More Florida Treasure

[wreckdiver1715]

The wrecks of the 1715 fleet are still giving up the booty...

$100,000 treasure trove recovered off Fort Pierce
By Shawna Gallagher Vega staff writer
August 23, 2004
FORT PIERCE ? It was a cloudy, dull day at Riverside Marina, but the glimmer of gold coins and exotic jewels kept John Brandon's boat Endeavor shining as a summer storm approached.
Brandon, a large gold medallion hanging from his neck, showed off his latest acquisition from undersea treasure hunting ? $100,000 worth of coins and jewelry he and his crew found off the coast of Fort Pierce.
But it's more than a lucky catch borne of a wishful hobby for Brandon and his men. It's the result of a hard day's work.
"It's the only thing I've ever done, to go out and find treasure," Brandon said.
Brandon, a 35-year veteran of historical shipwreck salvage missions, has had plenty of luck. He's found a $43,000 gold bar, $6,000 gold coins, gold cufflinks and a 14.5 carat emerald ring in his searches.
Fellow divers Ryan Iacona of Port St. Lucie and Tim McGuire of Fort Pierce helped Brandon find the $100,000 treasure Aug. 4. They came upon what is known as the "Douglass Beach Wreck" ? the remains of a 1715 Spanish galleon that sank near Frederick Douglass Memorial Beach.
Among the loot they found were 300-year-old gold and silver coins and a 22-Karat gold ring worth almost $15,000. On Aug. 6, the findings were brought to the Mel Fisher Center in Sebastian, where it will go through various inspections and archaeological research.
The historical value of the findings will be assessed at the Fisher Center. "In about a year, Florida will take 20 percent, then we get 80 percent," Brandon said.
- shawna.vega@scripps.com

[Marc]

Thanks for the news!

[JohninCT]

Is the site within the Fisher lease area?

[rgecy]

Douglas Beach Site is part of the Fisher Lease Area.

Robert

[JohninCT]

thats what I thought, then he is kind of misleading in the statement that we get 80%, He has to split his with the Fisher group also, unless that is what he meant. With the hurricane coming, I bet alot of people are getting their detectors ready just in case.

[rgecy]

I think John is part of the Fisher team so his cut may be different than a subcontractor, which would be 40/40 and 20 to the state. I think John started working with Mel Fisher when he was 16 years old. He's been working those sites for many years.

As for the Treasure Coast, I hope this storm stirs up lots of Reals and Dubloons, but I hate the destruction it brings with it. I hope things go OK over the next couple days. If they don't take direct hit and everything remains open, I might head down myself.

Robert

[JohninCT]

Thanks for clarifying that. It makes sense on his statement the way you have it. I hate the destruction part also, but sure wish i was down there if the storm hits the treasure beaches area. I was ready to leave, but didn't want to get stuck down there for a week if there is too much damage to the highways and power structure. If it was later in the month, I would be there. I will be kicking my butt thought, if it comes in on the treasure beaches..Of course, it still don't mean there will be any good cuts like in 1984. Good luck anyway.

[JohninCT]

Does anyone here know the exact coordinates of the Fisher lease area?? How far out and north and south latis and longs?

[rgecy]

The Fisher lease area is pretty broad.? Here is a list of the center points of each location (this is not all, but most).? From the center point of the site, each lease area has a 3000 yard radius that is considered amiralty.? Douglas Beach site is a little larger due to an extension.? Hope these help.

Good Luck Hunting!
Robert



SITE? ?DATE? ? LATITUDE LONGITUDE

CABIN 1715 81R23/S27 N27? 49.800 W80? 25.549

ANCHOR WRECK 1715 81R46/S23 N27? 48.199 W80? 24.699

CANNON WRECK 1715+ 81R438/S23 N27? 48.202 N27? 47.451? (North and South Boundary, Not center)

ROBERT WRECK 1821 81R47/S23 N27? 47.451 N27? 46.708? (North and South Boundary, Not center)

SPRING OF WHITBY 1824 81R28/S23 N27? 47.479 W80? 23.629

GREEN CABIN WRK 1618 81R22/S23 N27? 45.280 N27? 44.247? (North and South Boundary, Not center)

CORRIGANS WRECK 1715 81R19/S25 N27? 43.800 W80? 23.799

RIO MAR WRECK 1715 81R27/S23 N27? 36.300 W80? 20.899

SANDY POINT WRK 1715 81R20/S23 N27? 35.599 W80? 19.650

POWER PLANT WRK UNK. S25 N27? 21.199 W80? 13.650

DOUGLAS BEACH WRK 1715 8SL17/S26 N27? 25.299 W80? 16.500

UNKNOWN WRK UNK. S23 N27? 18.999 W80? 12.300

E89 and S32 are sites along the beach North of Sebastian Inlet
South Boundary N27? 53.280
North Boundary N28? 02.210

[JohninCT]

Thanks Robert, I had the wreck sites but was interested in just how far north, south and east, the leases ran to. I didn't realize that some of them went by the radius. I thought they just had the area from some point north to some points east to some point south. Llike a large rectangle. Thanks again.

[rgecy]

Almost all of them are just a radius from a center point and I do have North and South Boundaries for each, but it was just a lot to post and explain. If you are very serious, PM me and I will send you a file that has all of the boundaries.

Thanks,
Robert