West Gulf Beaches
FairNext low10:18 AM0.4 ft, more beach exposedLow tide 10:18 AM, 0.4 feet
- Resident permit only
West Gulf Beaches
All times are island time.
Thursday, October 15
The tide today
- High tide 1:50 AM, 2.8 feet
- Low tide 10:18 AM, 0.4 feet
- High tide 5:39 PM, 1.9 feet
- Low tide 8:18 PM, 1.8 feet
Tide curve for West Gulf Beaches.
Shelling here
A long, quiet stretch of the island's southwest shore, reached by a string of small walk-in paths off West Gulf Drive. The sand runs wide at low tide and the crowds stay thin, so the wrack line often holds shells well into the morning. Work the water's edge on a falling tide.
The next seven days
| Tide | Time | Water |
|---|---|---|
| High | 1:50 AMHigh tide 1:50 AM, 2.8 feet | +2.8 ft, less beach exposed |
| Low | 10:18 AMLow tide 10:18 AM, 0.4 feet | +0.4 ft, more beach exposed |
| High | 5:39 PMHigh tide 5:39 PM, 1.9 feet | +1.9 ft, less beach exposed |
| Low | 8:18 PMLow tide 8:18 PM, 1.8 feet | +1.8 ft, more beach exposed |
| Tide | Time | Water |
|---|---|---|
| High | 2:29 AMHigh tide 2:29 AM, 2.8 feet | +2.8 ft, less beach exposed |
| Low | 11:14 AMLow tide 11:14 AM, 0.5 feet | +0.5 ft, more beach exposed |
| Tide | Time | Water |
|---|---|---|
| High | 3:18 AMHigh tide 3:18 AM, 2.6 feet | +2.6 ft, less beach exposed |
| Low | 12:28 PMLow tide 12:28 PM, 0.6 feet | +0.6 ft, more beach exposed |
| Tide | Time | Water |
|---|---|---|
| High | 4:21 AMHigh tide 4:21 AM, 2.5 feet | +2.5 ft, less beach exposed |
| Low | 1:40 PMLow tide 1:40 PM, 0.6 feet | +0.6 ft, more beach exposed |
| High | 9:58 PMHigh tide 9:58 PM, 2.0 feet | +2.0 ft, less beach exposed |
| Tide | Time | Water |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 1:17 AMLow tide 1:17 AM, 2.0 feet | +2.0 ft, more beach exposed |
| High | 5:54 AMHigh tide 5:54 AM, 2.4 feet | +2.4 ft, less beach exposed |
| Low | 2:37 PMLow tide 2:37 PM, 0.7 feet | +0.7 ft, more beach exposed |
| High | 10:00 PMHigh tide 10:00 PM, 2.1 feet | +2.1 ft, less beach exposed |
| Tide | Time | Water |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 2:34 AMLow tide 2:34 AM, 1.8 feet | +1.8 ft, more beach exposed |
| High | 7:45 AMHigh tide 7:45 AM, 2.4 feet | +2.4 ft, less beach exposed |
| Low | 3:25 PMLow tide 3:25 PM, 0.7 feet | +0.7 ft, more beach exposed |
| High | 10:15 PMHigh tide 10:15 PM, 2.2 feet | +2.2 ft, less beach exposed |
| Tide | Time | Water |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 3:30 AMLow tide 3:30 AM, 1.5 feet | +1.5 ft, more beach exposed |
| High | 9:07 AMHigh tide 9:07 AM, 2.4 feet | +2.4 ft, less beach exposed |
| Low | 4:07 PMLow tide 4:07 PM, 0.8 feet | +0.8 ft, more beach exposed |
| High | 10:29 PMHigh tide 10:29 PM, 2.3 feet | +2.3 ft, less beach exposed |
Live shelling is illegal here
If it moves, it's alive: put it back
Taking a live shell is prohibited on Sanibel's beaches and in the water out to the city limit, under FWC Rule 68B-26. The ban covers any live shellfish, and it includes sand dollars, sea stars and sea urchins.
All shelling is prohibited in the J.N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
The live-shell ban has been in place Lee County-wide since March 1, 2002, so it covers Captiva as well as Sanibel.
Taking a live shell is a second-degree misdemeanor, and the penalty is up to a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail.
A dark or fuzzy sand dollar is alive. Only white, dry ones are legal to take.
