Caspersen Beach
Venice, Florida
fossil shark teethmegalodon teethray teethfossil bone fragmentsfossil shell
Public land, rules apply · Free
Caspersen Beach
Offshore Pliocene and Pleistocene beds feed a steady supply of black fossil shark teeth into the wash here. Florida law is unusually clear about them: under the statute that protects vertebrate fossil sites, fossil shark and ray teeth — along with fossil plants and invertebrates — are exempt from the state fossil permit, so anyone may collect them from state land and keep them. Every other vertebrate fossil still needs a permit. Work the wet sand at low tide with a mesh scoop and look for black or grey triangles with one long point and two shorter shoulders, not the white shapes, which are modern shell.
The card catalog
| What you can find | fossil shark teeth, megalodon teeth, ray teeth, fossil bone fragments, fossil shell |
|---|---|
| Access | Public land, rules apply — Free |
| Fees | Free, and the park is open 6am to 10pm. Storm damage in 2024 washed out the Harbor Drive access, and the parking lot, restrooms and playground are closed until repairs are made — the park is reachable on foot or by bike only, from South Brohard Park or the Venetian Waterway Park Trail at the Venice Festival Grounds. No lifeguard on duty. |
| Season & hours | Open year-round. Low tide and the days just after a storm are when fresh material lands in the wash. Winter surf reshuffles the beach. |
| Kids | Family-friendly — Sifting suits roughly age 9 and up — sustained searching takes patience that younger children usually run out of. With the beach lot closed, count on walking in from South Brohard Park, and wear water shoes rather than flip-flops; the shell hash is sharp underfoot. |
| Official source | Florida Museum of Natural History — Florida Fossil Permit program |
| Last checked | Checked against its source August 16, 2026 |
Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
More drawers in Florida
-
Peace River (Florida Fossil Permit waters)
Arcadia, FL
fossil shark teeth, megalodon teeth, mammoth and mastodon teeth
Before you go
What does Caspersen Beach cost?
Free, and the park is open 6am to 10pm. Storm damage in 2024 washed out the Harbor Drive access, and the parking lot, restrooms and playground are closed until repairs are made — the park is reachable on foot or by bike only, from South Brohard Park or the Venetian Waterway Park Trail at the Venice Festival Grounds. No lifeguard on duty. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
When is Caspersen Beach open?
Open year-round. Low tide and the days just after a storm are when fresh material lands in the wash. Winter surf reshuffles the beach. Hours, fees, and access rules change. Verify with the operator or land agency before you go.
Is Caspersen Beach good for kids?
Yes — Caspersen Beach works for families. Sifting suits roughly age 9 and up — sustained searching takes patience that younger children usually run out of. With the beach lot closed, count on walking in from South Brohard Park, and wear water shoes rather than flip-flops; the shell hash is sharp underfoot.