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Gulf Beaches: Fossil Hunting in Sarasota County, Florida

Updated July 2026

Venice bills itself as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World, and the Sarasota County beaches around the Venice jetty sit above a Miocene to Pleistocene fossil layer that feeds fossil shark teeth onto the sand. Caspersen Beach is the least developed and most productive of the group, yielding black fossil teeth from lemon, bull, mako, and occasionally megalodon sharks. Fossil shark teeth need no permit, and collecting is easiest at low tide and after storms. Reported finds include fossilized coral, shark teeth, sponges, manatee bones. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Gulf Beaches photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

Caspersen Beach shoreline at sunset in Venice, Sarasota County, Florida

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Sarasota County
State: Florida
Nearest road: South Casey Key Road
Postcode: 34275
Coordinates: 27.12289, -82.47113

Best time to visit Gulf Beaches

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 92°F in midsummer and 72°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 52°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, VENICE station (3 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Gulf Beaches

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Gulf Beaches.

Gulf Beaches FAQ

Where is Gulf Beaches?+

Gulf Beaches is in Sarasota County, Florida, at 27.12289, -82.47113. Nearest road: South Casey Key Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Gulf Beaches?+

Gulf Beaches is reported to produce Fossilized Coral, Shark Teeth, Sponges, Manatee Bones.

Is collecting allowed at Gulf Beaches?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Gulf Beaches?+

A rock hammer, a cold chisel, safety glasses, and newspaper or foam for wrapping finds cover most fossil ground. A trowel and a sieve help in soft exposures.

When is the best time to visit Gulf Beaches?+

The most comfortable months at Gulf Beaches are September to June.

How do I get to Gulf Beaches?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 27.12289, -82.47113 in Google Maps. The nearest road is South Casey Key Road.

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