Expert Tips for Finding Shark Teeth on Myrtle Beach Shores
In Honor of Shark Week: Top Tips for Finding Shark Teeth in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
For kids on a beach vacation, few thrills beat collecting seashells—or, if they're lucky, discovering shark teeth. We consulted Blakely Roof, a longtime local expert who's unearthed hundreds of shark teeth along the Myrtle Beach shoreline. On a good weekend, she finds 30 to 50. Here are her proven strategies to help you spot your own.
Search for Black, Shiny Pieces
Shark teeth aren't white like fresh ones; beach finds are fossilized black and shiny from ocean polish. Focus on these distinctive traits.
Hunt as High Tide Rolls In
Skip low tide—Blakely's best hauls come when the tide is incoming, stirring up treasures.
Target Shell Beds
The prime spots are shell beds during incoming tides. Waves scour sand away, exposing black, shiny shark teeth. She occasionally finds them elsewhere, but shell beds yield the most.
Verify It's a Shark Tooth
Not every black nub is a shark tooth. Look for ridges and a gum line at the top. Genuine ones are tough and won't snap easily.
Prime Locations Along the Grand Strand
Blakely's top area is central Myrtle Beach, from 50th Avenue North to 10th Avenue South. Further south in Murrells Inlet or Pawleys Island works for some, but her biggest scores are central. Northward yields fewer.
Follow Blakely's advice, add patience, and shark tooth hunting in Myrtle Beach becomes straightforward—not luck. You might even snag a massive prehistoric specimen, like the one a 7-year-old found last year.
Happy hunting!
Watch the video below for more expert tips.
