Surf Pirates vs. Dirt Fishers

[bdahunter]

I've detected in the dirt and I've detected in the water but I notice that these two areas of metal detecting attract very different personality types, generally speaking. I find dirt fishing to be rather sedate in comparision to surf pirating and I think that's the main difference in the kind of person attracted to these two very different parts of the hobby.
I love the sound of crashing surf because it means that the Surf God is tearing up the beach to spill loot for the pirates that dare to brave the waves. Dirt fishing seems to have more to do with cutting a neat plug and tiptoeing through the tulips. It's just too fussy and boring for my tastes.
To each their own taste as far as I'm concerned but when I can't get out and hunt the water anymore then I think it will be time for me to hang up the detectors permanently.

Cheers Pirates,

BDA

 

[bossman]

Not all people live by the beach. I have hunted the beach once , I plan on going more this year, but is a 600 mile round trip. So I dirt fish because that's whats available

 

[thinkin2]

Well, I agree with you to a point. Living on the coast I find the beach an extremely relaxing environment but there was a time when I loved hunting inland on some of the old plantations and Civil War campsites and battlefields too. But that's hard work and not exactly a tiptoe through the tulips kind of thing. Nothing more exciting than seeing a nice confederate button or belt plate see daylight for the first time sinc way back then. Kind of like from a Civil War soldier's hand to your hand. Really neat when you think of it that way. I also loved digging cannon balls and artillery shells. And even Folly Beach used to produce tons of Union CW relics way back before the beach renourishment programs began. But as far as hunting schools or playgrounds for coins, nah. That's just not for me. --Jerry

 

[bdahunter]

Well, I agree with you to a point. Living on the coast I find the beach an extremely relaxing environment but there was a time when I loved hunting inland on some of the old plantations and Civil War campsites and battlefields too. But that's hard work and not exactly a tiptoe through the tulips kind of thing. Nothing more exciting than seeing a nice confederate button or belt plate see daylight for the first time sinc way back then. Kind of like from a Civil War soldier's hand to your hand. Really neat when you think of it that way. I also loved digging cannon balls and artillery shells. And even Folly Beach used to produce tons of Union CW relics way back before the beach renourishment programs began. But as far as hunting schools or playgrounds for coins, nah. That's just not for me. --Jerry

Digging up live Artillery shells from the civil war, all the while dodging Canebreak rattlesnakes does have a certain amount of excitement to it. I stand corrected, surf pirating and relic digging are both good fun in my books.

 

[Goldak]

Don't forget lake hunting! It's not quite as dynamic as surf hunting but finding a gold ring in your basket is just as exciting and most people can get to a lake somewhere. HH!

 

[Dig]

I'll detect anywhere you let me. That being said the ocean was my first true love so I always go runnng back to her.

 

[bdahunter]

Don't forget lake hunting! It's not quite as dynamic as surf hunting but finding a gold ring in your basket is just as exciting and most people can get to a lake somewhere. HH!

Gettin' Wet is what it's all about for me. Lakes are good (Sandusky is in Ohio if I recall correctly and I'd LOVE to hunt that swimming area) but they do tend to pale next to the pounding surf of a tropical ocean beach. Take your gold where ya can get, Mates!

 

[Roscue2]

I mainly hunt land because their are markers to show you where the most finds are probably going to be. The beach makes my head spin. Usually not as many people too when you hunt land.

 

[Razorback]

Interesting.

After 4 odd years of chasing only gold with a Minelab PI, Im pretty new to treasure.

So far I prefer the beach, not even sure why.

 

[fir469]

Detecting in the dry and wet sand is cake work compared to trudging through thick woods and cutting roots and dealing with spiders, snakes, ticks, chiggers, animal S$%^, branches, gopher holes, door knocking for permission, obtaining permits, off roading to get to spots, hiking sometimes miles to get to locations...... did I miss any?? All to get to that colonial copper or militaria button or other nice relic... I'd rather do all that and relic dig for history, then wiggle my toes in the sand for clad and the occasional jewelry. I only live 45 minutes from the beach in NJ but I never go unless I'm 10 minutes away. Too many guys detect the beaches here, we tend to be sanded in heavy, and I have way too much history to locate in NJ rather then chase after modern clad, modern jewelry, and newer silver coins in terrible shape. To each his own though... I'm a dirt fisher I guess haha.

 

[S.S.Tupperware]

Well for me either coast is an hour away, and we have a place on the east coast so I tend to hunt there. I grew up on the water so that's where I like to hunt. Here there are not many old places to go and what was old has new houses on them. I will be hunting a spot where I camp once a year that had Cypress swamp logged in the 1800's so I will be giving it a go this weekend.

 

[bdahunter]

Not Dry sand, not Wet sand but Surf.

[attachment 152505 IMGP0737.JPG]

I landed 2 gold rings on that hunt and had a blast.

 

[thinkin2]

Not Dry sand, not Wet sand but Surf.

[attachment 152505 IMGP0737.JPG]

I landed 2 gold rings on that hunt and had a blast.

This kind of hunting will test your stamina and separate those who want it from those who don't. Relic hunting was sometimes very rough, especially during hot, humid months. Heck, cold and rainy days were no fun weatherwise either. But I was always steady on my feet and could stop and rest for a minute or two without having to move from my location. In the surf I'm rarely steady on my feet and there is no taking a break for a minute or two without wading ashore. It's a test just to hold yourself in place at all but add to that trying to zero in on and retrieve a target you can't see and it really is a challenge most probably wouldn't want to stay with, yours truly included. Guess I'm getting a little old for challenges, lol. --Jerry

 

[bdahunter]

That was one of the most extreme hunts I have experienced in a while but I was in the middle of a hot streak and couldn't break it. Somewhere between flat calm and the torrent in the picture is where I generally like to hunt. I'm getting a little older myself, I'll be 49 in another month.

 

[VBDave]

I like both and split my time about evenly between the two. I find that if I concentrate too heavily on one, I get burned out after a month or so. Besides, being equally immersed in both justifies all the necessary toys that come with the territory!

 

[doindadiggin]

Hi ss mate i like the thrill of finding the target then putting your foot on it and trying to hold that spot while the WAVE goes back god i nearly got it .terry in oz and you bush guys reckon bush detecting is hard,C,MON

 

[bdahunter]

YIKES!! I may be a Crazy Canuck but those Aussiess are Full On, Hard Core. Amazing pic!

Thanks Mate,

 

[thinkin2]

Get out there and get it while you still can, brother, because after 50 things start to slide a little each year more than they did at 40. And after 60, well, I don't really want to scare you so I'll stop here, lol. Nah, like my dear old daddy always said, it's a good day when you wake up on this side of the ground so I like to celebrate every one of them. --Jerry

 

[tidewalker2]

Hey, watch it sonny! I'm after 60 and still get out there when the legs don't hurt too much, and when I can stay awake, and when i think of it and remember what it was I wanted to do and ---what was I just talking about?
Aaarrrggg. ED