Very Basic Saltwater Beach Question..

[EasySwing]

I have just started beach hunting with my new Mark II Seahunter, but I have hunted the dry sand with my MXT before. Question is this ..

Do most of you salt water hunters hunt at low tide at the water's edge or at low tide in the water? Does anyone hunt say at high tide? How about the wet sand?

Here in Florida I am waiting for the water temp get get warmer and of course summertime to venture out in the water about waist deep.

 

[Blazer-12]

Hi,

I like to use this pattern on a new beach I have never hunted before. I try and arrive at the beach about two hours before low tide. And I start hunting at the waters edge following the tide as it goes out hunting a W search pattern. I try and cover the area between where the surf is to about 30 ft up the beach from the surf and back down to the surf. I'll continue hunting like this until I locate targets. At which time I may see that most of my finds are in a line at which time I return to search the area I missed while doing my W search pattern.

On dry sand I concentrate on the areas that have the most foot traffic to and from the beach. And other area to search are areas of sports activities.

Good Luck

 

[Dig]

Hi Easyswing! Let me just say, you wont regret your decision to get into the water. It's where all the goodies are. As far as tides go, don't let that rule you too much. I personally prefer to work an hour or two before the mean low tide of the day and then a few hours after. My hunts are usually 3-4 hours long. On a low...I will try to work as far out in the water first (because the water is further out allowing me to get deeper) and then I will work my way into shore finishing up wet-sanding. I'm not saying that's the best way, its just a way that has worked for me. Don't be afraid to hunt the high tide either...I have found plenty of treasure hunting the highs. I don't know where you are exactly, but, I am also in Florida (West Central) and if you need help or have questions. Just ask!

 

[bcoop]

As Dig has already said. I like to get to the beach at least a couple hours before low tide and follow the tide out. I work a pattern perpendicular to the beach, going from the wet sand line to the water and back up over lapping my swings. I will do this until I notice a line of targets I have dug. (coin line) Then I will turn and work parallel with the water and work my way either up or down the beach for a good distance dragging my scoop. I then turn around and go back between my scoop drag marks and the water over lapping my swings from the previous trip so I am following the tide out.

When people play in the water at high tide they are on the beach about halfway between the high tide line and the low tide line, so that is a good place to hunt when low tide is present. The area of beach where people play at low tide is never seen, it is always under water. You have to get in the water to detect those spots.

There are good targets in the dry sand as well, you can work the towel/beach tent line and find plenty of coins and some jewelry there too. But that is where all the junk is ie; pull tabs, twist off bottle caps tent spikes and lots of small pieces of aluminum foil. Take a note and look at how people enter and leave the beach, reference to the board walks. Those are natural funnels to foot traffic because they are the only places to get on or off the beach. Good areas to search.

If targets are slim, I will work a tight pattern from high tide line to the water in a zig zag back and forth over lapping my swings. I have also just got in the water line and followed it up or down the beach as the tide is going out.

Hope this helps and gives you some ideas.

Good Luck

BCOOP

 

[S.S.Tupperware]

I am partial to wet sand to ankle deep at low tide. The wast coast is another animal. Where in Fl are ya?

 

[mudpuppy]

If I can find a spot where there was a fire, or even sparkler wires, that means somebody was there at night. If there are bottle caps, that means they were drinking...if there are "signs" that females were there too, that means jewelry...all this tells me somebody probably went skinny dipping, and when shirts and pants come off, odds are good that big necklaces, coins, keys, went flying too..everything in the sand tells you about who was at the spot, and is important for your success...are there cigarette butts? are they menthols? how many? that determines how long somebody was there and increases the possibility they lost something, bottle caps? what brand? something a girl would most likely drink? diapers? bobby pins? hot wheel cars? wheres the nearest place that a girl would go to relieve herself? Wheres the private spot some young lovers would go? Condom wrappers up in a secluded pocket of the dune grass led me to my first gold ring, slowed me down, and BAM! tiny little foil signal, but it has two diamonds and an opal...

I like the "downstream" water of a beach, wherever the prevailing current is running...seems that the main beach gets swept pretty good by local detectorists, but since its such a big place, you gotta smoke jump to the hot spots...I like quickly sweeping where people park their cars, and head up over the dunes, got several silver ankle bracelets here...

I'm looking at a water machine right now, the Seahunter, to be able to snorkle the deeper water, especially after the crowds show up, let me know what you think of yours... but again, location is paramount, and water slows a fellow down, and saps a persons energy pretty quickly. Good luck, there is a wealth of information in the posts that replied to yours!

 

[EasySwing]

I am partial to wet sand to ankle deep at low tide. The wast coast is another animal. Where in Fl are ya?

I am in Jacksonville, FL Marty

 

[Dig]

Well in that case be sure to hunt the land and the water. Dont just consign yourself to one type of hunting. St. Augustine is just down the road from you and is the oldest known city in the US. Get into the parks and hunt as well as hunting the beaches! Good luck and be sure to show us some pictures

 

[Ron Lord]

I hunt high tide or low tide,up to my neck.I've seen big sharks and little ones,they swim by I stumb the bottom and they are gone and life go's on.

 

[Craig-PI]

I usually hunt two hours before lowtide (outgoing) and the two hours on the incoming tide... for me its the best time... I'm not much of a dry sand hunter

 

[Craig-PI]

I hunt high tide or low tide,up to my neck.I've seen big sharks and little ones,they swim by I stumb the bottom and they are gone and life go's on.

What does this have to do with the OPers questions? Where are you coming up with this stuff? swallow a dumb pill?

 

[PI JOE]

I hunt high tide or low tide,up to my neck.I've seen big sharks and little ones,they swim by I stumb the bottom and they are gone and life go's on.

Easyswing, You got some great advice here.....keep swinging! g/l junklord, Sure hope we don't hear about you in the news.....let's hope when you do stumb again, isn't a bullshark.........understand!

 

[erikk]

I hunt high tide or low tide,up to my neck.I've seen big sharks and little ones,they swim by I stumb the bottom and they are gone and life go's on.

What does this have to do with the OPers questions? Where are you coming up with this stuff? swallow a dumb pill?

Maybe YOU should read the question again:

"Do most of you salt water hunters hunt at low tide at the water's edge or at low tide in the water? Does anyone hunt say at high tide? How about the wet sand?"
I also hunt high or low tide from wet to neck deep and have been doing it for many many years

 

[EasySwing]

Thanks again for the input.. I will put the info to good use. Probably due to the time of the year there are not many targets in the wet sand so I will have to go deeper in the water. As for those sharks and big fish. Wisdom dictates to me that if I see any sharks, I am out of the water immediately at least for that day. A few pieces of clad or gold is not worth a nibble of me. lol. Take care guys and once again thanks.. EZ

 

[John(Tx)]

I've had sharks swim around me while wade fishing, kind of gives you the willies, just hoping they aren't hungry.....never have encountered one while hunting in the water. HH