Headin down to Jacksonville soon - Question about legalities/club meetings

[Narthoniel]

Hello,

I just thumbed through this forum a bit to see what I could learn about the laws reguarding beach hunting in the Jacksonville/St. Augustine area. I am now very depressed after reading some of the proposed laws on the books - I hate politics.

Anyway, I wanted to be sure that I will encounter no trouble when I am down south. I read that aside from the state park in St Augustine, the beaches are wide open. Does this include in the surf and wet sand? Or only up higher. The info I read did not make it entirely clear, and I want to be 100% sure I am good to go.

As for Jacksonville, what are the rules there? I will likely check out Ponte Vedra and S Ponte Vedra, as there is a beach house in the family down that way. I am not knowledgeable about any other public beaches in the city, but I plan to look for some soon online before I go. Just want to be sure I can detect worry free, and have no issues with the law.

I will be visiting the week of Thanksgiving, and I was curious to see if there are any clubs that meet in the area during that time. If there are, I would be interested in attending a meeting while I am in town.

Thank you in advance for any information,
Anthony

 

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[ivan salis]

the club I belong (club historian --- offical history info go to guy) to meets the second tuesday of the month . by and large except for some "historical areas" around st augustine and federal park areas -- the beaches area wide open dune foot to water line -- no sweat -- jacksonville is ok but the area of north talbot island and the southern tip of amelia ilsand --ie nassau sound area is off limits to MDing sadly === when in the area get in touch

 

[Narthoniel]

the beaches area wide open dune foot to water line -- no sweat --

Therein my confusion lay - Does that mean if I step foot into the water with a detector, I am out of bounds?

 

[ivan salis]

only if your in a leased water site area * where shipwrecks are at --- say certain 1715 sites * other than that --generally speaking your fine to water hunt in the shallows -- unless it a prohibited place --like federal park land -- military base -- "historic preserve" or such.

 

[Narthoniel]

I suppose I need to research which beaches in particular I might want to visit and ask about them specifically then. Will not be going south of St Augustine tho.

 

[wreckdiver1715]

The state statute reads "from the tow of the dune to the mean low tide line." so you can be in the water with your detector, but no further than the average low tide line. However, there are no laws or state statutes that prohibit the use of a metal detector in the water. But, you are prohibited from recovering any man made object older than 50 years old. So if you find my metal detector clutched in my cold dead hand on the bottom, you must leave me there because I'm over 50.

Tom

 

[JP]

So if you find my metal detector clutched in my cold dead hand on the bottom, you must leave me there because I'm over 50.

Very good one Tom. You made my day, didn't have a good laugh until now.

Yes the laws in Florida are very strange and contradictory regarding metal detecting, but I still love the state, 6th or 7th generation now.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Narthoniel]

Well, if I find somethin old, Ill play stupid, or just keep it tucked away nice and safe

 

[Narthoniel]

It looks like I am going to be hunting 4 different places if I am able. St Augustine Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra, and Hanna Park.

I have tried to find out what type of park Hannah park is, but to no avail. Is anyone familiar with this stretch of beach? My mom is camping out there the day after Turkeyday, and I am going to spend the day with them there. Was hoping to get a stroll down the beach in as well.

I see the state park area on the map for St Augustine, and know to stay away from there. Are there any areas that I need to be aware of at the other two locations?

Thank you,
Anthony

 

[Sapper23]

Narthoniel,



Hanna park is a city park, you can hunt the beach's there. stay with in laws.
( mean high to mean low ) St. Aug. the same way. you will see white 4x4 post
along the beach starting at " A " Ave to Matanzas ramp stay out of that area, so call " sea turtles area"
with st. aug. bch , start in the middle of the beach and work down to the water.
Sand is in!!! but if you see cut's, work them!!!!!

good hunting

 

[Narthoniel]

Thank you for all of the information. Good to know about the turtles, as we don't get many of them here.

 

[ivan salis]

huegnot park is a great place as well

 

[Bum Luck]

I've hunted Jax Beach in the winter several times, and it was a big bust.

I thought lots of dark thoughts in the huge time gaps between finding one or two clad coins, and some are:

1: That there are machines that the city uses to groom beaches that sieve junk (and coins) out.

2: The beach sand is pumped in from off shore and the coins and jewelry are covered up.

3: There are LOTS of fellow detectorists that hit the beach long before I get my carcass out of bed.

4: These guys get the goodies during the summer when there are actually people on the beach (Jax is too cold a lot of the winter for normal people to be at the beach).

Any comments from smarter guys than me?

 

[Narthoniel]

I spent last Monday on Jax beach with decent results. Found a ring, earring, and belly ring, as well as a buck or to in clad, and a bunch of trash. Seems like it is definitely possible to get some goodies there on the right day