detecting a semi-private beach

[smartfox]

The beach is a public one but there are a lot of houses right on them. I did a bit of detecting one time but just around showers and miscellaneus places. This time I am planning to detect the beach seriously. Also there is some kind of reef where people scuba dive and sometimes do some spear fishing. Planning on detecting close to shore in the water if the water is calm. Has anyone ever searched a beach like that where there are million dollar houses at? let me know. Planning on going saturday morning. If anybody is in the pompano area and would like to go with me let me know.

[KellycoChick]

oh man... I wish I could go!! But BDA seems like the man to talk to as far as combing a private beach properly... Goodluck! I can't wait to see what you find! I could probably find this on your profile, but what machine ya usin'?

[Buster]

"E" and I went hunting up in Destin Florida. Real rich people there...Britney Spears and such..The beach had no trespassing on it and we could only walk the water line.There was a big booming voice that said keep away or the police would be called..Found very little , maybe a few coins I think. I thought that we would hit it big on this one for sure..We did make the beaches safer by picking up pull tabs and bottle caps... Will await the spring breakers to join us so we can find what they lose after a hard fun night.That will be on our own home beaches. Good luck and happy hunting, maybe you will have better luck then we did.....Buster.......

[Lt1stone]

My closest beach is KAW Lake and its up 6" for the duck and goose hunters here.

[gordiesgirl]

Good luck I hope you find lots,

[smartfox]

I own a whites dfx. WOW Buster. That's messed up about threatening to call the cops. This beach is a bit weird because technically it is public but there are not really too many people around. To get to the reef it is about 1 mile walk. That is the closest parking there is and there are some people that go fishing and snorkling there but it is not much. Also I do not think too many people know about this beach because when you pass around there before that mile which is blocked by mostly houses before the mile there are these big buildings that also cover it so the average beach goer does not even realize what a beautiful beach there is. I found this beach by accident myself and now every once in a while I go with my family for fishing, snorkeling, picnic, and have a couple of discrete drinks as well. Wish me luck.

['E']

Ditto what Buster said, hope you have better luck than we did!!

[EPC Guy]

Hope you find some great bling!

[bdahunter]

Hi Smartfox:

I hunt beaches exclusively and mainly in the water. Where I live in Bermuda there is no such thing as a truly private beach just private access because the government owns all waterfront up to the high tide mark. So while hunting any beach here is legal, getting to some beaches can be difficult without a boat. You've got to be creative in this case so that you either get permission to cross the landowners land to get to the beach or find another way in. (sometimes I can wade to it and sometimes I have to take my boat)
Canada has a similar arrangement as both countries laws are based on British maritime laws.
You may still get challenged even if your being there is perfectly legal as many people just come to assume that the beach is theirs even when it really isn't. (that's where firm but reasonable diplomacy comes in) Assuming you have a legal right to go on this beach and I assume you do because you state that it is semi-private; you can usually disarm the person by letting them know that you know the law, that you are actually cleaning the beach of trash as a byproduct of hunting it and by assuring them that you will leave the beach in the same pristine state you found it in, probably better.
If the person just decides to be a jerk then you have to decide if it is worth it to go ahead and try and enjoy your hunt while somebody glares at you or worse calls the cops with the resulting hassle of dealing with that. If you have done your homework and have a strong legal position you shouldn't have any problem with the cops, especially if you maintain a respectful demeanour. If the cops side with you it will also shut down the landowner who is trying to bully you off of the beach. If your position is not strong you may find your equipment confiscated and possibly recieve a fine. This has never happened to me but I have heard rumours of it happening to others, the circumstances weren't totally clear.
All of that said, you can find REALLY NICE stuff at a semi-private beach because the people swimming there generally lose better stuff and because nobody else hunts it. I work several hotel beaches and I do it by offering to help the management by locating lost rings for guests, if possible. One hand washes the other and I am polite and respectful of the guests who are paying big dollars for their week in the sun. I'm 2 for 2 at recoveries for hotels at the moment and the searches involved only an hour of my time for unlimited access to the hotel beaches without the hassle of coming in by boat. It's nice to be welcome at these hotels and they are welcoming because I am nice.

Good hunting,

BDA

PS You will find the better stuff in the wetsand at low tide, in the shallow or my favorite neck deep in the mine. If you are in the water rather than working the dry sand along the edge of a landowners backyard you are less likely to attract attention to yourself with the risk of having to go through a hassle. JMHO