Shark tooth hunting is a beloved Florida pastime, but five people in Sarasota County found out the hard way that location matters — a lot. In September 2026, the North Port Police Department announced their arrest for trespassing on a posted construction site while searching for fossils. The agency reminded the public that construction zones carry felony trespassing charges and pose serious physical hazards, including unstable ground, water intrusion, and heavy machinery.
The good news: collecting shark teeth on Florida's public beaches and state lands is completely legal. The state's more than 12 million acres of publicly accessible land are fair game, and picking up shark teeth is permitted even in areas where collecting other vertebrate fossils is restricted, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Private property is also fine, as long as you have the owner's permission.
Venice, just south of Sarasota, bills itself as the shark tooth capital of the world — and for good reason. The coastal area sits above a fossil layer 18 to 35 feet deep, packed with the remains of sharks and other creatures from millions of years ago. Erosion steadily pushes teeth onto local beaches, and the city even hosts an annual Venice Shark's Tooth Festival celebrating the finds. Other prime hunting grounds include Caspersen Beach, Manasota Key, beaches around Palm Beach County (Boca Raton, Singer Island, Jupiter Island), the Jacksonville-area coastline from Ponte Vedra to Amelia Island, and inland along the Peace River.
Timing and technique improve your odds considerably. After storms, wave action churns up the ocean floor and brings fresh teeth to the surface. Low tide is also prime time — look along the shell line for smooth, black, shiny triangular shapes, since heavier material collects there. Wading ankle-deep near breaking waves and using a sand sifter to sort through wet sand can reveal teeth you'd otherwise miss. A shark tooth field guide is handy for identifying what you find, which could include teeth from bull sharks, tiger sharks, great whites, reef sharks, lemon sharks — or even a fragment of a prehistoric Megalodon.
The bottom line: stick to public beaches, bring a sifting basket and a good eye, and stay well clear of any posted or fenced property. This story was originally reported by C. A. Bridges for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, with contributions from Samantha Neely and Lianna Norman.
