A few questions for you beach water hunters.....

[Guitarman]

I just returned from a NW FL beach with my new PI Pro and my visions of finding a gold ring didn't quite materialize. I mostly hunted the dry sand and didn't get the nerve to go into the water until the last couple of days. The last couple of days I spent about 3 hours in the water each day. I found coins, pull tabs and rusty nails - no jewelry. This was a fairly heavly used beach and I didn't see any other metal detectorists the whole 7 days there.

I have a new respect for water hunters. The flags were yellow so I was battling moderate surf and it ain't easy. I really didn't know how or where to go in the water so I started at the edge and went out to about chest deep and came back in a zig zag pattern. Is this the way to do it, or do you all pick a line and mostly hunt parallel to the shore? If so, how far out do you mostly hunt?

I have a good long handle scoop (from RTG) but digging targets was still challenging. Sometimes it would take several scoops to get the target. Positioning the scoop while you're battling the waves is tough to say the least. Is there a trick to this?

Also, swinging a coil underwater is quite different than on land. At first, I was like, man, this is gonna tear my arm off. Then I let the ocean do some of the work and it got a little easler. Is there a trick to this? I rigged my coil with some sand in a plastic tube and tied it to the top of my coil for weight.

Any tips for a noob surf hunter?

Thanks!

 

[Shortstack]

First off, welcome to the forum.

Secondly, if you can get your hands on a book titled, Advanced Water Working Techniques, by Andy Sabisch, copyrighted 1995. He is the demonstrated authority on beach hunting. In this book, he tells us how to "read" the beach; gives a simple way to learn how the water is approaching the beach at the surface of the sand. This guy knows his stuff. One of his very basic ideas is to find out the times of the high tides and the low tides for the particular beach you want to hunt. (that can be found in the local newspaper). You can go at high tide, just before it starts to recede and follow it out; hunting as the water get shallower or start at low tide and work in toward the beach.
There is also a book by Chandler, published by Fisher Electronics about water hunting and 2 books by Carter & Trevillian that are very good. But, Sabisch's is the best.
Good luck and good hunting.

 

[willie d]

This should help a little http://thegoldenolde.com/oldego3.htm

 

[JP]

Guitarman it took me time before I found my first. It's a continuous learning process.

One of the best thing to do is go there when everybody is at the beach to see where they congregate. Your best chances for finding something are those spots.

Also, remember you won't find gold or silver or whatever unless the coil passes over it. Now remember if the coil passes over it but it is too deep, then there is no signal. Sand movement has a lot to do with it too.

Don't feel bad that it took you 2 or more scoops to recover a target in ruff water, even in smooth water. As for swinging the coil in water with a current and waves I still haven't figured that one out yet either. I usually switch arms when one starts getting tired.

When you find it you will remember it. You will remember finding everyone of them. It sticks in your mind like an addiction.

Good luck.

 

[deepsix47]

Guitarman it took me time before I found my first. It's a continuous learning process.

One of the best thing to do is go there when everybody is at the beach to see where they congregate. Your best chances for finding something are those spots.

Also, remember you won't find gold or silver or whatever unless the coil passes over it. Now remember if the coil passes over it but it is too deep, then there is no signal. Sand movement has a lot to do with it too.

Don't feel bad that it took you 2 or more scoops to recover a target in ruff water, even in smooth water. As for swinging the coil in water with a current and waves I still haven't figured that one out yet either. I usually switch arms when one starts getting tired.

When you find it you will remember it. You will remember finding everyone of them. It sticks in your mind like an addiction.

Good luck.

Capt. is giving you good info here.

Swinging the MD in waves is an issue I'm still dealing with too. In a light current though I like to keep my back to it and walk backwards into it. The MD will swing pretty much normally. The issue then becomes the scoop.

A light weight one is no problem, just put it over your shoulder. I use a heavy Stainless Steel one and that got to be difficult. I made up a "California Divers Float" (I only call it that because I was taught to make it by some Diver friends of mine when I lived out there). I run it on about a 10' leash and lay the scoop across it. A quick tug and the scoop slides right up to you. The float also comes in handy to carry water and even something for lunch, freeing you from returning to the beach so often.

To make the float, get a automobile tire tube, a burlap sack and some parachute cord. Stuff the tube (deflated) into the sack and lace up the open end. Inflate the tube and it will form a shape similar to a canoe. Slice the top of the sack across to within a few inches from each end. Lace up either end to keep the slice from ripping further, attach a leash and you're ready to go.

The float easily holds a gallon of water, lunch, etc. with plenty of room to spare. It tows well in heavy surf and makes a great rest platform. The different uses for this float are numerous and to much to go into here but with a little imagination you will find them.

Deepsix

 

[mumszie]

Let me add my welcome as well! All of these posts are good and especially the one about the Golden Olde site! You will learn llots of little tricks as you go on. Don't be shy! The info that the gng's on these forums are willing to share is invaluable!
Hey Deepsix - How about a picture of the California float?

 

[JP]

Deepsix47 and Mumszie are right on the money.

In heavy surf, waves, etc I sometimes carry the scoop above water on my shoulder, othertimes I use it for support like a walking stick. I'm thinking of adding a chord to it and one of those noodle floats wrapped around it. I should make a float like deepsix47 mentioned. It would come in handy in many situations. It sounds like it would be a great float for shore diving. Thanks for the idea.

Guitarman, I've read almost all the books out there, read almost all the posts on this website for the past 3 years, talked with many hunters, etc., but the best way to learn after studying is just getting into the water and doing it yourself. As the books and the hunters say you have to study the beach, each beach is different but the principals are almost all the same. If you are after jewelry go in early morning or late afternoon where the people concentrate in the day. If you were to plot on graph paper (some people do) each of your finds including coins and jewelry you will see most of the dots where the majority of people are and as they thin out so do the finds. Now that's taking into account recent drops. Old items are a different ball game. That's where studying cuts and sand movement paysoff. And that is where I will let a professional step in to advise you on that.

Good luck, keep hunting and the treasure will come.

 

[lowtones]

Work near the lifeguard chairs . Go in the water and do a trapezoid pattern then work the inside of it zig zag it . You have to think where were the people in the water the day before. Know the tide and then imagine in your head where they were standing and swimming of flinging a Frisbee the day before at the time of the tide. The busiest time at the beach is between noon and 4 pm. knowing the tides and using the pattern i told you works very well for me. Also detect straight down from the restrooms and the playgrounds people tend to keep close to these areas on the beach. Detecting in the water and knowing your Tides are Key try to hunt during a low tide because 6 hours before they were all swimming where there is just a little if not no water there now.
Good luck
LT

 

[cloviscliff]

Hi there Guitarman. Everyone's giving you good advise but I haven't heard anyone let you know about your target signals. I use a Whte's PI and most of your gold signals will be deep. You must listen very hard for those faint signals just a slight rise in your threshold could be a deep target Good Luck. Cliff

 

[deepsix47]

Deepsix47 and Mumszie are right on the money.
In heavy surf, waves, etc I sometimes carry the scoop above water on my shoulder, othertimes I use it for support like a walking stick. I'm thinking of adding a chord to it and one of those noodle floats wrapped around it. I should make a float like deepsix47 mentioned. It would come in handy in many situations. It sounds like it would be a great float for shore diving. Thanks for the idea.

Beach diving is exactly what we primarily used it for. It's great for working the off shore kelp beds for Ab's and bugs (for the bugs place a large beach towel around the inside of the tube. It helps to keep their spines from punching the tube). For spearfishing, stuff a heavy trash bag inside the tube along with the towel (helps keep the blood out of the water). Ya don't want to draw any unwelcome visitors.

You'll be amazed at how much the float will carry and it tows easily through any surf we ever had to come in or go out in. You can add a line with a small mushroom anchor on it too and it frees you up if working inside the kelp beds or just want to keep it away from you while spearfishing.

Deepsix

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Welcome to TN, and to the wonderful world of water hunting. Some real good advise already given...

You are correct, it is not easy, most times depending on where you are, your fighting the surf, as well as the the elusive target. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

As the others stated, study the beach, see where the swimmers congregate, and that is where you want to hunt. I personally usually walk parallel to the beach starting in waist deep water and after walking so far a certain direction, I turn around move over about 3 or 4 feet and work back the direction I just came from. I work slow, trying to give my detector time to search.

I have found rings anywhere from the stairs leading to the showers, up to neck deep in the water. The majority of my finds have been ankle deep to chest deep.................

Good luck and good hunting....

 

[TheSleeper]

1) I have a new respect for water hunters. The flags were yellow so I was battling moderate surf and it ain't easy. I really didn't know how or where to go in the water so I started at the edge and went out to about chest deep and came back in a zig zag pattern. Is this the way to do it, or do you all pick a line and mostly hunt parallel to the shore? If so, how far out do you mostly hunt?

2)I have a good long handle scoop (from RTG) but digging targets was still challenging. Sometimes it would take several scoops to get the target. Positioning the scoop while you're battling the waves is tough to say the least. Is there a trick to this?

3)Also, swinging a coil underwater is quite different than on land. At first, I was like, man, this is gonna tear my arm off. Then I let the ocean do some of the work and it got a little easler. Is there a trick to this? I rigged my coil with some sand in a plastic tube and tied it to the top of my coil for weight.

Any tips for a noob surf hunter?

Thanks!

1. Ok most beaches have 4 different hunting areas you need to learn:
a. The wet sand lane where everyone walks lots of toe rings
b. The ankle deep area, this is where mothers take there babies to rinse them and get them use to the water
c. The knee deep area, this is the area up to mid thigh where people go to cool off
d. The thigh to chest lane where people go to play

Each of these lanes changes as the tide changes, you need to watch the beach and see which lane the most people use then hammer it.

2. About the easiest way to learn is use your foot, locate the target you are hearing, push your coil down and move your foot (left foot if your swinging right handed) move your foot so the curve of the coil is sitting in the curve of your foot, move coil and place scoop resting against the left foot, curve of foot rest just like curve of coil, most times target is right beside big toe if your using an 8 inch coil, 10 inch experiment, experiment on where your coil locates, this is for a DD as it locates right off the heel or toe, if your using a concentric coil(locates in dead center) when you place your foot next to the coil target should be 2-3 inchs left of foot , practice on dry sand learn where your coil targets, place foot, learn where you have to place foot for scoop.

3. you already have a neutral bouyancy coil, why make it harder for you. Let the water do the work for you, wave comes in swings you one direction, undercurrent goes out pulls you the other direction, so let the water do your work for you.

4. Your using a PI unit if you hear it dig it, your going to get tired your going to get pixxed but you will dig gold.

5. Look at the bright side each piece of trash you dig out is one less piece some child may step on.

6. Always look for cuts on the beach, wet and dry, cuts go closer to the hardpack where the heavier targets sink down to.

It takes years to learn the water, been working the water for over 15 years and still learn something new.

 

[txkickergirl]

Before I started water hunting, I would see them folks out there, slow pace, just gliding along, once in awhile I would see the shake of the scoop and think, that's the life. Then I tried it. My first time, I go trucking out there and bam, target, yeah, that's when the fun begun. I could not find it to save my life, so a few of those targets and I moved inland some to study how to recover a target in shallow water. Al right got the hang of it back out I go, then bam, jelly fish, alright things aren't going well at this point. Still determined I pulled bottle cap after bottle cap, and then a can(yeah those are a ton of fun to dig and pull out 2ft under the sand) then some change, but those pennies look cruddy. Arms aching, legs shaky, about ready to drop, I left the water with every size bottle cap and pull tab you can imagine, less than 50cents mostly pennies and a new found respect for those that make it look so relaxing and easy. Most at this point would pack it up and go park and sand lot hunting, but not me, I like the challenge, and since my first time out I have found my rhythm so to speak, and I learn something everytime I go out, like recently, sharks like to hang out in the guts between sand bars. I have a long ways to go water hunting, but I am enjoying every minute of it. Stick with it you will find your way.

 

[Guitarman]

Wow! Thanks for the tips everyone! You all rock!

I did purchase a recently released water hunting book b-4 I went out but it didn't really cover the questions I asked you all. I'll be better prepared next time! I live about 45 minutes from the gulf of mexico so I'm sure I'll get another opportunity soon enough!