Saturday’s torrent of heavy waves and stormy weather gave way to a windy, but sunny and placid, conditions Sunday on Wrightsville Beach. It was a beachcomber’s paradise.
Hundreds took to the beach strand on Sunday morning, seeing what seashells and other collectables the powerful current had washed ashore. The storm surge of 2-4 feet pushed ashore a collection of shells that aren’t usually available on Wrightsville Beach.
“The larger clam shells are usually broken,” said Lauren Watson of Wilmington, who weathered her first hurricane and was excited to see what shells she could find. “Shells of this size, you’ll never find them on the beach.”
For Watson and friend Alea Houghton, who always hunt for shells when they’re on the beach, Sunday’s bonanza was an opportunity that had to be seized. In addition to scouring Wrightsville Beach, the two were planning a trip north to Topsail Beach to hunt for shark’s teeth, which are easier to find on that beach.
Indeed, there weren’t any reports of shark’s teeth being found, but clams, conches, sand dollars, starfish and angel wings were in abundance, beachcombers reported. Jennifer Burrows, of Wilmington, even collected a stingray barb, though she said her late start to collecting on Sunday morning meant that some of the choice shells had already been grabbed.
“We got out here pretty late,” Burrows said. “The serious collectors were out at 6 a.m. I imagine some came out last night immediately after the storm.”
Burrows friend Debi Sonne said she was impressed with the conditions following the storm, as hundreds of beach goers walked the beach with buckets and bags, collecting shells, and closely examining what was still washing ashore.
“I’ve never seen it like this,” Sonne said. “It’s absolutely beautiful.”
Collecting seashells after a storm is a local tradition, said Loulie Scharf of Wilmington.
“All the locals know that now is the time to come look for shells,” she said. “Wrightsville Beach usually doesn’t have treasures like these. It’s best to watch the water line and get them when they come in.”
And while most said they were searching for the biggest unbroken clam shells they could find, Scharf said she preferred large conch shells, even if they have suffered some damage.
“I like finding the conchs, but most are imperfect,” Scharf said. “That’s okay, they look like they have stories to tell.”
