There are rock stars − people who are exceptionally talented, high-performing, and invaluable in their field, often going above and beyond expectations
And then here in Southwest Florida, we have shell stars.
Sara Breault is a shell star.
Through her passion, her creativity and her photography skills, Breault has risen to a higher level of stardom in the Southwest Florida shelling universe.
“It’s like an endless treasure hunt,” said Breault about why she spends time on local beaches looking for shells.
Florida shell seeker carves out her niche after recent hurricanes
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Avid shell collector Sara Breault of North Naples has an Instagram page @sarashellsswfl that features photographs of shells she has found on SW Florida beaches.
Breault, who is a Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant, lives in North Naples. She moved here 17 years ago from upstate New York.
She has accumulated quite a few treasures, including several junonia shells and pieces of junonias. The junonia is one of, if not the most sought after shell on Florida beaches. The junonia falls into the rare category of shells because so few are able to find it.
The junonias Breault has been lucky to find − she found her first whole junonia in September 2025 on Sanibel and another one in February on Kice Island in the Ten Thousand Islands in Collier County − help fulfill another passion of hers, which is photography. She has a magnificent array of shell photos on her Instagram page, @sarashellsswfl, which she started soon after Hurricane Ian. That’s when her collecting started in earnest.
“I used to pick up shells here and there since 2017, but after Ian (2022) I was able to walk onto the beaches (though closed to parking) foot traffic was OK, and was one of the only people there most days,” she said. “I started picking up trash to get some steps in, then came across awesome shells I had never noticed (likely the storm stirring them up).”
Breault even turned the hurricane trash she found into actual treasure, or in her case artwork, creatively transforming pieces of tile, pieces of wood, beach glass, and pottery into birds and plants.
This is an example of artwork made by North Naples resident Sara Breault. She used “trash” like glass, wood and tile she found at the beach after hurricanes to make this and other pieces of art.
Q&A with SW Florida sheller Sara Breault
With her experience and the expertise Breault has gained shelling in SW Florida, we asked her via email to share some of her knowledge, tips and best practices, as well as what is the secret to finding a junonia now that she has two:
Question: What’s your best advice for shell seekers, especially rookies?
Answer: Go low tide and don’t be afraid to get IN the water! Most of my great and unique finds are not found along the rack line walking the beach… they are found IN the water. Low tide is KEY. Most shellers know this. It exposes the shells normally buried.
Do you have or use any special tools/implements to help you find shells?
I actually use a metal cat poop scooper! Haha! Works really well, super sturdy. (But they do make shell scoops). I then put in my bag made by Nomar out of Alaska called the “Beachcomber” − it’s made out of the same material they use for Brailer bags− shells stay in, and the sand and water drips out.
Do you have a favorite SW Florida beach to find shells?
I love Keewaydin (Naples), Cayo Costa, Captiva, Sanibel (Algiers) and the 10,000,000 Islands (Kice and Dickmans) − LESS people and better shells typically. Even better if you have a boat or take a cool tour.
Sheller Sara Breault, seen here looking for shells, said her favorite SW Florida beaches include: Keewaydin (Naples), Cayo Costa, Captiva, Sanibel (Algiers) and the 10,000 Islands, in particular Kice and Dickmans islands.
When did your hunger for hunting shells really take off?
I found a Cabrit Murex (2024) and I knew it was something special. So I looked it up and found out it was kind of rare. After that I learned the Junonia was even more rare and the hunt began! I didn’t start actively looking for a Junonia until November of 2024, when I found my first junionia piece (she now has more than 100 pieces). I never thought I would find a whole junonia, yet found two in less than 6 months! I started learning all the names of the shells, and now I know almost all of them that can be found in SWFL by heart.
Is there any shell you haven’t found that you are hoping to find? What’s on your shell “bucket list”?
Queen conch in the Keys! I have yet to find a “Tun” shell (east coast). I plan to scuba dive this summer to find some on the East coast
What, other than the junonia, are the rare shells you have found on the west coast?
Rose murex, Wentletrap and the Cabrit Murex.
This is a Cabrit Murex that SW Florida sheller Sara Breault found.
As far as the more common shells out there, what are your favorites?
I definitely gravitate toward the Cone shells, both Alphabet Cones and Florida Cones. I also really love Bright Orange Horse conch shells.
What do you do with the shells you collect?
They are all cleaned with bleach and water. Sand dollars get hydrogen peroxide baths. If they need a quick muriatic acid dip, I do that, too. They are sorted and stored in a box based on the shell type. I have some crafts planned, but you never know, I may open a shell shop some day! I have an entire bedroom at my house devoted to shells − all meticulously sorted and in pristine shape.
What’s the secret to finding a junonia? Inquiring minds want to know!
I think the Junonia finds YOU! I’d say to those looking— keep shelling, frequency and pattern recognition is helpful. I used to say train your eyes to scan for (orange, brown and any patterns, spots − it’s usually a keeper.) I think if you put in the time, you are more likely to encounter pieces and a full one! I definitely share in the excitement when anyone finds one. I know the feeling!
What prompted you to take this to the next level at start your Instagram @sarashellsswfl with shell photos?
I love photography, so that was really the start of it. But then after collecting all of the shells, I started @sarashellsswfl creating posts that ID’d the shells and stated a few facts about them. It’s now become a hobby and I love to share my pretty finds. People seem to really love shells even if they live where none exist. I think beach and shell pictures are aesthetically calming in general. Isn’t the ocean scene always a dream?
What’s your shell story?
We appreciate Sara Breault taking the time to tell us here SW Florida shell story. What’s yours? We’d love to share your adventures, your finds and your tips and best practices for finding the amazing shells that come ashore (or are in the water) in SW Florida. And of course, your photos!
If you are interested in sharing your shell story, you can send an email to: mbickel@gannett.com.
Happy shelling!
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida sheller identifies her favorite beaches to find junonia shells