A few things about search coil size

Ever come across a really productive area and thought a larger search coil would make a difference. 

A large search coil only makes a difference when you are searching for targets buried deeper in open areas, by open areas I mean areas with little to no iron.

Put iron in the equation and it does not matter how much non Ferrous stuff is in the ground you probably won't detect it. 

The last time I ran across a productive site with multiple good targets I was using an 11 inch search coil.

Because the area was littered with iron, I went smaller instead of larger and found more good stuff.

I know from experience that a larger search coil would not have detected any more good targets.

A larger search coil would have been one big null, even with the removal of multiple non Ferrous targets from the area. 

Instead, I was able to cut down on iron masking and detect more good targets. 

A perfect example of bigger not always better better, and showing how target depth is not everything to a beach hunter. 

I still search areas that I see other  beach hunters walk right over without detecting anything using 11 and 10 inch size search coils.

Sweep a smaller search coil over the same area and out pop small gold bands, ear rings and chains.

You don't have to always go big, the hardest targets to detect are often the shallowest targets.

A recent bucket list find I recovered popped out of a 3 or 4 inch deep hole, it just needed to be detected.

As a guide, use larger search coils at beaches with little to no iron, taking advantage of the large coils best features, ground coverage and target depth.

Use smaller coils at trashier beach sites, taking advantage of the small search coils sensitivity to small targets and enhanced target recovery speed between the trash. 

Remember to sweep low, slow and level no matter what size search coil you use.

Rocket science and beach hunting

I'm a meat and potatoes kind of guy when it comes to beach hunting, as anyone who has read one of my beach and water hunting books or took a lesson from me will tell you.

I rely on beach reading and metal detecting skills I've learned from spending an insane amount of time walking tidal river banks mud larking and saltwater beaches metal detecting.

Boots on the ground river bank and beach hunting, information earned the only real way you can.

Beach hunting, water hunting, setting up and using a metal detector is not rocket science, but to hear many people who describe themselves as pros you would think it is.

Metal detectors for beach hunting are only complicated if you want them to be, after all there is only one thing you want to set them up to do, beep when the search coil goes over metal in the sand. 

I don't think I've ever used all the controls, options or features on any metal detector I have used for beach hunting.

I just use the ones I need to detect the stuff I'm searching for.

The words complicated and a metal detector for beach hunting should never be used in the same sentence, you are using the wrong type of metal detector if they are.

Beach reading and people reading skills are also not rocket science. 

You don't need a degree in beach or ocean floor sedimentary science to tell you if the sand is firm your walking over, it may hold jewelry or coins.

In my opinion, you can't beat simple stuff when it comes to beach and water hunting.

From metal detectors used at the beach, to visual clues that potentially increase your chances of finding what you are searching for at the beach.

Learning curves in beach hunting are easily overcome by taking a straight line! 

To show or not to show finds

This year marks the first year I have not posted freshly scooped finds on a regular basis. 

I stopped posting recent beach and water hunting finds after getting tailed to the beach, dropping our girls at school, the ice rink and even all the way through a McDonalds drive thru! 

It's been tough not posting especially with some of the stuff I have pulled out of my scoop this year, including three finds I had the good fortune to cross off my treasure hunting bucket list this year.

Recently while on vacation I checked out a few social media sites and metal detecting forums to see who is finding what and where.

I saw a few pieces of jewelry with the beaches named that had me saying to myself, wow they must be crazy posting that.
Posting previous big ticket finds I always preferred to put a few weeks or even months between finding and posting.

From previous experiences posting big ticket finds, you can expect about a half dozen people saying the jewelry you posted belonged to them. 

I believe I am at eleven people and counting after one Rolex I recovered several years ago and two people saying my 300 year old Spanish treasure ring was lost by them at the beach! 

Don't get me wrong, I have found and continue to find many pieces of jewelry that get returned every year to grateful owners, but with millions of people visiting Florida beaches from all over the world I know there's a good chance many big ticket finds will be napping in the bank vault a long time. 

Which brings me nicely to the next reason I stopped posting finds which is security, although 

I don't keep any valuables at home why imply there is.

Perhaps I will do a few year in review type posts towards the end of the year, but in the meantime this beach pirate is going to keep flying under the radar.
I often wonder how long the old gold prospectors would have lasted if they had metal detecting forums back in the day.

Hey look at what I found today, good or bad idea, what say you fellow beach and shallow water hunting enthusiasts?

Digging deeper

Although I am known as a discriminating beach hunter, I often dig it all and dig it deep by using a PI (Pulse induction) metal detector or a VLF metal detector with an extra large search coil.

The deeper a metal detector detects, the more difficult it is to recover deep targets inside the water or in the wet sand. 

You have to be careful you don't waste valuable metal detecting time digging instead of recovering, but away from the water the depth advantages using a PI, all metal search mode, or an extra large search coil often pay off.

I sometimes prefer to put my metal detector down and use a spade to dig deep holes faster when I am using a PI, all metal search mode or an extra large search coil on the beach.

Pulse induction metal detectors and VLFs with large search coils work especially well at heavily hunted beaches, when your best chances of finding something are getting lucky with fresh drops, lady luck is something I prefer not to rely on.

Better than relying on luck is detecting deep stuff beyond the range of the majority of people searching the beach. 

Sure you dig a lot of deep trash, but a heavily hunted beach has the majority of surface trash removed by regular beach hunters or " Skimmers" who actually do you a favor. 
Knowing the shallow surface finds have probably already been removed allows you to concentrate on detecting deeper targets.

A pulse induction metal detector is in my opinion very site specific, but when you have the sites pulse induction is definitely the way to go.

If a pulse induction metal detector is not in your budget, invest in a large search coil for your VLF metal detector and switch to the all metal search mode digging everything.

Beaches are forever changing, competition comes and goes, it makes perfect beach treasure hunting sense to change things up to counter conditions and competition. 
Bringing up encrusted gold at a well hunted tourist beach is a good sign, it means you are probably the only one using the correct equipment or search mode for the site or conditions. 

Scooping targets in the wet sand

There is nothing worse than getting a good signal, scooping it out the hole and having a wave wash it away. 

If it is rough surf and your beach hunting you probably will never know what it was, it's gone.

To avoid the heartache of seeing a gold ring or a Spanish treasure coin washing away in front of your eyes, it is always best to use the scoop and dump target recovery method in the wet sand.

I prefer using a large basket scoop to cut down on digging, as the quicker you recover targets in the wet sand the better.

Scooping, double checking the hole and taking a few steps away from the water before dumping, is my preferred way of recovering targets in the wet sand. 

It's not foolproof and surf may wash over the sand you just dumped, but if you see it at least you have a chance of stepping on the target or using your foot or scoop to prevent it from being washed away.

Closer to the water those options have less chance of being successful. 

Try scooping and dumping, see if it works for you.

Here is a video I made recently showing the way I go about recovering targets in the wet sand.

https://youtu.be/u8iJn1MHTak

Holiday weekend beach hunting tips

Memorial Day beaches are going to be busy so here are a few tips that may help you to detect something good.

Timing

When expecting crowded beaches over a three day weekend, try to time your beach hunts to take advantage of the crowds. Avoid going out and spending all your energy on a Saturday morning before people have had a chance to lose anything. Sunday or Monday are the best days to search over a long weekend holiday.

Patience is one of the three Ps of beach hunting, have the patience to wait for suntan lotion, water temperature and waves to help you. 

Equipment choices 

Plan ahead by using the beach hunting equipment that will give you the best chance of finding something good.

Check out the expected weather forecast, tide times, surf height and plan to use the best choice of metal detector or search coil size.  In other words, don't just show up and wish you had used a different size search coil or metal detector.

Successful beach hunters plan ahead and know what to expect and find accordingly. 

Location 

Have a premium location in mind and at least two good back up sites.

Think about parking and if you have to move because you know the site is not happening, know where you can quickly move or park.

Choose back up sites that are not very far away from the first site you had planned to search. 

You never know what can change between planning and showing up to detect.

If you time your beach hunts, know what to expect and have a plan you are already way ahead of the competition at heavily hunted tourist type beaches.

Some of my best finds have come during or after three day holiday weekends. 

Be the beach hunter with the plan over the next crowded three day holiday weekend at the beach.

How to find and search a coin line at the beach

How to find a coin line

A zig zag or loose S pattern is a great way to find a coin line on the lower beach.
Coin lines are basically a line of assorted materials washed onto the beach during a previous high tide.

As you are searching for a line of deposited materials, it makes sense that a zig zag or a snaking search pattern will help you discover a coin line faster than searching in a straight line parallel to shore. 

Snaking down the lower beach, periodically glance behind and check out previously dug holes, any linear pattern of dug holes is probably a coin line. 

Gold rings being heavier and creating drag because of their shape, are more likely to be found below the coin line.

Once you believe you have found a previous high tide ( Coin) line, change to a tighter north - south or east-west search pattern.

Pound the heck out of the area and dig as much stuff as possible, especially if you are recovering jewelry. 
Before moving away from any productive coin line I always search the area from two different directions, never ever walk along and then away from a coin line without hitting it twice. 
Any target along the coin line may potentially mask a good target, I've lost track of the number of diamond rings I have recovered along coin lines I only heard after I removed clad coins and bottle caps. 
I had the means to disc all of those unwanted targets out, but I know the effects of both iron and target masking along productive coin lines. 

Now you know why I never only walk in one straight line paralel to shore, like many other beach hunters do. 
Discovering a coin line is always a high priority to me, like finding the end of the big lower beach sandy conveyor belt. 
Find a line of coins on the lower beach and jewelry is never far away.