I Went Searching for Megalodon Teeth in Florida — Here’s What I Found

Meg Teeth in the Sunshine State: What to Know Before You Go

If you’ve ever been to a beach, particularly a beach in my home state of Florida, you have probably found a shark tooth or two. Usually they’re scattered among thousands of other small shells, black and about the size of your fingernail. You can find them pretty easily with nothing but a sharp eye and a pocket to store your haul. The common, everyday shark teeth on the beach come from a variety of species like tigers, makos and even great white sharks. I’ve been a Floridian for a few decades, so the thrill of a productive shark tooth hunt has always been a part of my life, but one particular species has eluded me all these years – the Megalodon.

Recently, Rick and I have grown more and more interested in finding a Megalodon tooth out in the wild. I blame TikTok, honestly. Watching my fellow Floridians pulling massive fossilized teeth out of murky water got me hyperfocused on one thing: finding one for myself.

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What is a Megalodon?

Believe it or not, the Megalodon is not a product of an overactive Hollywood imagination. Those monsters were real! Megalodon (Otodus megalodon) was a massive prehistoric shark that lived approximately 23 to 3.6 million years ago. It is considered one of the largest and most powerful predators to have ever lived.

Despite rumors, fictional accounts and terrible movies, megalodon are extinct.

Key facts about the MEG:

• Size: Estimates suggest megalodons reached lengths of 50 to 60 feet (15 to 18 meters), roughly three times larger than a great white shark, or 11.3 of me.
• Teeth: Their teeth could grow over 7 inches long, triangular with serrated edges, perfect for slicing through flesh and bone of other prehistoric creatures.
• Diet: They likely fed on whales, large fish and other marine mammals. Their bite was powerful enough to crush bone.
• Habitat: Megalodon lived in warm, shallow seas around the globe. Fossils have been found on every continent except Antarctica.
• Extinction: They went extinct around 3.6 million years ago, possibly due to cooling oceans, declining food sources and competition from other predators like orcas and modern great white sharks.

Why is Florida a Hotspot for Megalodon Teeth?

Florida is one of the best places in the world to search for megalodon teeth, thanks to its fossil-rich waterways and prehistoric past. These massive shark teeth, often 3 inches long or more, come from the long-extinct Otodus megalodon, a predator that ruled the oceans millions of years ago. Much of Florida was underwater during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, the time when the mighty megs thrived. As sea levels shifted, fossils settled into riverbeds and coastal sediment layers. Luckily for me, central and southwest Florida are filled with those juicy fossil layers.

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The Peace River, Myakka River and parts of Venice Beach are particularly well known for yielding fossilized shark teeth, including megs. If you’re planning a fossil hunting trip to Florida, here’s what you need to know about finding megalodon teeth, why working with a tour guide can help and how to prepare for the experience.

Where to Find Megalodon Teeth (and Other Fossils) in Florida

Peace River (near Arcadia, Zolfo Springs and Wauchula)
The slow-moving, aptly named Peace River is one of the top spots for fossil hunting in Florida. Shallow accessible waters and rich sediment layers make it a popular site for finding megalodon and other shark teeth and loads of prehistoric fossils.

Venice Beach (often called the “”Shark Tooth Capital of the World””)
Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the beach and offshore areas are known for producing smaller megalodon teeth along with a wide range of other shark species. You can sift right from the shoreline or join a boat-based dive trip. High on my bucket list for future scuba excursions!

Caloosahatchee River (Southwest Florida)
Though less touristy than Peace River, this river has yielded megalodon teeth and other marine fossils, especially in exposed areas where dredging or erosion reveals deeper fossil layers.

Bone Valley Region (Polk and surrounding counties)
This area rich in phosphate mines is one of the most fossil-dense regions in the state. Though most sites are on private land or active mine property, guided tours and special permissions can give you access to dig for megalodon teeth and a variety of land and marine fossils.

How to Find Megalodon Teeth in Florida (and beyond)

The most common method for finding megalodon teeth is sifting. You wade into a river, scoop gravel and sediment into a floating screen or sifter, and shake it until the heavier items settle. Shark teeth are denser than shells or sand, so they often stand out once you get a good eye for their shape and texture.

You’ll spend a lot of time bent over, scooping and sorting. It’s repetitive, muddy work – but it pays off when you finally spot the dark, triangular tooth of a prehistoric shark.

How Big are Meg Teeth?

Megalodon teeth can reach massive sizes, with the largest ever recorded measuring just over 7 inches long. These giants are rare, though. Most megalodon teeth found on digs are between 3 and 5 inches. A tooth over 6 inches is considered a once-in-a-lifetime find and can be worth thousands of dollars. Even smaller ones are impressive, with their broad triangular shape and serrated edges making them easy to spot once you’re familiar with what to look for.

Fossil Tours in Florida

We signed up for the Peace River Canoe Dig on a surprisingly chilly day in March, and though the water temp was colder than I like, I barely noticed because I was sifting the whole time. On a guided fossil tour, you’ve got some options to choose from, so I recommend reading up on all of them, watching some YouTube videos and choosing whichever one lines up with your physical abilities best. There are tours where you wade into waist-deep water to dig, others where you take a canoe or airboat to another location to search and even dry digs where you just walk right over and dig in the dry dirt.

Our guide Sean lead us to a wildly productive, pre-scouted spot, and after a few minutes of instruction, we started digging into the riverbed with a long-handled scoop. In our case, Rick handled the digging while I sifted through each shovelfull of sediment in a floating, mesh-bottomed screen.

As you gently shake in the water, the sand and smaller debris washes away to reveal whatever’s left – dugong ribs, bits of turtle shell, antique Coke bottles, a construction cone, and if you’re lucky, the jagged triangle of a megalodon tooth.

What Do You Find on a Fossil Tour?

On a Florida fossil dig, you can uncover all kinds of prehistoric treasures buried in the riverbed. Shark teeth of all sizes are common, including species like tiger, lemon, bull, and if you’re lucky, megalodon. You might also come across ray plates, fish and whale vertebrae, turtle shell fragments and fossilized coral. Land animal fossils show up too – mammoth and mastodon teeth, horse and camel teeth, alligator scutes and even pieces of ancient sloths or glyptodonts. Mixed in with it all are bone shards, fossilized wood and modern shells. Every scoop is a surprise!

What We Found in the Peace River

We hadn’t been out there long… Rick digging and scooping like a machine while I stood in the dark water sifting through each load with a mix of hope and skepticism. I just couldn’t imagine setting out to find a Meg tooth and then actually finding one, you know? Like, is it really that easy?

This particular screen was full of the usual suspects — shells, sand, leaves, tiny shark teeth — when something dark and sharp caught my eye. At first I thought it was another chunk of bone, but as I rinsed it off, the shape became unmistakable: a megalodon tooth. Not huge, maybe 2 inches, but unmistakably real, serrated and solid in my hand.

Oh the scream I SCRUMPT, y’all. I probably startled every heron and gator within a half-mile radius. It wasn’t graceful. It wasn’t quiet. It was the sound of someone who just struck prehistoric gold. Rick turned around and grinned like he knew this moment was coming. It was a total team effort and somehow that made it even better — he did the digging, I did the shaking and together we pulled a piece of ancient ocean predator out of the muck.

Why Booking a Fossil Tour Can Make Or Break Your Dig

For beginners, working with a licensed fossil tour operator can save time and increase your chances of success. Could I go outside with a shovel and hope for the best? Sure, but companies like Fossil Recovery actually scout locations before your tour, so you’re much more likely to have success. Local guides know where to look, how to read the riverbed and what gear works best. They also bring the permits, tools and safety knowledge needed for a productive day on the water.*

Fossil Recovery had everything we needed for our canoe tour of the Peace River – customized sifters, specialized shovels and even wetsuits if needed in the cooler months (there aren’t many of those in this part of the state). Our guide Sean was so knowledgeable, answering all our questions with patience and expertise. We dug in the riverbed for 6 hours – can you even imagine how many times I said, “Hey Sean, what’s this? Hey Sean, what’s this?” SO MANY TIMES. Because the reality is that while yes, we are on the hunt for the mega Megs, there are tons of other fossils and goodies buried in the muck. Sean was legitimately as excited about our finds as we were.

We had an incredible day out with Fossil Recovery and are already planning our next trip for their premium dig which has been churning out some monster Meg teeth over the past few weeks.

*** Because apparently I have to say this as a content creator, this is NOT a sponsored post. We found this company and paid for our booking. As you know, our reviews are always honest whether it’s a paid opportunity or something we do on our own dime. The only difference you might notice is I take fewer pictures and videos when I’m just there having fun and then usually regret it later! ***

What About Alligators and Snakes?

Listen, Northern friends. If there’s a body of water and that body of water is in the state of Florida, you might as well accept that there are alligators and snakes in or around it.

Before you wade into a Florida river with dreams of finding megalodon teeth, just remember — you’re not the only one lurking in the water. Alligators might be sunbathing like they’re on spring break, but they can move faster than your Wi-Fi when they’re annoyed. Water moccasins? Angry noodles with fangs. And don’t forget the snapping turtles the size of hubcaps and enormous bugs that have no business flying. Basically, Florida’s waterways are a fossil hunter’s dream and a Discovery Channel episode waiting to happen. You have to keep an eye out, always.

Do You Need a Fossil Permit to Hunt Megalodon Teeth in Florida?

For shark teeth, no. But if you plan to collect vertebrate fossils (anything from sloths to turtles to whales) on public lands or rivers in Florida, you’ll need a fossil permit from the Florida Museum of Natural History. It’s $5 for a one-year permit. This permit does not apply to invertebrates like shells or to hunting on private land with permission. Get a Florida fossil permit here.

Some fossil tours will cover the permit for you, just be sure to confirm before you go.

What To Wear and Pack for a Fossil Tour

If you’ve booked a fossil tour, you’ve already ensured an expert is going to put you onto a pile of goodies so you can dig to your heart’s content. The other part depends on you and how well you prepare. Whether you’re searching for megalodon teeth in a river or scouring the land for ancient bones, the right gear can make all the difference. From footwear to clothing to sun protection, every detail counts in ensuring you’re comfortable, safe and ready to uncover those prehistoric treasures.

• Skip Crocs or sandals and wear close-toed shoes. It was a lot easier to move around and get a solid grip in the water with sturdy shoes and I didn’t have to worry about getting stabbed with any pokey things in the water.
• Opt for quick-dry clothing. For better sun protection, I went with long sleeves and light pants rather than shorts and a t-shirt, but you also don’t want anything too baggy that will get weighed down once wet.
• Bring a towel (or two or three) for after the tour. The water could be from ankle to chest deep, so you might as well be prepared to get all the way wet.
• In colder months, you can rent wetsuits from Fossil Recovery. They had just stored the wetsuits away for the season when we arrived, but honestly we were fine without in 65 degree weather. If you’re a Floridian, you might be cold but everyone from up North will be fine.
• Hats and sunglasses are a must to protect yourself from the Florida sun, and don’t forget sunscreen. The UV rays reflect off the water and a sunburn can sneak up on you fast.
• Gardening gloves or something similar are helpful. Rocks and fossils can be pretty pokey and scratchy.
• Pack water and snacks, too – you need energy and hydration because this is not a leisurely, low effort adventure. (At least not if you’re trying to find as many treasures as you can!) You can bring a small cooler to most digs.
• Bring Ziploc bags or something similar to bring your treasures home. We ended up with 3-4 gallon-sized bags full of fossils, bones and teeth.

Being prepared means less time spent fighting the elements and more time spent finding fossils. The more you plan ahead, the better your chances are of a successful dig. I added my favorites and some extra suggestions to my Megalodon Teeth Hunting list here.

How to Get to the Best Megalodon Teeth in Florida Sites

It all depends on if you’re taking a tour or going out on your own, but either way, if you’re flying in for a Florida vacation, you’ll likely be coming from Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Palm Beach (PBI), Tampa (TPA) or Sarasota (SRQ). Day trips to Fossil Recovery digs from all of these locations are possible.

Best Time of Year to Search for Fossils

Florida’s weather can be glorious year-round… it can also be a hot or hurricane-y hellscape, sometimes with little notice. The last thing you want is to be caught in an infamous Florida lightning storm while you’re in the river. Dry season (typically February through April) brings lower rivers and better visibility, but truly Florida is a year-round destination for outdoor activities. Check the weather and river water levels before you go. Ask locals about entry points and best practices.

Where to Stay Near the Most Popular Florida Fossil Sites

We actually stayed at Zota Beach Resort on Longboat Key, which is not close to the Bowling Green site at all. It was about an 80-minute drive each way, so not exactly close — but if you’re already on the Gulf Coast for a vacation, there’s no harm in day-tripping in. I’m including a map below with some nearby accommodations for both the Arcadia and Bowling Green sites.

Hunting for megalodon teeth in Florida isn’t just a quirky adventure — it’s a chance to live your paleontologist dreams and to hold a piece of prehistoric history in your hand. It takes patience, preparation and the expertise of a guide like Sean, too, but once you find that first treasure… well, you’re bound to be hooked just like me and Rick. We’ve only just started our paleontological adventures, but our first dig was so successful that I know we’ll be doing them for years to come.

If you’re willing to get a little dirty, book the right guide, bring the right gear and pack a good sense of humor about the occasional alligator or prehistoric bug, it can be one of the most rewarding adventures you’ll have. Whether you walk away with a giant tooth or just a bag full of cool little fossils, the thrill of the hunt is half the fun.

Have questions about fossil hunting in Florida or other things to do nearby? Drop a comment or send us a note – that’s why we’re here! Happy to point you in the right direction.