Shark Tooth Hunting On Amelia Island

Where to look, when to go, and why Amelia Island is one of the best beaches to find shark teeth on Florida’s East Coast

Best Beaches to Find Shark Teeth in Amelia Island & Much More

Shark tooth hunting isn’t a gimmick or a one-off lucky find. Amelia Island sits on layers of ancient seabed, and the beaches are constantly refreshed by tides, storms, and dredging. The result is a steady supply of fossil shark teeth—some millions of years old—turning up right where the waves meet the sand.

The best part? You don’t need special gear or a geology background. You just need to know where to walk, when to show up, and what you’re actually looking at once you find something.

At Stay Better Vacations, we offer a handpicked collection of vacation rentals across Amelia Island and the charming town of St. Marys, Georgia. From relaxed beachfront stays to homes close to history and local flavor, plus plenty of pet-friendly options, it’s easy to find a place that fits the way you want to travel.

Planning an Amelia Island escape and looking for tips? Visit our travel blog, where our local experts share curated guides on vacationing with dogs, biking around Amelia Island, top annual events, and more.

In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the best ways to go shark tooth hunting on Amelia Island.

Ready to uncover a few ancient treasures?

TL;DR

Why Amelia Island Is So Good for Shark Teeth
Where to Look First (and Why It Matters)
When to Go: Timing Beats Effort
How to Hunt Without Making It Complicated
What You’re Likely to Find
Rules, Permits, and Good Beach Etiquette
Guided Hunts and Local Expertise
Local Shark Tooth Hunting Tips (What People Actually Do)
FAQ: Shark Tooth Hunting on Amelia Island

Why Amelia Island Is So Good for Shark Teeth

Long before beach chairs and boardwalks, this part of Florida sat under warm, shallow seas. Sharks thrived here for millions of years, shedding teeth constantly as they fed. Those teeth settled into riverbeds and offshore sediments, where they fossilized over time.

Fast forward to today, and two things keep bringing those fossils back into view:

Simple biology: Sharks lose tens of thousands of teeth over a lifetime.
Geography: The nearby St. Marys River is regularly dredged to keep shipping channels open.

That dredged material, rich in fossil content, gets pumped back onto nearby beaches, especially along the island’s northern end.

That’s why teeth here can range from roughly 20 million years old all the way to late Ice Age deposits. It’s also why the supply never really runs out.

Where to Look First (and Why It Matters)

If you only have time for one spot, head straight to Fort Clinch State Park. This is the most consistently productive area on the island. Teeth wash down from the river, collect near the inlet, and end up scattered along both the ocean-facing and river-facing beaches. Dredging makes a noticeable difference here, and locals tend to agree this is where beginners have the best luck.

Just south of the park, Main Beach Park can also be productive, especially if you walk north toward Fort Clinch and focus on the tide line. It’s a good option if you want easy parking and a more casual search.

Every so often, beach renourishment projects add another twist. When offshore sand is pumped onto central or southern beaches, those newly replenished areas can suddenly produce teeth in places that were quiet before. If you hear about recent renourishment, it’s worth paying attention.

Across the inlet in Georgia, Cumberland Island National Seashore offers a slightly different experience. Teeth turn up on the beaches, but they’re often easier to spot along the island’s sandy interior roads, which are graded with dredged material. It’s less polished, more wild, and makes for a memorable day trip if you’re already in the area.

Key Takeaways

Fort Clinch is the most consistent place to find shark teeth.
Low tide and fresh tides matter more than distance walked.
Shell lines beat open sand every time.
Recently renourished beaches can surprise you.
Most finds are small—slow down and scan carefully.
No gear needed; timing and attention do the work.

When to Go: Timing Beats Effort

Shark tooth hunting is less about covering ground and more about showing up at the right moment. Low tide is your friend, especially the window two to four hours after high tide, when shell beds are exposed and freshly sorted by the water.

Storms can also work in your favor. Rougher seas churn up the ocean floor and toss new material onto the beach. As long as conditions are safe, the days following a storm often produce better finds.

Seasonally, winter and spring tend to be calmer and less crowded. Fewer people scanning the sand means fewer eyes competing with yours.

Key Takeaways

Timing beats distance—show up at the right tide.
Low tide, especially 2–4 hours after high tide, is prime.
Storms reshuffle the sand and boost your odds.
Winter and spring mean quieter beaches and better finds.

How to Hunt Without Making It Complicated

Most finds on Amelia Island happen right on the surface. Walk slowly near the water’s edge and look for dark shapes mixed in with shells and pebbles. Fossil teeth are usually black, dark gray, or deep brown, which makes them stand out once your eye adjusts.

Shell beds are key. Anywhere shells and small stones gather, teeth tend to gather too. You can bring a small scoop or sifter if you like, but plenty of people do just fine with nothing more than patience and comfortable shoes.

Pro tip: Non-polarized sunglasses can actually help. Polarized lenses reduce glare, but they can also make shiny black teeth harder to spot.

What You’re Likely to Find

Amelia Island produces a wide range of shark teeth, from tiny half-inch fragments to the occasional impressive showpiece.

Megalodon teeth are the most famous, though they’re rare and usually worn. They tend to be thick, heavy, and finely serrated, often under three inches here. Great white and extinct white shark teeth are more common, with triangular shapes and varying serration patterns.

Grey sharks—bull, dusky, and sandbar—are everywhere, typically small and abundant. Sand tiger teeth are long and narrow, sometimes with side cusps, while tiger shark teeth stand out immediately thanks to their distinctive shape and serrated edges.

Lemon shark teeth show up too, smoother and more understated.

You’ll also come across fish vertebrae, ray plates, and bone fragments, many of which come from fossil whale bone broken apart by the surf.

Rules, Permits, and Good Beach Etiquette

Shark tooth collecting is allowed in Florida without a permit. That’s important. If you move beyond teeth into vertebrate fossils, a Florida Fossil Permit is required.

Stick to surface collecting, avoid disturbing dunes, and leave living shells and wildlife alone. If you’re unsure about a find, it’s better to leave it or ask a local expert.

Guided Hunts and Local Expertise

If you’re curious but short on time—or hunting with kids—a guided tour can make a big difference.Amelia Shark Tooth Adventures, LLC runs small-group tours focused on Fort Clinch and the St. Marys Inlet, mixing hands-on searching with education about shark ecology and Florida’s natural history.

Local fossil shops and small museums in Fernandina Beach are also worth stopping into. Even if you don’t book a tour, they’re great places to confirm IDs and pick up a few extra tips.

Local Shark Tooth Hunting Tips (What People Actually Do)

A few easy habits make all the difference—and once you know what to look for, shark tooth hunting on Amelia Island becomes surprisingly intuitive.

Start by slowing down

Most shark teeth on Amelia Island are found right on the surface. Walk slowly, scan the sand, and let your eyes adjust. Once you spot your first tooth, the shapes become easier to recognize.

Train your eye for color and shape

Look for small black, gray, or dark brown triangles among lighter shells. Size matters less than outline.

Follow the shell lines

Shell lines act like natural sorting zones. Heavier items—including shark teeth—tend to collect here, especially near the water’s edge.

Time it with the tide

Low tide exposes more beach and more shell lines. Many experienced hunters also like the window just after high tide, when waves have freshly rearranged the sand but won’t immediately wash finds away.

Search wet sand, not dry

Teeth often reflect light differently when wet. Scan areas where a wave has just passed for better contrast.

Stay out of your own shadow

Your shadow can hide dark teeth. Position yourself so the sun hits the sand directly.

North end helps, but don’t skip the rest

The north end of the island tends to produce larger teeth due to dredging, but teeth are found all over Amelia Island, including near Seaside Park and Sadler Road.

Beach renourishment works in your favor

Recently renourished areas often contain fossil-rich sand. If sand was added within the past year or two, it’s worth checking.

Tools are optional

Scoop nets and baskets work for some, but many people have just as much success surface hunting with empty hands.

Expect small wins

Most teeth are thumbnail-sized. Larger teeth exist, but they’re rare. Focus on quantity and condition, not size.

Know the shell test

If you’re unsure, gently pinch an edge. Shell fragments tend to flake or break; real shark teeth are extremely hard.

Fair warning

Once you start spotting shark teeth, you’ll never walk a beach without looking down again.

Other FAQ: Shark Tooth Hunting on Amelia Island

Where can I find a Fort Clinch shark teeth map?

There isn’t an official, detailed “shark teeth map” for Fort Clinch, but locals and guides generally agree on the same high-yield zones. Focus on the beaches closest to the inlet at Fort Clinch State Park, especially near the jetties and along both the ocean-facing and river-facing sides. Walking the tide line at low tide is usually more effective than following a fixed map.

Are there sharks around Amelia Island today?

Yes. Modern sharks regularly patrol the waters off Amelia Island, particularly near inlets and deeper channels. Species like bull, tiger, lemon, and sandbar sharks are part of the local ecosystem. That said, shark sightings rarely affect beach activity, and shark tooth hunting happens safely along the shoreline.

When is low tide on Amelia Island best for shark tooth hunting?

Low tide is the most productive time to hunt, especially the window two to four hours after high tide. This is when shell beds and pebble lines are exposed, and shark teeth are easier to spot. Tide charts change daily, so checking a local Amelia Island tide schedule before heading out makes a noticeable difference.

Is Fort Clinch State Park good for shark teeth?

Absolutely. Fort Clinch State Park is widely considered the best place on the island for shark tooth hunting. The park benefits from sediment washed down from the St. Marys River and from dredging activity at the inlet, which regularly deposits new fossil material onto the beach.

Are there shark tooth excursions in Florida?

Yes, Florida has a strong shark tooth hunting scene, and guided excursions are available in several regions, including Amelia Island. These tours typically combine education with hands-on searching and are especially helpful for first-timers or families who want to learn identification techniques quickly.

Make Your Vacation Even Better with Stay Better Vacations

Specializing in boutique-style service, Stay Better Vacations offers thoughtfully curated vacation rentals across Amelia Island, Florida, and St. Marys, Georgia. As a locally owned, women-operated company, we focus on warm Southern hospitality and stays that feel personal, relaxed, and easy.

Get ready for beach days, coastal adventures, and time well spent with family or friends. Traveling with a pup? Select pet-friendly vacation rentals make it simple to include every member of the crew.

A Guide to Shark Tooth Hunting on Amelia Island (+ Pro Tips)