at Gulfside City Park. Among the sand in these low tides – treasure. Lots of it. I’ll cut to the chase and get right to the pics!

Lots and lots of live creatures out in the water last night. Many of these Lightning Whelks sat close to the shore along with Fighting Conchs and tons upon tons of live Olives making their way back to the water.

The Sand Dollars were back out, alive and well – by the thousands.

Click on the pic below and look closely. You can see them laying in the sand. The entire beach looked like this. One big Sand Dollar carpet.

Since the tide was low, the treasures were nestled nicely in the sand at the shore. Sure, the minis were out in bundles, rolling up in the surf. But when you see little bits of shell peeking out from the sand – especially keeper shells – it makes your heart skip a beat.

So if your eye is trained, you’ll spot the ones you’re lookin’ for, peeking slightly out of the sand. Like that stripe across the body of a Lightning Whelk that you can see from a few feet away?

George and Michelle, a nice couple we met while scouring the sand agreed and said the same thing. Michelle’s bag was chock full of goodies she’d found the same way.

Queenie found a killer Lace Murex with great color.

And I found this monster Nutmeg. Just so you know, I’m 6’4″ with big hands that can palm a basketball. That thing is a BEAST.

Oh wait. What is thiiiiiiiiiiis?

YEAH BOYEEE

A really cool, intact Horse Conch, empty and clean.

Murexes by the palm full.

The Queen found some more juvenile Lightning Whelks, a shiny Shark’s Eye and this nice Cone with dark orange spire.

Here’s a closer look at that monster Nutmeg, with a smaller cousin the Queen found close by.

…and the Pièce de Résistance:

This weekend we’ll be making our 5th stop on the 2013 Florida Beaches Royalty Tour. Due to the Memorial Day holiday, we’ll have an update for you on Tuesday.

Speaking of the Memorial Day holiday, let’s remember that it’s not National Barbecue Day, but a day to remember our fallen who served in the US Armed Forces.