Lifes A Garden...Dig IT
Sr. Member
- Dec 12, 2010
- 311
- 147
- Detector(s) used
- Fisher Gold Bug DP, Fisher F19 LTD, Minelab Safari, Garrett AT Pro, Garrett AT Pro Pointer, Garrett Pro Pointer, Lesche Digger, Lesche Ground Shark Shovel, 9.5x5.5 NEL Sharpshooter Coil (Safari), 9.5x
Me and my wife just returned from a nice vacation to Florida. We had been living in Florida up to maybe 2 1/2 years ago and normally metal detected the dry sand at minimal three times a week, usually more. We found a generous amount of targets to keep us happy and hunting most of the time. At that time I did not have a good enough machine for the wet sand or water hunting. Since then, I have been blessed enough to obtain a Garrett AT Pro and and a Minelab Safari.
So we were pysched to try the Safari for dry/wet sand and the AT Pro for dry/wet sand and water. First challenge is the fact I think most of the beaches were recently sanded in. Second, OMG
once getting a signal with the Pro in the water, it seemed close to impossible to retrieve the targets 
. The beaches I speak of is St Pete beach, Treasure Island beach, Sunset Beach, and Pass A Grille beach. We were there from May 1st-8th. Between the mild rolling surf, the shifting of sand (especially once you've disturbed the ocean floor) at the target, and the fact that nothing looks quite the same in the water as it does on the surface. I enjoyed being in the water and trying, but I can tell that this type of hunting is going to take a whole lot more practice and skill. There was another hunter in the water and passed right by us in a wet suit, he could have been a fellow TH'er from TNet, not sure. If so, wished we could have said hello and would have welcomed any tips 
. Most targets read 6"-8" and digging with scoop was not as easy as I assumed either. Once you penetrate the smooth top layers of sand, it seems to be a harder mixture of broken shells and coarser sand beneath. I do want to add that the beach scoop was homemade and that might be part of the culprit. Although, we did also have a true quality handheld beach scoop and my wife would try her best to scoop with that too and was getting tossed around like a dingy in the middle of a storm. Needless to say, I never even retrieved one single target from the water 
. Not even junk target signals. We looked like two drunk monkeys, or Laurel & Hardy out there trying to water hunt. AGAIN, hats off to all the guys and gals out there that water hunt. You are the $hit!!! You deserve any good finds you come across because it doesn't come easy, I know now you have to work at it with patience, skill, and due diligence. 
So we were pysched to try the Safari for dry/wet sand and the AT Pro for dry/wet sand and water. First challenge is the fact I think most of the beaches were recently sanded in. Second, OMG
once getting a signal with the Pro in the water, it seemed close to impossible to retrieve the targets . The beaches I speak of is St Pete beach, Treasure Island beach, Sunset Beach, and Pass A Grille beach. We were there from May 1st-8th. Between the mild rolling surf, the shifting of sand (especially once you've disturbed the ocean floor) at the target, and the fact that nothing looks quite the same in the water as it does on the surface. I enjoyed being in the water and trying, but I can tell that this type of hunting is going to take a whole lot more practice and skill. There was another hunter in the water and passed right by us in a wet suit, he could have been a fellow TH'er from TNet, not sure. If so, wished we could have said hello and would have welcomed any tips . Most targets read 6"-8" and digging with scoop was not as easy as I assumed either. Once you penetrate the smooth top layers of sand, it seems to be a harder mixture of broken shells and coarser sand beneath. I do want to add that the beach scoop was homemade and that might be part of the culprit. Although, we did also have a true quality handheld beach scoop and my wife would try her best to scoop with that too and was getting tossed around like a dingy in the middle of a storm. Needless to say, I never even retrieved one single target from the water . Not even junk target signals. We looked like two drunk monkeys, or Laurel & Hardy out there trying to water hunt. AGAIN, hats off to all the guys and gals out there that water hunt. You are the $hit!!! You deserve any good finds you come across because it doesn't come easy, I know now you have to work at it with patience, skill, and due diligence. 
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