| Living within a mile of a popular Florida beach, I | | | | the water. The more sand that is moved in these |
| started water hunting in 1970 with an interest in | | | | cut outs will likely mean more finds. Older coins as |
| finding gold and silver jewelry as well as adding | | | | well as gold jewelry are located in the channels at |
| American and foreign coins to my collection. | | | | a much deeper level, so make sure you dig the |
| Water metal detecting is a science and not | | | | fainter, whisper-like signals. Rememder POP! Be |
| always an easy adventure, but it can be very | | | | patient, be observant and be persistent. |
| rewarding. I use the word POP to guide my water | | | | If you are a newbie to water hunting, this would |
| detecting pursuits. One must be patient, | | | | be a good time to practice. Go out in shallow |
| observant, and persistent to meet with success in | | | | water so that you can look into the water and |
| building a coin collection by water hunting with a | | | | see the general area of your target and practice |
| metal detector. Mother nature can throw some | | | | pinpointing. In deeper water or water that is |
| big curve balls and the factors of winds, tides and | | | | clouded by sand movement, it is much more |
| currents change the beach by keeping the sand | | | | difficult to find your targets and this pinpointing |
| on the move continually. The average person will | | | | practice routine will increase your success and |
| not notice these changes but the earnest water | | | | save you time too. |
| hunter must train their eyes and be patient, | | | | Summertime is the best time to go water hunting |
| observant and persistent. | | | | if you live in areas where winters are somewhat |
| The equipment needed for water hunting is | | | | colder. Living in central Florida on the Gulf of |
| different than land hunting. If you do not have a | | | | Mexico, all year is good. Fall and winter storms |
| completely submersible metal detector you will be | | | | produce greater sand movement for us and |
| limited to hunting only at low tide. You will also | | | | older, more valuable finds in greater numbers are |
| face the danger of getting water/salt water into | | | | found in a short time after a storm surge. Timing |
| your detector housing and risk the destruction of | | | | is very important. Two friends of mine found |
| the detector itself. I do not recommend water | | | | over 2500 coins and 30 gold jewelry pieces after |
| hunting without a fully submersible unit. Having | | | | a no name storm hit our beaches a few years |
| either a stainless steel or PVC long handle scoop is | | | | ago. I was at Disney World and missed that |
| also important. Digging up water finds is | | | | opportunity. Tides also play an important role in |
| complicated by the water movement working | | | | timing. Get a tide chart for your area. |
| against you continually. So a large long handled | | | | Newspapers are a good source for them. Try to |
| scoop will keep you from having to bend over in | | | | get to the beach one to two hours before low |
| the low tide as well as permitting you to hunt in | | | | tide. Hunt the beach until the tide coming back in |
| deeper water. My favorite scoop is my self- | | | | makes hunting difficult. Your coin finds will be |
| made PVC 12 inch plumbing device that required | | | | greatly increased by timing and patience. Do not |
| only about two hours to construct at less than | | | | go water detecting at night or in a thunder storm. |
| $15.00. My long handle stainless scoop sells for | | | | Both are very dangerous and potentially life |
| more than$150.00. There are other accessories | | | | threatening. Why be shark bait or a lightening rod! |
| that can add to making your hunting easier but | | | | I have hunted beaches on both coasts and find |
| are not essential. | | | | each beach has its' own personality. However, a |
| Before entering the water to begin detecting, | | | | principle impacts all water hunting. Keep your |
| take a good look at the beach. Notice the parts | | | | discrimination down and dig everything. Pulltabs, |
| of the beach with the least amount of sand. | | | | bottle caps and small foil pieces are usually found |
| Normally the same conditions will exist in the | | | | close to the shore's edge where the water hits |
| water. These are the best places to start as finds | | | | the beach. If you are finding too much trash |
| seem to be more concentrated in these areas. If | | | | move out deeper. Remember too that some of |
| there are no noticeable areas with less sand, use | | | | that "trash" is also of value. My children's ministry |
| your detector to find an area where there are | | | | sold 1,000,000 found pull tabs for $244.00. Lead |
| more targets and enter the water there. | | | | fishing sinkers earned me nearly 100 dollars. |
| Another item to observe is channels, or cuts in | | | | |