Need advice for salt water beach hunting

[Bossgobbler23]

I have been fresh water beach hunting for a long time and am now planning a trip to Florida in February. How should I play the tide? I have never had to deal with this before. I plan on hunting for a full day so I will be there as the tide changes. Are certain areas better than other? Any tips and help from my saltwater friends would be appreciated.

 

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[U.K. Brian]

If your detector is up to it I would follow the tide out and then let it push me back up the beach. I say up to it because some machines like the sand to firm up a bit (and the digging will be easier). Twice a month during the new and full moons the tides rise and fall through their maximum range so the beach is more likely to be churned up and the detecting improved. The current runs at its swiftest during mid tide. Worse period, when the tidal movement is least, comes during the moons first and last quarters. (You can tell I've got one of the Casio Tide/Phase of the moon watches !)
Any stripped section should have priority. I like to use a P.I. set so I can hear the black sand and give it special attention. Sand worms will push black sand up if its not to deep so you can spot it by eye.
I favour a zig zag down the beach then check side ways when finds are made.
For the top of the beach all the old tips of where people sit/shelter from the prevailing wind behind groins, go to concession stands etc might apply but not if you have a few keen local detectorists who will have hit the beach as the crowds clear in the evening stripping the finds out best they can.
Good luck....I'm getting buried in snow at the moment.

 

[Sandman]

Good luck hunting. If you have a land machine you may run into trouble in the wet sand near the waters edge. They are ok in the dry sand though if you hit the beaches as soon as the crowd thins. Tides are weird and do move sand in an out and I just do it all. If you go into the water you have to stay out of rip tides. Don't attach you scoop to you with a cord or risk being pulled off balance or worse.

I also zig zag and then hunt in a line wher most of the targets are showing up. Go to the golden oldies web site at www.thegoldenolde.com/ This will cover it all where we can only offer tips.

Good luck,
Sandman

 

[Bossgobbler23]

Are certain areas better than other? Any tips and help from my saltwater friends would be appreciated.

Greetings from Florida?I detect in the water, so the tide does not really have an effect on my particular style of detecting. I detect in waist/chest deep regardless of the tide, with great results.

I detect in the water, so the tide does not really have an effect on my particular style of detecting. I detect in waist/chest deep regardless of the tide, with great results.

I also enjoy water hunting very much. Are the finds in the water in your opinion more frequent than beach? Also Sandman brought something up that I didn;t think of. What of these rip tides? How do you spot them?
Bossgobbler23