20th gold of the summer

[Blak bart]

I've been quiet posting my golds for awhile now because of a few people mugging me in my own spots. But its been an incredible summer because even the smallest gold finds are substantial monetary values with gold so high !! So last week I hit #19, and #20 gold finds this summer.....since April. Its been quite a challenge to try and get to the spots before other hunters. It seems a couple people are really trying to beat me out of some of my traditional spots....thats fine....you know who you are and I dont care anymore that you figured out my spots....bring it on !! Anyway....I still got my 20th gold, and right in the middle of a moon scape of craters left by the scoopers. I have never even owned a scoop, and prefer to free dive my finds. I have little problem holding my breath and digging for up to a minute underwater. Hard to believe that gold has soared to the level its at now, and even a crushed 18k earring can earn 2 days worth of pay at a day job !! So here we are at the height of summer, and the golds are flowing at every spot....everybody must be hitting because I can find gold at each spot even with several hunters pounding it hard at every spot. South Florida is different level hunting competition....from the novice tourist, to the most die hard hunters attacking by boat, jetski, and kyak. Crowds are surging in the water, and no hurricanes have disrupted the crowds.....my motto is.....go more than everyone else, dig deeper than everyone else, and stay longer than everyone else. At the height of season im hitting spots twice a week, and even hitting it on Sunday evenings to cope with the Miami boys who come on Monday morning.

Sting rays dug up the gold and emerald ring, and pushed it out of a hole they were feeding in....note the coral growing on the gold....it was down a long time !

 

[pepperj]

If gold was to drop to $350 an OZ.
The song in many hard-core hunters would be Mr Lonely.
I'm quite content knowing that I don't detect for the lure of the gold.
It's just a bonus if it happens.

 

[Blak bart]

Be careful Bart you’ve got another hunter heading your way Monday!

Let's go !!

 

[releventchair]

I've been quiet posting my golds for awhile now because of a few people mugging me in my own spots. But its been an incredible summer because even the smallest gold finds are substantial monetary values with gold so high !! So last week I hit #19, and #20 gold finds this summer.....since April. Its been quite a challenge to try and get to the spots before other hunters. It seems a couple people are really trying to beat me out of some of my traditional spots....thats fine....you know who you are and I dont care anymore that you figured out my spots....bring it on !! Anyway....I still got my 20th gold, and right in the middle of a moon scape of craters left by the scoopers. I have never even owned a scoop, and prefer to free dive my finds. I have little problem holding my breath and digging for up to a minute underwater. Hard to believe that gold has soared to the level its at now, and even a crushed 18k earring can earn 2 days worth of pay at a day job !! So here we are at the height of summer, and the golds are flowing at every spot....everybody must be hitting because I can find gold at each spot even with several hunters pounding it hard at every spot. South Florida is different level hunting competition....from the novice tourist, to the most die hard hunters attacking by boat, jetski, and kyak. Crowds are surging in the water, and no hurricanes have disrupted the crowds.....my motto is.....go more than everyone else, dig deeper than everyone else, and stay longer than everyone else. At the height of season im hitting spots twice a week, and even hitting it on Sunday evenings to cope with the Miami boys who come on Monday morning. View attachment 2221592View attachment 2221593View attachment 2221594View attachment 2221595View attachment 2221596View attachment 2221597
Sting rays dug up the gold and emerald ring, and pushed it out of a hole they were feeding in....note the coral growing on the gold....it was down a long time !

Bums can't find their own way and have to follow others to find sites?

A button hook (J shaped) route allows watching your back trail.
Then you can waylay or follow a trailing bum.

 

[Blak bart]

If gold was to drop to $350 an OZ.
The song in many hard-core hunters would be Mr Lonely.
I'm quite content knowing that I don't detect for the lure of the gold.
It's just a bonus if it happens.

Well...these gold prices are just what I need to get really fired up....there are murky low visibility spots that I used to ignore because of the beautiful clean water spots....this gold price is making me consider the hard work it would take to get in the muddy spots. There is no question about making more money from finds than work now. Yesterday's band would be worth 480$ if I got 400$ i would still be pretty happy 😊.....days with 3 gold rings are off the charts now, and no one even blinks at buying your finds. They literally want everything i can bring them !!

 

[pepperj]

Well...these gold prices are just what I need to get really fired up....there are murky low visibility spots that I used to ignore because of the beautiful clean water spots....this gold price is making me consider the hard work it would take to get in the muddy spots. There is no question about making more money from finds than work now. Yesterday's band would be worth 480$ if I got 400$ i would still be pretty happy 😊.....days with 3 gold rings are off the charts now, and no one even blinks at buying your finds. They literally want everything i can bring them !!

It's great for those that the $$$ drives the passion even more.
For myself It's all about forgetting the world exists.
But getting a little bit of a $$$ target will be a added memorable experience. 😁

 

[Blak bart]

It's great for those that the $$$ drives the passion even more.
For myself It's all about forgetting the world exists.
But getting a little bit of a $$$ target will be a added memorable experience. 😁

I like both...me and the critters, and beautiful glassy conditions !! Pure crystal clear gin for water. The peace and solitude of the underwater world, just me and the equinox !! I want to be there everyday, and if the price of gold is high, it helps pay the bills for me.....im making more per week metal detecting at the moment than fishing !! 2 golds a week is really about bonus.....finding some shipwreck history mixed in is also a plus !! Either way the price of gold has definitely made me get the gold fever !! 🤒 😂🤪

 

[Blak bart]

Im suffering from gold fever !! Its not bad....kinda fun !! Wonder how much gold will be lost today at the swim spots ?? 🤔 everyone is loading there boats right now.....in a couple hours everyone will pile on to every swimming spot and sand bar in the keys until sunset....multiple sites will each have golds....and really all over florida today !! it is hot as hell, and everyone is surging to the beaches and swim holes !!

 

[Sand Swinger]

Im suffering from gold fever !! Its not bad....kinda fun !! Wonder how much gold will be lost today at the swim spots ?? 🤔 everyone is loading there boats right now.....in a couple hours everyone will pile on to every swimming spot and sand bar in the keys until sunset....multiple sites will each have golds....and really all over florida today !! it is hot as hell, and everyone is surging to the beaches and swim holes !!

Several years ago, I was considering buying a boat. Dad's retired Coast Guard so we've had something like 30 boats since I was a kid. As I was researching boats & outboards, I watched a ton of videos and many of them were down in FL. But what stuck in my mind was I seem to recall a sandbar in Islamadora that boats would flock to, anchor, then everyone would be out in waist/chest deep clear water. But the thing that got me was that there was a small floating barge type boat there that sold drinks to all the boaters. Hmmm, well-to-do boaters, hanging out at a sandbar in crystal clear waters, socializing in the water, while having a few drinks. Sounds like a party and a recipe for finding some serious bling around that sandbar, lol.

 

[Blak bart]

Lots of cool stuff while im detecting too !

 

[Blak bart]

Several years ago, I was considering buying a boat. Dad's retired Coast Guard so we've had something like 30 boats since I was a kid. As I was researching boats & outboards, I watched a ton of videos and many of them were down in FL. But what stuck in my mind was I seem to recall a sandbar in Islamadora that boats would flock to, anchor, then everyone would be out in waist/chest deep clear water. But the thing that got me was that there was a small floating barge type boat there that sold drinks to all the boaters. Hmmm, well-to-do boaters, hanging out at a sandbar in crystal clear waters, socializing in the water, while having a few drinks. Sounds like a party and a recipe for finding some serious bling around that sandbar, lol.

Yes its no secret....like south beach it has become well known spot to detect....but its not as easy as it looks. It takes timing and patience and techniques to win here. I've done well traditionally here, but there are sandbar like this all over Florida!! So finding the out of the way spots, and other swimholes is key. This islamorada sand bar has at least 3 other locals who hit it hard plus many non locals traveling to come and try. It really is just one of hundreds of party spots on the water that hold mega crowds !

Florida wild woman did a video of us hunting that site....I got an old gold that day. !!

 

[Joe_NY_to_NC]

No sir...not a true mugging by definition,....just fierce competition between more than 3 detectorist for very small spots with tremendous traffic !! This is south Florida, and its very competitive for the best spots. Its not uncommon to see a half dozen detectorist in the water at once at south beach, and many other spots from the treasure coast, to key west, and back up the west coast to the panhandle. There are probably more detectorist per square mile than anywhere on the planet down here, and many are expert level. At the height of summer it can be like water world, or mad max, with top level hunters all battling each other for control of the top producing spots. The top spots produce gold every week for the first person to get there.....whichever spot it may be !! These spots are trampled by thousands of people a week, and getting to them early is key....Monday morning being the logical best time. Big weekends produce the gold, so Monday morning is the best time to hunt. Obviously everyone has there own style and strategies, but down here its totally on another level.

I've seen a guy come and sit at my favorite sand bar with his sailboat for 3 days !! He did the deep with a hookah rig, in the mornings, and when boat traffic started he would transition to the shallow sand and snorkel hunt that !! There are guys like this that are so good they make there living at it !! No t-net, no social media, just ruthless efficiency at treasure hunting on levels you never thought possible!! So here we are the locals, all banded together sharing info, but competitive, and the rest of south Florida all trying to butt in line and travel down to get some gold too....I dont blame them....I just have to play the game to beat them to the gold !!

All probably looking for 1715 fleet gold and silver.

 

[Blak bart]

#22

🫡🤙☠️

 

[Blak bart]

Number #23.....small, hollow gold, did not ring on the equinox600, but I saw it glinting on top of the sand....ill take it....keeping the streak alive !!

 

[Blak bart]

#24 #25

 

[Crunchyhippo]

I've been quiet posting my golds for awhile now because of a few people mugging me in my own spots. But its been an incredible summer because even the smallest gold finds are substantial monetary values with gold so high !! So last week I hit #19, and #20 gold finds this summer.....since April. Its been quite a challenge to try and get to the spots before other hunters. It seems a couple people are really trying to beat me out of some of my traditional spots....thats fine....you know who you are and I dont care anymore that you figured out my spots....bring it on !! Anyway....I still got my 20th gold, and right in the middle of a moon scape of craters left by the scoopers. I have never even owned a scoop, and prefer to free dive my finds. I have little problem holding my breath and digging for up to a minute underwater. Hard to believe that gold has soared to the level its at now, and even a crushed 18k earring can earn 2 days worth of pay at a day job !! So here we are at the height of summer, and the golds are flowing at every spot....everybody must be hitting because I can find gold at each spot even with several hunters pounding it hard at every spot. South Florida is different level hunting competition....from the novice tourist, to the most die hard hunters attacking by boat, jetski, and kyak. Crowds are surging in the water, and no hurricanes have disrupted the crowds.....my motto is.....go more than everyone else, dig deeper than everyone else, and stay longer than everyone else. At the height of season im hitting spots twice a week, and even hitting it on Sunday evenings to cope with the Miami boys who come on Monday morning. View attachment 2221592View attachment 2221593View attachment 2221594View attachment 2221595View attachment 2221596View attachment 2221597
Sting rays dug up the gold and emerald ring, and pushed it out of a hole they were feeding in....note the coral growing on the gold....it was down a long time !

You're finding all this gold at the beach?

 

[Blak bart]

You're finding all this gold at the beach?

Not at beach like you think.....these beaches can only be reached by boat. And I only snorkel hunt. Im totally in the water swimming with my detector. I dont own a scoop, and only use a lesche tool once in awhile when needed. Most targets are fanned by hand or my feet. These beaches I hunt are 1-2 miles out in the ocean....they rarley have dry land to walk on except at extreme low tide.....most are knee to waist deep at low tide. The Florida keys is very different hunting than Miami, treasure coast, or st.pete. I also detect swimming spots....small spots in back of resorts, bars, and hotels. Some are on the Bayside, and some are on the ocean. Im also a minimalist....which means very little gear for me....no pouches, no floating sifters, no pinpointer, just a mask, snorkel, detector and digger....good finds go in pocket thats it. But I do hunt beaches like yours also. I have found many treasure coins as well as jewelry from both 1715, and 1733 fleets. I've been doing this for many years, and have perfected techniques for different conditions.

 

[Blak bart]

Little tous bear had been down a long time....it was coral crusted....a little finger nail scratch revealed the 750 mark !!
Hard to believe that half a gram of 18k is 30 + dollars !!

Correction....one tiny earring of 18k = 42$ for a half gram 🤑🤪🫡