TREASURE BEACHES REPORT AFTER ERNESTO!!!!

[deepsix47]

I got over there about 4:30am Wednesday morning. It was obvious they were not going to close the bridges so I caught a nap in a Sebastian parking lot. At first light I headed for the beaches and all of the IRC beach accesses were closed. I spoke to a deputy and he said they would likely open Thursday (they did). Wednesday I checked out Chucks, Round House, and Aquarina but there had not been enough surf to reach the dunes for the needed erosion. I did manage to get soaked in a couple of "rain bands" (and bit on the neck by the worlds most vicious Bull Ant when I was using one of my secret accesses) but nothing else exciting (unless you call walking a half mile down the side of the road, in heavy rain and lightning, carrying a metal detector and a long stainless scoop, exciting). I couldn't help but wonder what Rocket Scientist had come up with this brilliant idea.

Naturally the band passed as soon as I reached my truck so I put everything down and had to laugh. A young couple had parked next to me and asked why I was out in this weather (they were looking for drift wood between the rain bands). I explained that I woke up and couldn't decide if I wanted to take a shower or go treasure hunting, so I did both. In the end, the 3 of us decided that I was old, a hard head, and a treasure hunter. That kind of summed it all up....lol.

Ernesto was obviously going to be a wash out and the surf was not going to get big enough but it had been a long trip so I made the best of it. Wednesday afternoon I worked the Cabin then slipped into Sea Grape for a look.

This morning I hit the Cabin again (very slight cut) and there were a couple of other MD'ers, then went down to Sea Grape and Turtle. The cut at Sea Grape was pitiful but Turtle was better. A number of MD'ers were on the beach. I worked the lane to just past the end of the lease boundary then back along the cut.

All in all it seems to have been a poor showing at best but you never know for sure.

I ran into a few people I knew and there were a few finds but nothing earth shattering. Pretty much it was another day at the beach for most. I checked with the Fisher Museum on my way out of town and they said no finds had been reported as of yet.

Oh yea, the Beach Patrol was out up towards the Cabin. They like to give anyone in the surf line a bad time and will run you out of the water and/or call the local cops.

ALSO, because of some of the Posts I've seen here on TNet and some other forums, I stopped in the State Park. There is NO problem working the beaches within the park boundaries.
Deepsix

 

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[Silver Striker]

Hey Deepsix. I may have been one of those other two TH'ers that you saw near the cabin wreck site, on Thursday morning. Did one of them have a green machine (Garrett MD), wear a white shirt and blue shorts and work the 2-3 foot drop off and the lane, just a few yards north of where you were hunting? If so, that was me. I saw a TH'er that looked like he knew what he was doing and had a newer model detector with a black coil and a nice beach scoop. He was there from sunrise to probably around 8:30 or 8:45am and worked the lane, south of the small beach access between the Inlet and Amber Sands Beach. Was that you? I guess you didn't find anything either. I came home empty-handed, myself. There were some people riding ATV's that passed by a few times. Were those beach patrols? They didn't mess with me though. Probably because I stayed out of the water. SS

 

[-Jones-]

deepsix,

thanks for the blow by blow account!

 

[deepsix47]

Hey Deepsix. I may have been one of those other two TH'ers that you saw near the cabin wreck site, on Thursday morning. Did one of them have a green machine (Garrett MD), wear a white shirt and blue shorts and work the 2-3 foot drop off and the lane, just a few yards north of where you were hunting? If so, that was me. I saw a TH'er that looked like he knew what he was doing and had a newer model detector with a black coil and a nice beach scoop. He was there from sunrise to probably around 8:30 or 8:45am and worked the lane, south of the small beach access between the Inlet and Amber Sands Beach. Was that you? I guess you didn't find anything either. I came home empty-handed, myself. There were some people riding ATV's that passed by a few times. Were those beach patrols? They didn't mess with me though. Probably because I stayed out of the water. SS

Those were the Beach Patrols. They are also about the right times but I was mainly right on the cabin (north of where you describe). I worked the cut to the south just a little then headed on South. If you had a good time, got some experience, and learned a little, it was a good and profitable trip SS. Stay at it, put in your time in the sand (pay your dues so to speak), the finds will come your way.
Deepsix

 

[deepsix47]

Those were the Beach Patrols(Deep Six)

Please explain what legal authority if any these 'patrols' have. In Florida if someone gets in your face you have a right to 'correct' this if you feel threatened.

Cap Z.

Also is there an actual law on the books that says people cant dig on a beach?

To my knowledge these are not actually law enforcement officers. They cannot in themselves "arrest" you. They can however get on their radios and call the authorties who ARE in the habit of quickly responding to them. They in turn can cite you and/or actually arrest you under tresspassing laws.

They do not stop you from MD'ing the beach from the dune line to the low water line. The problem comes when we attempt to go into the water. The State (it makes no difference if we like it or not) has awarded the Fishers, Marx, and a number of others Admiralty Leases that extend from a given point at sea to the low tide mark on the beach. These Leases are purchased and maintained by the owner. We may not like it but it is the law, if you go into them you are trespassing.

This was merely a report on Ernesto and the Treasure Beaches. I really don't want to turn it into a question of what is right or wrong with the law. I have however started another thread to get into this.
Deepsix