Beach Detecting

[Antman]

Hey all, which part of the beach is best to detected? Up in the dry sand, low tide line etc?

Which are the best sites to find out how to read a beach. Low spots, bowls, looking for clay pans, rip endings etc.

Thanks

[MD4V.org]

For me the wet sand up to my waist in the water at LOW TIDE is the best pay. I have found some nice rings along the towel line (dry sand), but wet is the bet. Reading a beach is not really rocket science.

 

[Skate]

You need to invest some time into the particular beaches you intend to hunt. Beaches aren't like inland hunting as the conditions are always changing. A couple of tidal cycles may move sand in or out, opening opportunities or burying them. 

1. Attend the beach when it's busy. See where people sit, lounge, play, etc. The towel line will shift depending on last nights high tide. 

2. Take pictures of the beaches you want to hunt. Get an idea of how the beach changes over time. Some beaches are wide and flat while others are sloped. Beaches in July often look way different than they do in January. 

3. Is it a family beach or a more solo/couples beach? Families usually sit more towards or in the towel lines and singles/couples usually sit back further. Parents like to be able to watch their kids play in the water so the high tide line is their usual resting place. Kids mean sunscreen and sunscreen means lost rings. Single women (if they had a paranoid Dad like me) usually will sit with their backs to the rock because their dad told them to never let anyone sneak up behind them. 

4. Learn how to understand the wind. Wind moves waves, wind moves sand. 

Good stuff is found everywhere on the beach, both dry and wet, the key is being there to find it before everyone else does. While nothing I wrote is earth-shattering I firmly believe that if I can shift things just slightly in my favor I have a better chance of finding it. I am a metal detective, not a metal detectorist and that is how I approach every hunt no matter where it's at. 

Good luck and I hope you get some gold soon. 

[Antman]

11 hours ago, Skate said:

You need to invest some time into the particular beaches you intend to hunt. Beaches aren't like inland hunting as the conditions are always changing. A couple of tidal cycles may move sand in or out, opening opportunities or burying them. 

1. Attend the beach when it's busy. See where people sit, lounge, play, etc. The towel line will shift depending on last nights high tide. 

2. Take pictures of the beaches you want to hunt. Get an idea of how the beach changes over time. Some beaches are wide and flat while others are sloped. Beaches in July often look way different than they do in January. 

3. Is it a family beach or a more solo/couples beach? Families usually sit more towards or in the towel lines and singles/couples usually sit back further. Parents like to be able to watch their kids play in the water so the high tide line is their usual resting place. Kids mean sunscreen and sunscreen means lost rings. Single women (if they had a paranoid Dad like me) usually will sit with their backs to the rock because their dad told them to never let anyone sneak up behind them. 

4. Learn how to understand the wind. Wind moves waves, wind moves sand. 

Good stuff is found everywhere on the beach, both dry and wet, the key is being there to find it before everyone else does. While nothing I wrote is earth-shattering I firmly believe that if I can shift things just slightly in my favor I have a better chance of finding it. I am a metal detective, not a metal detectorist and that is how I approach every hunt no matter where it's at. 

Good luck and I hope you get some gold soon. 

Thanks mate , great info

[Antman]

On 4/30/2025 at 1:28 AM, MD4V.org said:

For me the wet sand up to my waist in the water at LOW TIDE is the best pay. I have found some nice rings along the towel line (dry sand), but wet is the bet. Reading a beach is not really rocket science.

 

Thanks. Every time I dig a hole with wet sand it just fills up again. I’ll try and learn the beach a bit higher before getting into the water line 🙂👍🏽

[TampaBayBrad]

5 hours ago, Antman said:

Every time I dig a hole with wet sand it just fills up again.

Do you have a foot operated sand scoop?