If you were hunting a beach...

[kid iowa]

Found a few swimming beaches to hunt, but will have limited time to do so. They are pretty trashy, but used A LOT during the holidays during the summer. Saw a few other detectorists and talked to them, but they said that they hadn't found anything except pull tabs and caps. My question: What area of the beach would you concentrate on? Near the waterline, or about 10-15 feet back from the waterline where it seems the majority of trash (and people) were? Thanks in advance. Jim

 

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[gunner6170]

Hunt some beaches myself, but still listen to what others
here say as I'm fairly new to MDing.
I find mine, hunt Va Beach sometimes, back about 15-30'
from the water.? Growing up down there, i just know where
the folks normally laid there towels down and stuff.? Now still
check the shallow water if you can protect your detctor or
have a water proof one.? besides the sweating on hot summer
days, folks lose stuff from putting on all that suntan lotion...
the shallow water is good for the folks that wear their jewelry
into the water (like wedding bands, lots of folks are so used to wearing
them they forget to take them off... or the wifey fusses if they do
so they keep it on!) and then the water shrivels up their skin.
PRESTO!? Off comes the ring and here I come!

 

[tallpaul]

hunt it all

 

[lonewolfe]

I'd hunt 1 to 20 ft into the water off of the beach

 

[stoney56]

Since you sem to be talking about freshwater beaches, search where the towels and beach chairs have left their mark(expect lots of caps and tabs) then check around the little sand castles and trenches that kids build (if you like finding the occasional hot wheels), and last but best is the shallow water up to your chest or so.

 

[Born2Dtect]

Each beach has its own character. What works well on one might not work as well on another. The best bet is to go and view the beach in use. See where the most people are and go there first. I personally like the dry sand where sun bathers lie. When they get up the often shake off their blankets and leave a few things for me to find. Also the area where swimmers are waste deep, as this where most will spend their time and it is the place they first contact the water , causing fingers to shrink from exposure to colder water.

Ed Donovan

 

[Sandman]

Lonewolfe is correct on this. The area from where the water hits the shore out to 2 foot deep is where the mothers sit with the baby and they lose their rings since they didn't think to take them off. But this is the area where the most junk is also and you have to check it out. One thing I do since I think your talking about fresh water beaches is to not do any digging in the shallow water unless I plan on filling in my holes completely. The area of disturbance can still be seen from shore and managers don't like to see this as they think of lawsuits from guests that might step in a hole and fall. I save this area for non swin season. Dry sand is good for anytime and I usually do this while I dry off.

The area where I found the most rings seems to be about three foot. I think this is where most people wade out and then splash the other person and rings go flying. Coming ashore also they flail the arms to shake off water. I enjoy watching swimmers do handstands as I found a couple nice heavy chains this way that were still latched.

Then again you may as well search it all! What else are you gonna do, go home and do some Honey do's?

HH,
Sandman

 

[Monty]

Most of my freshwater beach finds have been back a ways from the water where people sun bathe. The beaches I hunt are on flood control lakes and have a fluctuating water level so it's hard to say for sure. In the spring some of these areas are under water but late summer and early fall they are exposed. I just got an underwater detector in August and plan to hunt some shallow water next spring when the water warms. Monty