I just made a chest mount for mine after using it on the handle for years. I never had an issue but I got older and my elbow doesn't like it on the handle anymore. I used a cheap Glock holster and removed the actual gun holster. I was able to use the belt loop snaps to snap to each other across my chest with the belt clip on them. I only used it twice since, but I am very happy with it. If I am on my knee, I can easily pinpoint without reaching around me and I find I just leave the coil nearby. I an't compare with a hip mount but since I often carry a shovel and/or a scoop, I lean them up against me once I find a target and I can imagine the hip mount being either good or bad for that, but I am not sure which. It certainly would be involved.
I have moved so I am not at the beach as much these days and I still like to use it on the ground or on rainy days. I just bought a used XLT for trashy areas, but the fisher has really been a great machine.