On top of having some of the most beautiful east coast beaches, South Carolina beaches are also popular spots for hunting shark teeth. South Carolina has over 2,800 miles of coastline, making this a great place to hunt for fossilized teeth!
It’s always exciting to find little treasures like shark teeth at the beach! It’s a hobby that anyone can pick up, from children to adults. I’ll look at 5 SC beaches that are the best for finding shark teeth.
How to Find Shark Teeth at South Carolina Beaches
Sharks can have up to five rows of teeth, and constantly shed them to grow new teeth. With an estimated 1 billion sharks on earth, that means there are a lot of shark teeth out there!
Here are some tips for finding shark teeth in SC:
- Look for black, shiny pieces in the sand. Fossilized teeth turn black!
- The best time to look is during high tide.
- Shell beds are a good place to look for shark teeth.
Check out this video for some more tips from shark tooth hunters:
With these tips in mind, you’ll have a better chance of finding shark teeth to take home as a souvenir!
List of Best Beaches to Find Shark Teeth in South Carolina
These five beaches are some of the best places in South Carolina to fossil hunt for sharks teeth!
1. Folly Beach
About Folly Beach: Folly Beach is one of the best beaches in the Charleston area. It’s a laid-back spot that’s also one of the most popular surf spots on the east coast.
Hunting for shark teeth in Folly Beach: Folly Beach County Park and the shores around the Folly Beach Pier are two great starting points for hunting for shark teeth! The pier is a hot spot for finding teeth, especially around low tide.
The warm waters at Folly Beach are home to over 40 species of shark, so there are plenty of opportunities to find a fossil here! You will have a better chance of finding fossilized black teeth here than the recently shed white teeth.
Pro tip: if you search the shores after an off-coast storm, you have a good chance of finding rare Great White shark’s teeth, or even a Megalodon tooth!
2. Morris Island
About Morris Island: Morris Island is a small uninhabited island found right off Charleston Harbor. It’s only accessible by boat or kayak.
If you make the trek out to the island, you’ll be greeted by long stretches of beach. The beach here isn’t frequented as often as others nearby, so it is abundant with shells and fossils.
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Hunting for shark teeth in Morris Island: Since this is an uninhabited island, you stand a good chance of finding many shark teeth here! The best place to look for shark teeth at Morris Island is at the Northern end of the island, by the sand dunes and cliffs.
Here, you will find fossils from many different species of sharks. You can find both modern-day shark teeth and teeth from extinct shark species on Morris Island!
Pro tip: If you also love hunting through piles of shells to find sea glass or a sand dollar, make sure to look near the Morris Island lighthouse before you leave!
3. Myrtle Beach
About Myrtle Beach: Myrtle Beach (AKA the Grand Strand) is SC’s most popular beach destination. This spot is full of ocean activities like jet ski rentals, banana boat trips, and parasailing. If you’re bringing your young kids, Myrtle Beach also plenty of kid-friendly activities!
And of course, it’s a great place to search for shark teeth.
For more fun attractions for families in Myrtle Beach, check out this list!
Hunting for shark teeth in Myrtle Beach: Although Myrtle Beach can get crowded, it is still a top spot in South Carolina for hunting shark teeth. The best times to look are during quieter hours, like in the morning or during the off-season.
Your best chance of having a great fossil find will be at Central Myrtle Beach. But, North Myrtle Beach is a great place to search, too!
Common finds at North Myrtle include teeth from species like Bull Sharks and Lemon Sharks. There are also more rare finds here, like a Megalodon tooth!
4. Kiawah Island
About Kiawah Island: Kiawah is one of the Atlantic Ocean barrier islands best known for its 10 miles of pristine beaches, maritime forests, and world-class golf courses. Its beautiful beachfront is great for finding shells and shark teeth.
And if you love golfing near the beach, check out these 20 golf courses near Tybee Island, GA.
Hunting for shark teeth in Kiawah Island: One of the best public beaches to search for shark teeth and other fossils at Kiawah Island is Beachwalker County Park. And, if you have a visitor’s permit, Kiawah’s private beaches can have some great finds!
It is common to find teeth from sharks like the Atlantic sharp nose and Bonnethead here. And if you search long enough, you might find a fresh white tooth along the coastline!
5. Edisto Beach State Park
About Edisto Beach State Park: Edisto Beach is perfect when you want a quieter beach and vacation experience. This SC island is not as developed as many of the other South Carolina beaches, which makes it an excellent choice for that.
Hunting for shark teeth in Edisto Beach State Park: This is a quieter and less frequented beach, which makes it the perfect place to hunt for shark teeth. Your best chance of hunting a great find is by looking in the wet sand during low tide.
Here, you will find fossils from many different species and across different eras of time. Many people that hunt here are rewarded with handfuls of small teeth!
You are most likely to find teeth from Tiger Sharks, Sand Sharks, and other common modern-day species.
Conclusion to Best Beaches to Find Shark Teeth in South Carolina
Next time you check out one of these SC beaches, skip the souvenir shops and give shark tooth hunting a try. Even if you don’t have any luck, you’re guaranteed a great experience!
Other SC & GA Beach Guides
For more SC and GA beach guides, check out the blog posts below:
Top 7 Beaches Near Mt. Pleasant, SC
Top 10 Dog-Friendly Beaches in GA
