LawrencetheMDer
Hero Member
- Feb 22, 2014
- 986
- 2,406
- 🏆 Honorable Mentions:
- 2
- Detector(s) used
- Minelab Manticore, Minelab CTX3030 w 11" and 17" DD coils,
Minelab Excalibur II w 10" coil, Equinox 800 (4) w 11" and 15" coils,
Troy Shadow x2 w 7" coil, Pointers; Garrett Carrot, Pro Find 35,
- Primary Interest:
- Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
It has been a tough Jan and Feb here on the west coast of Florida. Cold weather really reduced beach traffic and if they don't go to the beach than no one goes in the water. As for the water, temps have been also below normal so even if someone got to the beach the chances were slim that they would enter the water. Because of the low beach traffic, dry and wet sand finds have been dismal based on casual talks with numerous detectorists in the area. For example, Jerry, who actually lives just off Clearwater beach on the outer bank told me yesterday that he has found only 2 small 10k charms on Clearwater beach this year and he has the chance to detect every day as well as evenings! Personally, I've been to Clearwater beach 10 times this year (about 60 hrs) and haven't found any gold and only one small piece of silver (ear ring back). I have found 4 junk bands (3-SS, 1-Tungsten) and about 8-9 coins/hr, but this is very depressed from the past 3 years, when I find gold about every 30 hrs of beach hunting.
Talked to Jim today who was at Howard Park, at Tarpon Springs. A Snow Bird, who arrives in November, I saw his Excal in his open trunk and decided to see what he thought about MDing this Winter on the west coast of Florida. He expressed the same feelings that things were slow due to the cold weather and cold water. "Haven't really found much this year", he said after I asked about his finds this year. The wind was blowing about 15mph with a wind chill coming off the Gulf and it was low 70s, at least it was sunny.
Spring Break is here and there are crowds now at the beach but not many going into the water. Spent 5 hrs in the water yesterday and found a few coins and junk ear ring. Couldn't believe how quiet it was in the water...had to hit the dry sand once-in-a-while just to dig some signals, any signals as I wasn't being picky. It is sad when you enjoy digging cents, just to dig something. This isn't to say you can't find gold, eventually, but it is just harder. I did snag a small (2.84g) 10k white gold and diamond band last Friday (12:06 on CTX 3030) at a local beach but it took me 115 hrs of MDing (not all at the same time) to find the band whereas in previous years I would have found 3 or 4 by now!
PS The wife confiscated the white gold and diamond band since it fit her perfectly...now back to the beach. I'll let you know how March turns-out.
Talked to Jim today who was at Howard Park, at Tarpon Springs. A Snow Bird, who arrives in November, I saw his Excal in his open trunk and decided to see what he thought about MDing this Winter on the west coast of Florida. He expressed the same feelings that things were slow due to the cold weather and cold water. "Haven't really found much this year", he said after I asked about his finds this year. The wind was blowing about 15mph with a wind chill coming off the Gulf and it was low 70s, at least it was sunny.
Spring Break is here and there are crowds now at the beach but not many going into the water. Spent 5 hrs in the water yesterday and found a few coins and junk ear ring. Couldn't believe how quiet it was in the water...had to hit the dry sand once-in-a-while just to dig some signals, any signals as I wasn't being picky. It is sad when you enjoy digging cents, just to dig something. This isn't to say you can't find gold, eventually, but it is just harder. I did snag a small (2.84g) 10k white gold and diamond band last Friday (12:06 on CTX 3030) at a local beach but it took me 115 hrs of MDing (not all at the same time) to find the band whereas in previous years I would have found 3 or 4 by now!
PS The wife confiscated the white gold and diamond band since it fit her perfectly...now back to the beach. I'll let you know how March turns-out.
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