Tampa Treasure?

F

Fiction44T

Guest
Hello all, I'm new to TN. I just got my Garrett Ace 250 last Friday and I'm looking forward to taking the MD but I'm unsure where to start. I talked to my dad and asked him where to start and he said he could have helped me if would have asked him 30 years ago. This is due to the fact that they are building houses like crazy in Tampa and he is unsure where I might have luck, so this is where the forum comes in. Do you have any suggestions for me. I live In Wesley Chapel, Fl but i don't mind traveling to Tampa to look for old coins. I heard that most people don't like giving details of their spots, so I don't know if I will get any help but I thought that it wouldn't hurt to ask. I have 3 daughters and they are very eager to start digging.
 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

How to Research for Treasure Hunting and Metal Detecting From Lead Generation to Vetting - Grab it through Amazon!
Hey Fiction,

Congrats on getting the Ace 250. It is a great machine, you'll love it. As far as where to start.....I would say start at the local tot lots and see what you come up with. The day I got mine, I hit our back yard and started getting a feel for the detector. I have two kids also that accompany me quite frequently. I have found that by hitting the tot lots it gives the kids the opportunity to go and play if they get bored, while I keep swinging and diggin....

Of course you always have the beaches....I live in Manatee County and have hit the Manatee Public beach a couple of times. Let me tell ya though the beaches seem to be hit hard. On one trip out there I saw 2 other people hunting the same beach....

I think anywhere that you can get out and start getting a feel for the Ace will be a good starting point.

Good luck, I think you will find that this is an awesome hobby..

Happy Hunting!!

Ken
 

You can always start at any of the parks and play grounds till you find better. I looked you up on a map, lot of old, small towns around you that have potential.

Look for old churches, parks and so on. Stop and ask some locals, tell them your out showing your daughters how to metal detect and learning some of the local history, ask them if they know where there are old buildings or old area of town where it's legal to hunt. Look for sidewalk tear outs.
 

If you know any realtors, ask about vacant older houses, they may let you dig there, just cover your holes, use a probe (a long screwdriver will work) and dig as small a hole as possible. Also any real old streets (brick, preferably) getting torn up and redone. Ask the guy in charge if you can check in the sand underneath, making it clear you will only do so out of their way, or after they stop for the day. Check for historical markers around your area and in nearby towns; there might be a site there where its legal to dig, just stay out of state historical parks.

HH Becket
 

I would think if you can find any open areas in Ybor city it might be good hunting.
 

Hello Fiction and welcome! I live across the bay (Pinellas Cty) and have been MD'in' for 8 months now. I have hunted Tampa a few times with limited results. Port Tampa (South Tampa to Picnic Island)which has a long history and lots of old houses has always been a bust for me. I have never explored the area known as Rattlesnake, North side of Gandy at the bridge (a Marine post sits on part of it now). It had a post office and a rattlesnake cannery (hence the name). There is a long stretch of houses on the South side of I-275 just West of downtown that were torn down (blocks of them) to make way for future expansion. Hunted the dickens out of that and came out with nil. Allegedly the St Pete club took van loads of guys in and stripped it. Ben Davis Beach on the Courtney Campbell has a volley ball court, though I would recommend a sand scoop as unsavory types do hang there and who knows what may be in the sand. Keep your eyes open and do your homework, there are open spaces between the development and still many historical buildings left. Good Luck and if I can clarify any of the above just ask.
Kevin
 

St Pete area here... I don't have much info on Tampa because I haven't looked deeper into the little stuff I have. I'm still trying to find some areas to detect over here on this side of the bay... and my Ace 150 is leaving me frustrated with its lack of a pinpointing feature. I really need to get a pinpointer so I don't have that problem anymore. Anyway, if I find anything for ya', I'll pass it along to you. Later!

Bran <><
 

Thank you all for your responses. I'm taking off next Thursday and Friday so hopefully I will be able to find some spots where me and my daughters can dig. I think I may try the beach, So I they do get bored they can go swim. Thanks again to everybody.
 

Gogisnum 1, I am not sure what you mean by a pinpointing feature, as I have never owned a MD with one, but all you have to do is, move the coil over, and as you go over it, swing closer to you, and then away from you. That will tell you if it is in that area, then do the same but raise the coil, it should pinpoint the spot, as you are up higher and the object will have a smaller ID footprint. When you are up high, and it just goes away, then comes back when you lower, it should be right in the center of the coil. I have PI detectors, and can pinpoint a coin or whatever within a inch or so. Just practice. And to Fiction44, I live in Sarasota, and havent hunted up in Tampa, but know guys who have. It might be picked over, but as the others have said, there is new grounds to check out, like old houses being torn down, sidewalks being torn up, just open fields can produce. Any popular beach gets hit hard, but check parking areas, picnic areas, and places where people congregate or use money. Like after hours near the consesion stands, or volleyball nets, or picnic tables-yes you will find a beer bottle top or 2 and can pop tops, but if you pick them up, maybe next time there will be something good. Dig it all! You never know what you will find. I always felt if somehow you could detect after the State or county fair left, you could make enough to maybe fill you gas tank.
 

Hey Fiction, I just moved to Wesley Chapel from Tampa. The parks are your best bet in Tampa, or if you can find a school that hasn't been fenced in, they are also good. The beaches are the best. We have found most of our good finds at the beach. I just got a 250 also and haven't had a chance to take it out yet. Let me know how it works for you.

Mike


Mike
 

Fiction44T, welcome aboard. I've never hunted Tampa. I hunt a few Pinellas Co. beaches. When I get a little burned out on the beaches, I find private property that looks promising. http://appraiser.pascogov.com/ I find this website very useful when I'm trying to find: owner's name and address, size of the property, when the building was built, previous owner, etc. Almost forgot http://fivay.org/. Hope this helps.
 

Ybor City, although full of history and probably alot of good stuff to metal detect, the area just north and south of 7th ave is not the greatest neighborhood in the world....How do I know this....I am a Tampa Police Officer....Ybor City has an element that lives in the surrounding area, If you cherish your wallet and detector I would stay out..Its sad but true, I dont even detect there, not worth it. Just watch the news, there are shootings there among othere incidents all the time. Good Luck, I hope this helped.

Richard
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

In Orlando

⬅️ Previous Thread

st cloud MXT newbee

Next Thread ➡️

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)

Latest Discussions

Back
Top