Sea glass has many names associated with it, including “mermaid tears,” “sea pearls,” and “sea gems.” Sea glass is known for its smooth, dull, and colorful pieces. It comes in all shapes and sizes, ranging from wonky pieces to circular shapes, even to statue-esque pieces. Despite the name “sea glass,” its pieces can also be found in large lakes and rivers. Sea glass spends years tumbling around in ocean waves, and smashing against hard surfaces and corrosive sand, giving it its soft, frosted look and touch when discovered! It has many uses, one of the most common is jewelry making. Due to its popularity, it is easy to see why hunting for sea glass may come as a challenge if you don’t know what to look for. 

It is imperative to search for a beach that has the potential to have sea glass hidden amongst it. For the best results, look for a rock-filled beach and make sure to bring a tool to use when sifting through mounds of rocks. Also, take into consideration where your beach is. Urban areas are more likely to have an array of sea glass and sites where children play or beaches once known as landfills are likely to have circular shapes or other unique forms besides a generic shard shape. Many suggest a small garden hoe or hand-held rake or shovel to avoid your hands becoming tired too quickly from hand-searching through heavy and rough rocks. As someone who has gone hunting for sea glass unprepared, I would recommend this precaution because my hands are sore after searching through so many rocks for hours. As for the time to look for sea glass, there are varying recommendations. Some say the best time to go is a little after high tide, while others say it is best to search during low tide. 

As for me, I don’t have a preference but I do believe if possible, to go to the beach to hunt after a storm, as it stirs up the water and may cause pieces of sea glass to become stuck under the debris of rocks. Another tip is to work in numbers, but only if those around you do not mind giving you the sea glass they find. I have a jar of sea glass due to my mother’s help in searching for it on our last beach trip. So, on your next beach trip, be sure to keep your eyes scanning and search for eye-catching colors amongst the dull rocks. Bring along a friend or two and pack your tools and containers in your beach bag. Happy hunting!