Beach hunting questions

[Bluetangclan]

Changed the title since my location answers have been answered sort of.


Hello! Been interested in treasure hunting along the Southern beaches of FL based out of Jupiter. Actually from Orlando but gf has snowbird grandparents with a condo in Jupiter. If I can tear myself away from snorkeling at Coral Cove, what are neat areas to go to when they arent in the middle of a re-nurishment project? Not too too familiar with the area but I know where CC is and am good at maps and can work from there(any other good snorkel sites out of curiousity in that area).

I was looking at a dual use underwater and surface metal detector, but have an el-cheapo surface detector already. I have heard Garret LS detectors are pretty good, any other recommendations?
- Is shallow water snorkel detecting very effective?
- I have heard at least two Spanish fleets wrecked along the coast, what local areas would these be spread out on? (no I do not expect secrets divulged if someone here knows)
-How difficult is SCUBA diving and metal detecting along the coast? I am already certified and have some dive partners.
-Are there any restrictions to detecting along the beach or in the water around Jupiter?
Any other equipment I should invest in?

[stevemc]

The area around Jupiter inlet is owned-it is not a lease, and it is a working shipwreck salvage. There is not in water detecting allowed for about a mile in any direction in the water. I am sure there areas along the shore that are not in a lease farther North and South, but they may not be any good for Spanish stuff. Maybe down South, farther down might be good. I think there is some kind of a lease up by Stuart, maybe not, but that might be good, along there. From just South of the power plant South of Ft Pierce inlet, to up North of Sebastian Inlet, possibly past Indiatlantic, satelite Beach area, is all lease area. North of there , then it might be OK. The state does patrol along the coast with helicopters and airplanes, and the police and sheriffs will get anybody diving and detecting where they are not allowed to.

[Smoogle]

I have only just recently got into snorkelling with a MD. So much fun and I wonder what I was doing just swimming around and looking at the fish in days gone by? - just cracking to fan away to rock or reef and the goodies just sitting there - all just winking at you, my first trip out some weeks back caught a 925 ring and many coins - so it really is not that difficult, (especially if you have some experience swinging already) - I can't wait to fan a goldie one day. Try it out.

[Bluetangclan]

Wow, thats crazy, they really do not want tourists do they and how is that legal since the beach and ocean are public domain up to the high tide mark(or is it in this state? in GA private property ended at the high tide mark.)? What about on the beach itself? How far out into the water does this leasing thing start, surely not all the way to the waters edge? Is the beach itself off-limits as well? Are they marked off so people can see, I didnt notice any signs when I was at Coral Cove last time I was there although I did note the helicopters buzzing by but I figured they were marine patrol looking for illegal fishing and such.

[tarpon192]

Don't waste your time on the south side of the inlet - last week sand was trucked in for renourishment. Cobs were found a couple of months ago on the north side, but the beach had some good erosion. It is now sanded back in. It is a very far walk from the public access area - pack a lunch, bring some h2o a go for a long walk.
Look at peoples stairs that go from their house to the beach. If the last step is suspended in air (a couple of feet is what you really want) that would be a good place to search.
Oh yeah - don't go in the water with a detector. You will go to jail - and an example will be made of you. You may even end up on the local news.

[Bluetangclan]

So is there any in water detecting to be had along FLs beaches or is everything all tied up? I never realized how insane FL's policies on this were until i hit this board, thanks for the info, here I was starting to like the state heheh.

Ok, so what is a good beginner level MD for beach hunting and possible diving if I ever find somewhere its legal? Around the $500 area. I have heard the Sovereign but its a bit out of my price range. I had a salvage hunter from SC recommending the Garret LS, same problem. I likely will not be doing this every week, just when the stars line up things work out that I can go.

[Treasure_Hunter]

So is there any in water detecting to be had along FLs beaches or is everything all tied up? I never realized how insane FL's policies on this were until i hit this board, thanks for the info, here I was starting to like the state heheh.

Ok, so what is a good beginner level MD for beach hunting and possible diving if I ever find somewhere its legal? Around the $500 area. I have heard the Sovereign but its a bit out of my price range. I had a salvage hunter from SC recommending the Garret LS, same problem. I likely will not be doing this every week, just when the stars line up things work out that I can go.

More than 90% of Florida's beaches are legal to hunt, you just can't hunt the treasure coast beaches except between the low tide line and toe of the sand dune....

Your not going to find a good new water detector you can use for diving for $500, it will be very hard to find a good used one for that price.

Treasure coast beaches have recently been renourshed like was said, unless your seeing the end of steps out of the sand you are all but wasting your time there, lots of competition for the few fresh drops you have...Until a storm comes along you would be better hunting the beaches close to where you live. Daytona Beach south to Cocoa Beach area....

I live in Apopka/Orlando and I have a spare customized Excal with 15 inch coil on it, if you want to get together sometime I can loan it to you and show you how to hunt with an Excal....You pay the gas to the beach, I will furnish the water detector.......

WARNING, this is an addictive hobby!!!!!!!

[Terry Soloman]

..Ok, so what is a good beginner level MD for beach hunting and possible diving if I ever find somewhere its legal? Around the $500 area. I have heard the Sovereign but its a bit out of my price range. I had a salvage hunter from SC recommending the Garret LS, same problem. I likely will not be doing this every week, just when the stars line up things work out that I can go.

Hello! The Minelab Sovereign is not waterproof, The Excalibur is. I own the Tesoro Sand Shark, with an 8" coil ($580.00). It is a pulse induction detector and a very good machine. Read my article for begining water detectorists here http://www.americanbeachdetecting.com

[Treasure_Hunter]

Terry is correct Sovereign is NOT waterproof, but you will not find a better detector to use on salt water beaches down to the water line, I have waded to midcalf using mine, but again it is NOT waterproof...

Terry is correct, the sandshark is a good detector, but it is also a pulse detector, and our Florida beaches are full of black sand and tiny pieces of iron. Pulse detectors do not descriminate out iron.. Minelab Sovereign and Excaliburs will null on iron telling you it is iron, it will also tell you when there is gold next to a piece of iron...........

Nothing against Pulse detectors if you know how to use them, I have seen many hunters sell their pulse detector to buy a VLF detector, I have never seen one sell their VLF to buy a pulse detector in Florida... I know a couple that have both, but none who prefer to only use a pulse on Florida beaches. I know several who sold theirs becasue they were tired of digging tiny pieces of iron. The Minelabs also use multiple frequencies, which is a big advantage when hunting salt water beaches......

I personally will not recommend a pulse to any friend or family member just starting out and wanting to hunt Florida beaches unless they have an experienced pulse hunter with them to teach them....

[Bluetangclan]

Hey Treasure Hunter, I would be game for that sometime, perhaps next month?

Note I will probably be sticking to beach areas for now as opposed to underwater stuff, but always having lived near salt water, i know what salt air can do to electronics thus why I was thinking the underwater versions would be useful.

Also, where would I look for GA policies(as in what area of state laws is this normally covered in) on MDing? I travel up there quite a bit and have access to a lot of boat-only accessible beaches.

[Bluetangclan]

Alright, besides the Excaliber II what other VHF "can get wet" models are out there? Reading these boards I have been hearing Minelab seems to be having QA issues and is difficult for newbs to use. The Sandshark seems cool and is in my price range but is a PI. This is for FL iron heavy beaches. I dont plan on diving with it, but getting wet from the surf and being out in the rain is not out of the question. Without hunting through the brands section where every posts how great their brand is, is there anyone besides Minelabs doing VHF?

[stevemc]

Fisher CZ-20 and CZ-21. CZ-20 is not made anymore, but the CZ-21 is the newer version now being made. It is a very good UW salt water detector. It is a VLF that will work in saltwater. Look on Ebay, there are used UW detectors from time to time. There are some others, but they are way expensive. Keep your eyes open for an Excalibur, or CZ-20 or CZ-21. New the CZ-21 and the Excal are $1300. Older used ones are still holding value, maybe $700 or more. I dont think the Excal is hard to use at all. I have not had any problems with my Excal that werent something I did and fixed it in a second. But mine is 18 years old, and a little different than the new ones, but everyone I know that has the new green one or the little bit older blue ones, havent seemed to have any problems. I have heard through here of the occaisional problem, but all minor and fixed themselves with a little wise advice. Same with the CZ-20, seems to be a fine detector. There are several good PIs that will find gold jewelry (some will not) for around the $600-$750 range. Price has nothing to do with how, or what a detector can find things, some very expensive detectors can only find big iron pieces, like a J W Fisher. They are double any good detectors price, but wont find gold, as with several others. But dont get the cheap Chinese knock offs, I havent used one, but dont waste your money.

[DewGuru]

I have never seen one sell their VLF to buy a pulse detector in Florida... I know a couple that have both, but none who prefer to only use a pulse on Florida beaches.

In my area, there are 2 guys, that I know of, who sold their Excals in favor of a PI. I've also owned both, and preferred the PI as well. I'm working on the 3rd guy, he's getting there (Remember Tony, it aint too late to get that Shark LOL!!!), but don't count me as the 4th, as I merely bought the Excal for flipping to make a couple bucks off the resale.

[Bluetangclan]

Apparently the east and west coasts of FL differ in their mineral content which is why I keep seeing everyone hunting on this side harping about VHF detectors. Is the Excal 1000 a good detector very good? I might have an opportunity to get one.

[stevemc]

Yes, that is a good detector. If it is in good shape, and a good price, go for it. Both sides of the state have many detectors. I use a PI when I work the Treasure Coast. Or anywhere I need to get real deep-and I know that there is not a bunch of modern trash-not a lot of places anymore like that. There are a lot of every kind of detector. If you asked any street racer what is the best car, what do you think they would say? What ever they had. What ever detector you get, you will have to get used to it, and figure it all out. Yes, a PI does not tell you it is iron and you have to dig it to find out. Yes, you do get used to certain sounds, and how deep certain things are, and figure it isnt what you want, but dig up anyway, with a PI. I have 4 PIs. But you do find everything with a good PI. And you dig everything. That can waste a lot of time. An Excal lets you know what is iron, and might let you know there is something nonferrous near a piece of iron, but it also might not. I have dug the iron, and then found that there was something nonferrous that it didnt tell me. The iron null cancelled out the nonferrous. I have an Excal, and use it a lot, and I do trust it, and I have owned it and used it for a year, and you do get used to certain sounds, can tell coins from aluminum cans, hard to tell certain things from gold. You still dig a lot, but with an Excal you dont waste your time digging iron. Bottom line. Get used to what ever you get.

[Bluetangclan]

Excellent thanks for the info.

[dewcon4414]

The advantage to a water machine over a dirt machine is how quickly it can pay for its self...... if you use it. I think the biggest difference between some of the water machine would be concentric vs DD coil. Their foot print gives them advantages in certain conditions. You will also have to figure in a scoop if you are going in the water.... another $150+. What to get depends on your time and available funds.... just remember you arent out there for the clad and there is a lot of competition if you get serious about it. Thats one heck of an offer for someone to take you out and show you how to use the Xcal. Take him up on it. Steve where can i get the info on restrictions or ship wreck locations?

Dew

[stevemc]

Dew, somebody just PMed me and asked me the same. Only ones I know for sure are the Fisher leases, now owned by someone else. And a few others, but there are many out there. A few years ago somebody asked that in a post and somebody put up a pic of the East Coast of FL and all the lease sites with names of the holders. Maybe try that in the shipwreck section above. I dont know all of the exact locations. There are some that were worked years ago, I dont know if there was anything, or if they are still considered active. Steve.

[seeker41]

i had a actual map but i cant find it. here is a good description of lease boundries. pick the northernmost wreck and you can figure out where you are safe to hunt in the water.
http://treasurebeachesreport.blogspo...formation.html

[Smudge]

The only VLF detectors I have seen that are recommended for the beach and CAN get wet are:

Minelab Excalibur

Fisher CZ-21

Thats because they were designed with salt water beaches in mind. There are other VLF detectors that can work in salt water environments (just don't get them wet), but the reviews on their performance are decidedly mixed, with the exception of the Sovereign which is raved about regularly and with good reason.

Some people use the Whites Beachhunter, but the reviews on it appear to be mixed and its not White's biggest seller. I wish White's would go back and re-engineer that one.