Ocean Conditions

Live tides, surf, wind, and hunting forecasts

Ideal Shark Tooth Hunting Conditions

Here is what to look for

Beachfront

• Morning low tide or falling tide
• Low surf (water is clearer)
• Recent storms
• Offshore winds (calms surf & concentrates shell beds) 
• Low tide after spring tide (new moon/full moon tides) 

Creeks

• After recent storms
(may need to allow time for water levels to recede)
                                                                            

Now, please remember that every day is a good day to get out and hunt for fossils! The tide is constantly exposing new material on the beach and further inland as well. Don't let the lack of supposed "perfect weather conditions" stop you from getting outside and hunting for fossils. You might just unearth something extraordinary!

Carolinas

Folly Beach Edisto N. Charleston Ashley River Cooper River (Goose Creek Entrance) N. Myrtle Wilmington

Georgia

Tybee Island Tybee Creek Entrance

Florida

Venice Jacksonville St. Augustine Peace River

Live Tidal Conditions

Check real-time tidal conditions for popular East Coast fossil and shark tooth hunting locations

Tide forecasts by SeaLegs

How The Moon Impacts Hunting Conditions

During new and full moons, spring tides occur, creating stronger high and low tides that can uncover fresh layers of sand and concentrate shark teeth along the shoreline. Spring Tides occur monthly during full moons and new moons. (The Sun, Moon, and Earth line up → gravity combines → tides get stronger)

Now you may have heard the term "King tide" in the fossil hunting community. These are rare, extreme high tides that happen when spring tides are amplified by factors like the Moon’s closest approach to Earth, seasonal sea level changes, and weather conditions. While spring tides are predictable and happen twice a month, king tides are occasional events that can cause unusually significant beach erosion and exposure.