newbie in south florida.. Advise Please..

[Surfr2984]

Hello all,

I have to say that I have never been hunting before but I am so hooked just by reading threads in this site and would like some input on how to get started. I currently live in Jupiter, FL and am looking to get started hunting in my area. I dont want to just run out and buy a detector and become a beach comber looking for loose pocket change (although from what I read, it can yield some interesting finds). I am interested more in the historical finds that are out there. I love the idea of finding something that was last touched centuries ago. Working in my favor, I am a 100 Ton master captain and have a 31ft boat and a hard bottomed inflatable as well. I am not a certified scuba diver but love to free dive (20-40ft max). My parents live on the Loxahatchee River NW at the border of Johnathon Dickenson State Park which I am inclined to search (carefully to avoid the fuzz of course). I would prefer to search land based places first just to get my feet "wet" so-to-speak and have read some things about the Ais Indians in Tequesta that reportedly had some wealth. With such a proximity to the ocean, Id like to think that a lot of that treasure made it ashore to be hidden in caches after a shipwreck but cant really find any evidence to support my theories. I know the norm is to keep quiet on anything that is found but Id really like to find something cool. I only wish that I would have started getting interested in this stuff when I was in college in Chapel Hill NC so I could look for that NC Railroad Confederate gold but alas, I chose the ocean and sun over the mountains and BBQ.. Id love some information or advise about hunting in my area to help quell this itch I have for history and treasure. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. I LOVE this site and appreciate the help!!!!!

 

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[williamsingr]

Welcome and have fun,,I was in florida for 5 years, hated it to dam hot for me, came back to michigan, best advice, use lots of sun screen and watch your self they are cracking down on metal detecting down there, a good public beach should yield some nice lost jewelry but your probably after better stuff, dont know of any of the local legends but I know a number of pirates were in florida one of which was known to habit Port Charlotte and his loot was never found but was supposed to buried up one of the rivers, i forget which a few of my friends did some research on it and tried and failed to find it, all I remember is that is it supposed to buried around the inside of a bend or was it the outside, oh hell I cant even remember which now, see the heat from the sun destroyed my memory

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Hello Surf. I started metal detecting in the 70's but kinda got out of it for many years. I wish I had kept it up but we didnt have internet in those days and all the wealth of information available today. If I only knew then what I know now.

Im not interested in modern beach hunting either. Ill send a PM when I get a chance.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I just cant seem to get used to the new TN. I dont know if my PM was sent out. Did the Ais hide treasure? The answer is yes.

 

[River Rat]

Surfr2984

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Have you read:

Memoir
​

Of
​

Hernando D'Escalante Fontaneda*


​

Fontaneda