This is how beach hunting really works

47thelement

Bronze Member
Jan 8, 2009
1,741
161
Detector(s) used
E-trac, Excal, ACE 250 for my son
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
So my wife takes my son camping with scouts for the weekend. She says "why don't you go down to the beach and go hunting."

SAY WHAT

The bag was packed and the excal and accessories were in the car before she could find some chore for me to do.

2 1/2 hours later I'm in Bethany Beach Deleware. 10 minutes from Coin Beach ( yes that Coin Beach and 10 minutes from Ocean City, Md). Let the hunt begin.

After hunting at total of about 18 of sanded in beaches in OC and getting less than $3.00 in clad. And a ton of buried Budwieser cans, and 20-30 Amstel light bottle caps. I decided to see what was really happening at Coin Beach.

It's only about a 20 minute trek so stopped and grabbed a bite to eat.

As I approached the top of the dune at Coin Beach I noticed a man and a woman hunting without headphones and carrying shovels?! I proceeded to the surf line and after about 45 minutes got my 1st real signal. By now the surf had really rolling in. With my 1st scoop I pull back with my pro-handle and the next thing I know I'm laying in the surf holding half my pro-handle.

I tried a few more times but the surf was too strong and the target was too deep.

Headed back to the beach house.

Total take for the weekend $2.87
Toll -$4.00
Gas -$40.00
Cost. $41.13

That's how beach metal detecting really goes - you don't find "tickets" every time you go out.
 

Upvote 0

captaindoug

Full Member
May 1, 2011
112
22
Yeah, but you was not at work, and you were not mowing the lawn. Now you are just that much closer to the GOLD.
Sorry for the crummy weekend. How was the scenery?
 

OP
OP
47thelement

47thelement

Bronze Member
Jan 8, 2009
1,741
161
Detector(s) used
E-trac, Excal, ACE 250 for my son
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Don't get me wrong'

I bad day detecting is better than.....

it's just appears some people find gold or some other exciting find just about every time they go out. Some people may just be better hunters than others or there must be more gold in the south
 

TORRERO

30+ YEARS, XP DEUS I & II ARE MY GO TO MACHINES
Nov 17, 2004
1,665
1,063
NC
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XP DEUS I & II
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All Treasure Hunting
47thelement said:
Don't get me wrong'

I bad day detecting is better than.....

it's just appears some people find gold or some other exciting find just about every time they go out. Some people may just be better hunters than others or there must be more gold in the south

Well.... Not really...
I believe that you only hear about the good things because the days of walking and not finding anything are not worth talking about, but we all have been there... many more times than not..
And that's a fact jack....
 

tarpon192

Sr. Member
Mar 18, 2009
366
62
Detector(s) used
Minelab
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
TORRERO said:
47thelement said:
Don't get me wrong'

I bad day detecting is better than.....

it's just appears some people find gold or some other exciting find just about every time they go out. Some people may just be better hunters than others or there must be more gold in the south

Well.... Not really...
I believe that you only hear about the good things because the days of walking and not finding anything are not worth talking about, but we all have been there... many more times than not..
And that's a fact jack....
It really depends on the beach conditions. I have been out hundreds of times, and only found clad coins. Other times I have went, and found 3 or 4 gold rings, silver rings, and other jewerly. Learn to read the beach you hunt. I have been to the beach when it is stripped of sand, and found spanish coins, and other artifacts, and have also been there when the ocean dumps sand back on the beach and found some good stuff. "YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU GO". It's just like scuba diving or snook fishing.
Good luck next time.
 

Smoogle

Hero Member
Jul 24, 2011
814
261
North Coast NSW.
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Tesoro Sand Shark, Stavr Krepish II Scoop, Plugger Balanced Shaft.
Primary Interest:
Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
take the bad, it makes the good sweeter, the ugly will always be ugly :icon_pirat:
 

gold fever pete

Full Member
Jun 1, 2010
243
415
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
2
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All Treasure Hunting
True so true. Things here in Cali has slowed down a lot. They say we are supposed to get some rain this week. Nothing like back there with hurricanes and all. However the surf will be a little higher and we might be able to find more, HH All. Pete
 

ron lord

Bronze Member
Apr 2, 2007
1,301
1,621
Zephyrhills Fl
🥇 Banner finds
3
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6
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excel 1000 with 8 inch coil, Garrett AT MAX and a silver U MAX
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All Treasure Hunting
47thelement, Sorry for your loss, but remember when you retire like me you can do this. 5 mins. to the beach, hunt 3 to 4 hrs $.91 1-18kt ring, 1- 10kt bracelet, value $700. Gas about $.50 parking Free,Eye candy, alot. move to Fl.
 

TORRERO

30+ YEARS, XP DEUS I & II ARE MY GO TO MACHINES
Nov 17, 2004
1,665
1,063
NC
Detector(s) used
XP DEUS I & II
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
gold fever pete said:
True so true. Things here in Cali has slowed down a lot. They say we are supposed to get some rain this week. Nothing like back there with hurricanes and all. However the surf will be a little higher and we might be able to find more, HH All. Pete
Are you in Cali Columbia South America ?
 

lookindown

Gold Member
Mar 11, 2010
7,089
4,936
Florida
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1
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ACE 250,AT PRO, CZ21...RTG pro scoop...Stealth 720
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
TORRERO said:
gold fever pete said:
True so true. Things here in Cali has slowed down a lot. They say we are supposed to get some rain this week. Nothing like back there with hurricanes and all. However the surf will be a little higher and we might be able to find more, HH All. Pete
Are you in Cali Columbia South America ?
Cali....fornia.
 

ocjeff

Full Member
Oct 14, 2009
203
7
ocean city maryland
Detector(s) used
excalibur, cz20, v3
that's coin beach, very little to find except after storms or when beach conditions are perfect. even then there will be many other hunters to beat u to the goodies. you just have to keep at it.
 

DaleGM

Hero Member
Aug 21, 2009
854
262
Sacramento Cailifonia
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V3i DFX MXT Excal II D2 6x10 950 4x6 & dx-1
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
we all have days like that :-\ sun on the face and fresh air in the lungs sure beats sitting at home watching the tube any day of the week..........
 

Terry Soloman

Gold Member
May 28, 2010
19,419
30,081
White Plains, New York
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1
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Nokta Makro Legend// Pulsedive// Minelab GPZ 7000// Vanquish 540// Minelab Pro Find 35// Dune Kraken Sandscoop// Grave Digger Tools Tombstone shovel & Sidekick digger// Bunk's Hermit Pick
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
47thelement said:
...With my 1st scoop I pull back with my pro-handle and the next thing I know I'm laying in the surf holding half my pro-handle. I tried a few more times but the surf was too strong and the target was too deep. Headed back to the beach house.

Total take for the weekend $2.87
Toll -$4.00
Gas -$40.00
Cost. $41.13

That's how beach metal detecting really goes - you don't find "tickets" every time you go out.

You got off cheap! :laughing7:

This summer it cost me (aprox.) $1,417.00 in gasoline and tolls; 50-60 hours of driving; and close to 200-hours of swinging to find $2,800.00 (gold rings, bracelets and earrings sold for melt value at $1,816.00oz). It doesn't come easy - or every time, but it DOES come! Of course, there is the "dark" side.. :laughing7:
 

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lookindown

Gold Member
Mar 11, 2010
7,089
4,936
Florida
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1
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ACE 250,AT PRO, CZ21...RTG pro scoop...Stealth 720
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Not many hobbies that you can end up with more than you spent at the end of the year. :icon_thumleft: :icon_pirat: :icon_thumright:
 

ramfan

Full Member
May 30, 2008
119
0
Myrtle Beach
Detector(s) used
Garrett F250/F150
Primary Interest:
Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
Lol @ Ron! I am in Myrtle Beach and it costs me about .50 cents for gas. So.....I love the weather and the scenery, hope to come home with 4 quarters so I can double my money!
 

JP

Bronze Member
May 5, 2006
1,103
12
Florida & San Salvador, El Salvador
Detector(s) used
Excalibur 1000, Garrett Infinium LS, Garrett Sea Hunter II, Ace 250 (for my 12 year old son)
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
47thelement said:
Don't get me wrong'

I bad day detecting is better than.....

it's just appears some people find gold or some other exciting find just about every time they go out. Some people may just be better hunters than others or there must be more gold in the south

Of course we don't hear much about the bad days...It's like a family member of mine who used to come by our house to show us the money he had just won on the casino boat. He came in one day to show us two bundles of 100's totaling $20,000. Yes he won it and yes he was winning when he went the other times (at least some of the times)....but the amount he spent and the times he didn't win caused him to lose his life's savings and his house all in a period of about four months. (of course he never acknowledged that)

A few years ago I found at least one good item everytime I went hunting (silver or gold). I'm not able to hunt all the time, but this year has been the worst for me ever regarding metal detecting.

Also, remember a lot of people have cashed in their gold...so they are not losing it at the beach. Also, a lot of the wedding sets that people are buying now are tungsten and other crap (aka garbage).....tungsten, expensive to buy, worthless to sell...... I found more tungsten this year than all of the gold I found for the previous two years.

But, yes, most people are not going to write about a day of finding a few pennies, a few pull tabs, a few pieces of can slaw, etc....just like my last three hunts :laughing9:

I still go when I can just to enjoy the water life, eye candy :tongue3:, and just get away from reality.
 

Terry Soloman

Gold Member
May 28, 2010
19,419
30,081
White Plains, New York
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1
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Nokta Makro Legend// Pulsedive// Minelab GPZ 7000// Vanquish 540// Minelab Pro Find 35// Dune Kraken Sandscoop// Grave Digger Tools Tombstone shovel & Sidekick digger// Bunk's Hermit Pick
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
JP said:
Of course we don't hear much about the bad days...It's like a family member of mine who used to come by our house to show us the money he had just won on the casino boat. He came in one day to show us two bundles of 100's totaling $20,000. Yes he won it and yes he was winning when he went the other times (at least some of the times)....but the amount he spent and the times he didn't win caused him to lose his life's savings and his house all in a period of about four months. (of course he never acknowledged that)

A few years ago I found at least one good item everytime I went hunting (silver or gold). I'm not able to hunt all the time, but this year has been the worst for me ever regarding metal detecting.

Also, remember a lot of people have cashed in their gold...so they are not losing it at the beach. Also, a lot of the wedding sets that people are buying now are tungsten and other crap (aka garbage).....tungsten, expensive to buy, worthless to sell...... I found more tungsten this year than all of the gold I found for the previous two years.

But, yes, most people are not going to write about a day of finding a few pennies, a few pull tabs, a few pieces of can slaw, etc....just like my last three hunts :laughing9:

I still go when I can just to enjoy the water life, eye candy :tongue3:, and just get away from reality.

Great post! How's the Weather in San Salvador? :thumbsup:
 

JP

Bronze Member
May 5, 2006
1,103
12
Florida & San Salvador, El Salvador
Detector(s) used
Excalibur 1000, Garrett Infinium LS, Garrett Sea Hunter II, Ace 250 (for my 12 year old son)
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Terry Soloman said:
JP said:
Of course we don't hear much about the bad days...It's like a family member of mine who used to come by our house to show us the money he had just won on the casino boat. He came in one day to show us two bundles of 100's totaling $20,000. Yes he won it and yes he was winning when he went the other times (at least some of the times)....but the amount he spent and the times he didn't win caused him to lose his life's savings and his house all in a period of about four months. (of course he never acknowledged that)

A few years ago I found at least one good item everytime I went hunting (silver or gold). I'm not able to hunt all the time, but this year has been the worst for me ever regarding metal detecting.

Also, remember a lot of people have cashed in their gold...so they are not losing it at the beach. Also, a lot of the wedding sets that people are buying now are tungsten and other crap (aka garbage).....tungsten, expensive to buy, worthless to sell...... I found more tungsten this year than all of the gold I found for the previous two years.

But, yes, most people are not going to write about a day of finding a few pennies, a few pull tabs, a few pieces of can slaw, etc....just like my last three hunts :laughing9:

I still go when I can just to enjoy the water life, eye candy :tongue3:, and just get away from reality.

Great post! How's the Weather in San Salvador? :thumbsup:

Thanks :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Raining!!!! I wish I was back at the beach in Florida hunting right now.....but in November (or December) I hope to be out diving in the Pacific on a new wreck.

As the saying goes, any bad day metal detecting (fishing, scuba diving, fill in the blank) is better than a good day working :laughing9: :laughing9:
 

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