1st Hunt 2008 - $7.87

[johnj45586]

I decided to make my first hunt of 2008 down in Carlsbad California. When I last scanned the main city beach I found a set of keys that I turned in at the visitor's center. While there someone suggested that South Carlsbad would be greater hunting.
I looked up the beaches in South Carlsbad and found two. One was Carlsbad State Beach and the other was South Carlsbad State Beach (campground). I packed a lunch and headed south (50 miles from home).
The Carlsbad State beach is at the intersection of Tamarack and Carlsbad. When I got there I found the name on the sign is "Tamarack Surf Beach", regardless of what is on the CA state beach web page. There is free parking (most parking in and around Carlsbad is free!). I parked and hunted for a couple of hours with very little luck. Just a few coins and a lot of trash. The trash was overwhelming and I had to leave most of it for city workers to pick up.
Since we had a very early breakfast I decided to head for the campground and have lunch before hunting there. To park in the campground would cost $8, but there was a free parking lot just outside the camping area next to the beach (on a cliff over the beach actually). A look at the beach was disheartening.
The incline is very slight, just a few degrees out into the water. That means that high tide washes the beach everyday all the way to the cliff. Also the beach has a very large number of rocks. The rocks are neat, they are round and polished. If I didn't already have far too many rocks in my collection I would have picked up more. It was tough to leave them!
The other bad sign was black sand (all the sand, not just a percentage) extended from the cliff out toward the water about 15-20 feet. This would be the area that people would change, put blankets etc. The detector couldn't handle it. When I scooped I ended up with a big black furry blob all around the magnet in my basket. This was magnetite for sure!
I regrouped and headed for Carlsbad Village Drive, found a parking space and started hunting at the main city beach. I looked along the seawall and other limits of public beach (furthest points from the water). I figured this would be the best place to hunt.
Well into the hunt a woman yelled down from her balcony (beach front house) that she had already hunted the area with a metal detector. She held it up for me to see. A little later she came down and we talked. I told her I hadn't found much, probably because she had hunted the area. I didn't have the heart to show her my take. I had 23 quarters, 16 dimes, 5 nickels and 37 pennies.
There was quite a bit of metal trash at the main beach too. I have never seen so many pop tabs and bottle caps. There were a few cans and quite a bit of litter type trash. Altogether we filled and emptied three bags.
So I guess I learned something about metal detecting tips. They may not be credible. I don't thing the person that gave me the South Carlsbad tip was a treasure hunter - or even knew a treasure hunter. Even if I removed the magnet from the basket, I couldn't really hunt in the magnetite. There are just too many rocks scattered through the sand.
We have a large storm coming in right now. They just started issuing high surf warnings starting tomorrow morning. The surf will be 7 to 10 foot swells out of the west and northwest and should last until Monday. It is supposed to be raining right now, but it isn't. I can hardly wait to see how the sand gets moved around by Monday.
A partial listing of 2007 finds (starting June 15 when I got the $50 Bounty Hunter that lasted until August before falling completely apart) includes the following:
$380 in clad/zinc coins found, not counting foreign coins.
6 gold rings, one with two man made sapphires and one with a natural dark blue sapphire.
10 sterling silver rings, one was a spinner.
two Tiffany pendants, sterling silver.
one solid silver bracelet
one silver link bracelet.
A gold crucifix and necklace.
Two tungsten carbide rings.
One watch ring.
8 dollar coins.
Lots of stud earrings with silver baskets and CZ stones.
A whole bag of toys.
37 foreign coins and 9 tokens (includes 1 Euro and a 2 Euro coins).
3 silver dimes
12 wheaties (1927 is oldest)
A bunch of odds and ends including junk earrings, braclets, nail clippers, corkscrews and just about everything metal you could lose at the beach.
Hopefully 2008 will be as good or better. I really have to get into some grass/dirt hunting. I have enlisted my Bowie Knife as a digging implement. The hand spade I was going to use is way too lightweight!
Happy hunting to all in the new year!

[Buster]

Still a good day of hunting, John..It also shows that no place is ever hunted out..Hope you find some good stuff after the storm..Take care...Buster.....

['E']

Also by telling her you didn't find much, it'll keep her out of there for your future hunts, man I never even thought of a magnet, what a terrific idea, I could attach one to the inside of my sand scoop, another reason I like reading posts on here, learn something new every day, thanks John & congrats on your hunt!!!!

[EBCIII]

Thanks for the post John! You did very well at Carlsbasd, congrats. I spent a week there a few years ago. I went to a school for work. I really enjoyed it. Very nice town and the food was fantastic, Beale.

[gordiesgirl]

Great clad count. WTG You have had an awsome start in 2007. 2008 ought to be even better. Best of luck to you John

[EPC Guy]

Another good read, John...congrats on a good day and a good hunt...I believe 2008 will be good to ya!

[JohnWPA]

Nice hunt John....looks like you guys are getting bad weather out there this weekend....stay safe and HHunting in 2008!!!

John

[HaveFaith]

Wow, sounds like huge waves are on the way, should help out with your hunts! That storm sounds like it is gonna be one mean storm, so stay safe. You did very good with the clad. I love finding clad, it sure helps out with whatever plans you have for it. I know what you mean about finding the rocks you collect. I collect sea shells so it is very hard for me to pass them up, but I have such a huge collection, I have no more room so unfortunately I have to leave them.

Looks like 07 was very good to you, and I hope 08 is even better. Good Luck, and HH!!

~HaveFaith~

[Dixieldy]

Hey John- Don't ya just love it when they tell ya they have already hunted the place and you turn around and find a mass of coins behind them? I've been told that before on the beach and turned around and found alot behind them.

You have done a great job for 2007 in such a short period of time. I just know you are going to do even better in 08. Looking forward to reading more of your post.

[johnj45586]

Originally Posted by 'E'

Also by telling her you didn't find much, it'll keep her out of there for your future hunts, man I never even thought of a magnet, what a terrific idea, I could attach one to the inside of my sand scoop, another reason I like reading posts on here, learn something new every day, thanks John & congrats on your hunt!!!!

E
A magnet is an essential part of the sand scoop. It collects rusted nails, bobby pins and other stuff that will slip through the mesh. That means that when you sweep again the sand has another signal in it. I have learned that it is best to sweep an area and scoop until clean. You never know what treasure is being masked by the trash. The three Sacagawea dollars I found on the 4th scoop following bottle caps, aluminum can slaw and pop tabs.
I use a 1 inch diameter rare earth magnet I bought at my local prospector store. You can also get them online from places like Emund Scientific
Edmund Scientific: educational toys, gifts, hobby supplies & science equipment.
CAUTION: Be very careful when you have the magnet away from the scoop. It will destroy credit cards and many other magnetic reader items. It is relatively safe when inside your scoop (or on a metal plate). When I bought mine I carried it at arms length to the car where I installed it in my scoop, then went back and paid for it.