Cayo Costa Island

 Photos from Cayo Costa.

Live Olive Shells

I spent the whole day today with a long time client. We started the trip by traveling to Boca Grande. Taking in the sights and venturing to one of my favorite restaurants, Temptation's.  The food was superb as usual. Then we headed back south to Cayo Costa. The water was clear and the tide was very low. We anchored on the gulf side and promptly found the beach loaded with live lettered olive shells. Sand dollars were photographed in there natural setting. The beach was unusually quiet today. It reminded me of when I was camping in the everglades walking the beach at Cape Sable. The beach was full of tranquillity.

Flats Photos

I enjoyed taking many photos of  the low tide. Here are some  photos of a recent full moon low tide.Many sheller's plan there trips around the moons. (good thing to do) I currently have a few spots open. The May full moon is almost full. June is close to full. The full moon in July is on the 15th and it is booked. August right now is open, I always enjoy the full moon in August. If you are planning on shelling anywhere in those moon times, you should let me  know.

Beautiful Day in April

I had a great time showing Cindy, Lynn, Theresa, Jennifer,Cameron, and Ashlin around the Islands of Captiva, North Captiva, and Cayo Costa. We started the trip by observing dolphins in the wild.  Soon after we saw manatees. We had the chance to look at these marine mammals for quite a while. It was a first for all on board. After a short boat ride from Captiva we found an isolated stretch of beach where the shelling was good. Cameron and Ashlin found what they were searching for "Sand dollars". The ladies had a great time, and time flew by quickly.

New Bucket

Here are pictures of the old and new bucket. The old bucket has many battle scars and stickers. I christened the new bucket with a sticker from Cayo Costa. If you have a sticker you would like to add to my bucket bring it on down. See ya all soon. Capt. Brian

Goodbye to a Bucket

 Many of you know my briefcase is a five gallon bucket. After 12 years and over 2,700 days on the water it was finally time to let the bucket out to pasture. Thoughts of my old bucket include campfires, lightning storms, mircobursts, Everglades, anchores weighed, shells collected, sunsets, moon rises, waterspouts, and last but not least, it kept everything dry for 12 years. Farewell to an old bucket!

Great Family and Great Shelling Day

It was time again for the annual spring trip for Chuck, Christine, Logan and Owen. I always enjoy taking this family out. They have been going with me for many years. We always manage to see something really cool in nature. This time it was a young Bald Eagle learning how to catch fish. The mother would show her how to dive on the water and the young one would reluctantly try. It was a great show of nature. We also watched dolphins play by the beach on North Captiva. The shelling was great on the next Island to the north. Chuck's favorite shell is the lettered olive (it's one of mine too) and boy did we find the lettered olives. Like his son said" Dad ,I think we are at the Olive Garden". We were indeed.  Christine had a great idea of putting the shells on driftwood for a photo. It was another great trip with a family, I always enjoy taking out. Thanks Chuck, Christine, Owen and Logan!  See you guys soon.