Florida was once part of a prehistoric, warm, shallow sea filled with sharks. Fast forward to today, and their prehistoric teeth can be found along Venice’s beaches, leading the town to herald itself the “Sharks Tooth Capital of the World.” Every day of the year, fossil enthusiasts and casual visitors can comb Venice’s beaches for a handful of these free souvenirs, but for a real treat, on April 11-12, head to the annual Sharks Tooth Festival, which includes family-friendly activities like food trucks, live music, fossil specimens for purchase and hands-on fossil digs for the kids.

Uncovered by Time and Falling Seas 

The fossil record of shark teeth in Florida dates back to the late Miocene and early Pliocene eras, somewhere between 2 million to 23 million years ago. During that  time, sea levels were higher, and ancient sharks thrived in Gulf waters. As the sea levels fell and land emerged, shark teeth remained in sedimentary layers, later exposed by erosion.

Local Finds

In the Venice- Sarasota region, hunters commonly find teeth from both extinct and modern shark species, like sand tiger, lemon, bull and whitetip sharks. The most coveted among hunters is the elusive Megalodon tooth, prized for its enormous size (as big as the palm of your hand).

A Prime Local Spot

Caspersen Beach, near on Venice Island, is considered one of the most productive shark-tooth hunting areas in Florida since its natural shoreline hasn’t been heavily altered with imported sand. Beachcombers often find teeth in dark, phosphate-rich sand brought up by the waves.

What You’ll Need

Often called the “Venice snow shovel,” a simple sifter with long handles provides maximum teeth-collecting capacity. They’re available all over town, including every local Publix. Those who are super serious make homemade floating sifters with PVC and pool noodles, but you can also find floating sifters at local fossil shops if you’re not the handy type. Stick to where the waves break for the most abundant access points. And remember: Be patient.

Offshore Fossil Diversity

Scientific surveys of fossil shark teeth off Venice have documented at least 45 species of fossil sharks and stingrays, including representatives of large apex predators and relatives of modern Great White sharks.

More Than Sharks

While shark teeth dominate the fossil scene in Southwest Florida, there are other common-ish ancient remains here, too. Lucky searchers have found ribs from the dugong (an extinct manatee ancestor), whale bone fragments, and even rarer discoveries, like early records of cookiecutter and angel sharks.