Beach hunting is what I do the most. I wear diving boots with diving socks. The fit is better slightly loose rather than slightly tight. I wear old jeans and a velcro strap around the ankles and the top of the boots. This keeps the sand out which is necessary if you want to spend any significant time out there.
I use a 9" T-Rex scoop. After making my own, and buying a cheaper scoop, I just bought the T-Rex. It doesn't corrode much and holds up to the enormous strain and forces it takes to seriously dig in the sand. I think this was very much worth the money. I got a sturdy wooden handle with metal sheath to use with the TRex.
The harness is necessary!
The beaches I go are not very trashy in the wet sand (and I agree this is the best during low tide). My normal setting is using the preset Beach Mode with Recovery Fast "on" and Recovery Deep "off", Seawater "on". Target Separation to "Low Trash". Sometime I go back and forth between the open screen and this one. I use the 11' coil and think this is a great balance between weight and detecting ability and ground coverage.
I don't use recovery deep in the surf. It detects things too deep that I'm not able to get at with the surf pounding. recovery deep is good on the dry sand.
I look for entrances to the beach where people walk. Also the line where people put their blankets in the dry sand is great for hunting as well.
Gold pieces don't move around much even in the surf. I dig and hold the scoop with one hand then do a sweep to see if the item is still in the hole. If it is, I repeat until the signal is gone and hopefully the thing is in your scoop.
IMPORTANT: Be constantly aware that the scoop can hit the detector if you are not careful! I was lucky a few times.
I like to have everything ready when I am at home so when I get to the beach, I'm out there are working not making adjustments to stuff.
I decide ahead of time if I am going to be in the rough surf or not. If there is a chance I am, then I go for the waterproof headphones. If not, I just use the remote and headsets that fit the remote module.
Leave the pinpointer in the car. Unless you are doing dry sand, then it might save time.
Use the waves and water to sift the sand out of your scoop and leaving the coins and big stuff.
If you think you have something in your scoop, and the surf is rough, head out of the water and to an area the water doesn't reach. Then dump your scoop and take your time finding your target.
Anyway, hope this helps.
Mike
