Wet sanding basics

The wet sand can be a very productive area of the beach, if you use the correct search pattern.
A search pattern that helps your metal detector to deal with the wet sand and relay target information back to effectively. 
There are two basic ways to search the wet sand and they both have their pros and cons, depending how wide the area of wet sand is. 
The best way to cover the lower beach close to the water is either using an East/West or North/South search pattern.
Your choice of metal detector and search coil will dictate which is the better search pattern to use. 
Some metal detectors will not work very well searching in the wet sand paralel to the shoreline.
You may receive a false signal at the end of each sweep.
Not necessarily close to the water, it is usually on the sweep away from the water that creates a false signal.
As well as being annoying, the false signals may lead to missed targets.
Switching to a smaller search coil in the wet sand usually takes care of the false signal issues. 
If your search coil is hardwired onto your metal detector, changing search patterns in the wet sand is the way to go.
An East/West search pattern should cut down on the false signals.
Slowing down your sweep speed and walking pace will also greatly improve your metal detector performance in the wet sand.
Never use the same method of searching the wet sand and live with a noisy erratic metal detector.
Assuming that you are using a multi frequency or pulse induction metal detector, help your machine to help you find treasure.
Do not be afraid to turn your sensitivity down, less power in the wet sand can lead to more finds.
The dipped headlights being better in the fog analogy also applies to operating your metal detector in the constantly changing wet sand. 
Heres an old encrusted bronze arrowhead ship spike from a Spanish galleon,  found in the wet sand this afternoon.