Low Water means TH the lakes.

[FLauthor]

Are you tired of hunting the same beaches and finding very little? Too much competition? If you have a boat, canoe or kayak then get out there and start hunting around docks and secluded private beaches. All the lakes are really low. Some are 4 to 6 feet below normal. Most docks might be 3 - 4 feet deep. I hunted a private beach today, accessible only by water. My take was $3.60 all clad and a piece of costume jewelry and a 5 pence UK coin. Nice thing about it, I was the only detectorist in sight. Sure, I dug a bucket load of trash but that comes with the hobby. Just pick a sand bottom lake and that makes hunting a lot easier for digging and sifting. If a dock owner comes out and complains. On navigable lakes, their property ends at the high water mark and what lies in the water is State submerged bottom land. Be polite and explain that you are helping clean the lake bottom. If they don't like that answer then move on over to the next dock . Most lakes are huge and there are lots of docks. I know of several private beaches in my area and the only access is by water. Just be sure to anchor your boat and not beach it.
Good luck and may fortune smile upon you.

 

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[dahut]

On navigable lakes, their property ends at the high water mark and what lies in the water is State submerged bottom land.
Be careful here about dispensing legal advice. I am a real estate licensee in 3 states and riparian rights (fresh water rivers, lakes and ponds) vary from place to place. Also, much depends on what is in deed as to who controls what.

If it bother you, find out before you assume anything. Of course, you can always fall back on the old
standby: "It's easier to get forgivenenss than permission."

 

[Sandman]

Dahut is right. Laws vary in different states as to what belongs to the property owner.

A better location for this type of hunting are lake sandbars where boats gather and tie along side each other for a party most of the summer. It's best if the lake has a state owned boat ramp where out of towners may launch their boat with plans to join the party. These party boats hardly ever keep their trash aboard and toss most of it over the side so there could be anything on the bottom waiting for you.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

He was probably just refering to Florida lakes which in Florida are public owned unless they are totally surrounded by private property and do not have even a single access point by public land, which is pretty rare here.

If any lake property touches public land at all then we can access the lake, and hunt from our boat off the beach shore.

 

[FLauthor]

Yep, forgot to mention that its Florida. Various states laws are different on navigable waters. In Georgia, when gold dredging the Chesatee River and Etowah River. The right of way that crosses the river extend out about 25 feet on either side. Property lines usually run down the middle of the river.
Many years ago I went to the City Hall in Clermont, Florida asking if property lines extended into the lakes. Their answer if the lakes doesn't have public access then the lines extend into the lake dividing up like a pie. But on navigable water like the Clermont Chain, Winter Park Chain, Winter Haven Chain, Lake Butler Chain, Lake Harris Chain and so forth, those lakes property lines go to the high water mark or to the water's edge depending if the lake is high or low. If in doubt, consult the city hall or county tax collector about the local laws. Islands in a lake are usually fair game if you have a boat.
Sorry about that!

 

[Monty]

Oklahoma has several dozen Corps of Engineers lakes and there is no private ownership of the shoreline. People who own property bordering the lake sometimes think they own the lakeshore but it is public property. They may pay a yearly fee for putting a boat dock on the shoreline, and the boat dock is private property, but the water under it is actually public property. I wouldn't try to hunt beneath anyone's boat dock however, but along the edges is perfectly legal. The local Corps Commander has the right to deny access to treasure hunters so it is best to tread lightly and dang sure avoid trouble.
Our lakes are many feet above normal due to the unusualy wet spring and early summer and are not safe for the most part right now. By the end of August they should be back to normal and the beach hunting will be much better. There are several sandy islands on the lake near my home where the big cruisers, house boats and party animals tend to congregate and they will be ideal hunting spots in the early fall. Monty