MORE TIPS

Below are some pictures I took after a couple of hurricanes raced up the Gulf in 2002. There are some more tips mixed in with the pictures.

Some of the tips may be the same thing as the original page I put up. Only difference is now you can see it.

Sorry if some of the things are a repeat. I'll try not to do it too much.

Pass A Grille Beach. Facing north.

This is just north of the public beach. There is no private beach but folks don't venture too far north of the general parking area.

If you look close of the right side of the picture you can see how far up the sea weed is and the slight cut in the sand from the water.

All this thanks to a hurricane out in the Gulf in 2002. Sorry pictures are a bit old but they serve some use.

This is facing south.

You can really see the cut in the sand. I don't like how high it is on the beach but the pictures serve a purpose.

If you were to take a board and lay it flat across the cut in the sand you can see how much is actually missing. Now take that and picture the coins that were just on top.

The theory I use is heavy stuff falls. Light stuff lifts up and out with the waves. With that in mind there should not be many pull tabs ( but there is ) and there should be a lot of coins both new and old.

All this is too high on the beach. People sit a bit lower, closer to the water. But never underestimate what you can find in a nice cut in the beach like this. I found nothing this time out.

The areas where the water comes in and out are usually good for something.

Also the sand that is lost provides a chance at things that are a bit deeper and once out of reach.

St. Pete Beach facing north.

Again you can see how high the sea weed got. The chairs are always a good spot. Also the pay station to the right of the picture is a good place to look.

Found my first ring at these chairs. It was only silver, but it set the hook and I have not been able to get away from the hobby since.

St. Pete. Beach further north.

You can see all the hotels to the right. Lots of people. Lots of chairs.

But again the sea weed is way too high and all the goodies got washed out in the Gulf. I did not do very well in finding anything while I was out.

St. Pete. Beach facing south.

If you follow the coast line all the way down and to the right, that's Pass A Grille Beach.

Sorry I don't have much to say about this picture.

Treasure Island facing east.

Now see that building in the back of the beach? That is where the public parking is! Whole lot of beach huh?

Well here is where it pays to do some research. Mostly visiting the beach will tell you where the people sit and you will find out it is not anywhere in this picture. This area is used mostly for walking to and from.

When you are walking in an area like this: Leave your detector on. You don't have to swing just walk normally. You will be surprised but what you find just by doing nothing but listening while you walk. Junk does win in the most find column but you never know.

Treasure Island facing west.

This is what you see while walking to the water. Not so bad going out. It is walking back after a few hours that really stinks.

Notice the chairs. This is where you will find you people starting to gather.

If you have a beach like this you may want to go early in the morning and take notice to any clubs that meet in the area you see here. It is inviting to them. They get to meet and do their own thing and stay out of others way. Just like you and I they sit down and chat and lose things.

Treasure Island facing north.

The chairs are always a good spot. But don't forget in between them. The chairs are moved from time to time. Either by being knocked around or put away for a storm. There might have been a chair in the middle.

Treasure Island facing north.

Look at the beach. There is a small cut to the left of the picture. Not a big as Pass A Grille but it did produce a gold ring.

Always check the cuts!

Treasure Island facing south.

When all else fails... follow the tire tracks. No I'm not nuts.

When a patrol goes up and down the beach they are looking for people that don't need to be there at 3 a.m. They know where the people hang out. Sometimes they go up and down just above the line of people sitting on the beach during the day.

Treasure Island facing south.

Treasure Island is huge as far as beaches go. This is just more area where people can gather away from the water.

These are all the public areas.

What you don't see is the out of the way places. These are the hotels that are still on the main drag but 1 mile down the road. And they are spaced apart from on another. Don't overlook these spots.

In order to be successful in the hobby you really need to think way outside the box. People think public beaches = money. And they are right. But what about that hotel nobody wants to check because it is 3 miles north\south and only hold 100 rooms. They lose things the same way a public parking area people lose things.

When it comes right down to it, there are no real set rules for beach hunting.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF STUPIDITY!

You may be wasting your time looking in a spot where there are no people. Then again you may not be.

Have fun at what you are doing. That is what a hobby is all about.