So I had an unusual interaction while metal detecting at Del Mar beach in San Diego today. I recently acquired a Manticore and decided to hit the beach today. After spending several hours detecting in both the wet. And dry sand, and it being a rather warm day it was time to take a break, and drink some water. I anchored my scoop into the dry sand, and leaned my detector against my scoop. I see this guy bee lining it towards me from the waters edge. White male 30s clean shaven, buzz cut, black shirt, denim shorts. He asks me if I am taking pictures, and is my sand scoop a tripod. I was a little shocked, because I'm certain he knew exactly what it was . I replied no, it was a metal detector. Guys demeanor changed, and he got a bit confrontational. He responded something to the effect of. You shouldn't be detecting here. This is a family beach, there's women in bikinis. This goes against G-d. Your stealing. Etc. I didn't want to trigger the guy more, because he seemed mental, I was like yeah ok, he walked off to the higher dry sand , and just glared at me. I walked a distance away. And continued detecting. I kind of wanted to test my oc spray, and sand scoop on him, but thought it wiser to just let it go. Have been detecting for probably close to 15 years, most interactions are very pleasant.
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Unusual interaction while detecting today.
- Thread starter Natedogg
- Start date
fwcrawford
Well-known member
Well…. That sure was a strange encounter for sure.. you did the right thing to leave the area…..he must have been a nut!!
I had a guy in Delaware tell me to stop detecting because his wife had a pacemaker and the detector would interfere with that and put her life at risk. I laughed and he got real mad. Because he was so mad, rather than trying to explain and reason with him, I said OK, where is she on the beach and I will steer clear of her ... then went on my way detecting.
Donna(NJ
Well-known member
Yep, the beach is a haven for wacko's. I have a couple of bars on the beach and you always have a bunch of drunks hassling you.
I once had a girl do a face plant right in front of me, twice !!! I called security to get her off the beach. Hunting during the day is a hassle.
Best to go early morning when no one is there except detecting people.
Best advice is dont confront. Just walk away. You'll never win. The odds of finding a gold ring at that spot a million to 1. Just keep walking.
Most times when ###holes start making beeping noises I just totally pretend I dont hear them. Its easy when you have headphones on.
As I always say, Unfortunately you have to put up with the crap that comes to the beach during the summer. Otherwise there would be nothing to find !!!!!
Sorry you had to go through that. There will always be stupid people hanging out.
HH
Donna(NJ
Odanscoils
Well-known member
I'd of said yea.
It's my new x-ray camera.
Odanscoils
Well-known member
Sad you didn't have your Trump's hat on.
Confetrit
Well-known member
People can sometimes really be rude, not acting, just being rude. I had a guy come walking up to me abruptly once on the beach talking rather loud and all but demanded in asking "what the h_ _ _ I was looking for. Thebeach was pretty busy being during the day, and he said this loud enough for folks to hear. I was wearing headphones, and I removed them so I could answer him. I calmly told him that I was searching for mines or depth charges from WWII that sometimes wash up in the sand through the years. I calmly replaced my headphones back on my head, and Continued to walk on.
OldBeechnut
Well-known member
Never had any the years I detected OC Md 2008 to 2014. Did have a few cute encounters with kids. One little girl 7 came up and asked what are you doing. I told her looking for coins and treasure, she walked away and came back about 5 minutes later and gave me some coins. Another a little boy the same question, what are you looking for.. I said coins and treasure.. He kindly told me I was looking in the wrong place.. he said all the treasure is out there in the water. Which really he is 100% correct... Got that one on video.. if you look close he is wearing a skull and crossbones T shirt.. lol 2011
Once I started hunting the Chesapeake Bay (2015-2026) I've had maybe 4 good ones where the police were called on me or the Park Rangers wanted to know what I was doing. All were what are you doing here or this water belongs to us. Each time was either cleared up by the police or the DNR (water police) clearing everyone up including the police. And I've had a couple good encounters where the land owners were just curious and kindly offered me to cross there property when I wanted.
Once I started hunting the Chesapeake Bay (2015-2026) I've had maybe 4 good ones where the police were called on me or the Park Rangers wanted to know what I was doing. All were what are you doing here or this water belongs to us. Each time was either cleared up by the police or the DNR (water police) clearing everyone up including the police. And I've had a couple good encounters where the land owners were just curious and kindly offered me to cross there property when I wanted.
Yup. Pretty much kids are great, fun to talk with and explain what I'm doing. I've given several of them clad coins I found while they were watching. Only had one problem kid that wanted to step on the coil. After asking him three times to not step on the coil then I stopped detecting the sand and went into the water. He did not follow. Had he done so, the next step would have been to ask him to take me to his parents or who ever he was with that day. Fortunately that was not needed.
silverseeker 2
Well-known member
California IS The "LAND OF FRUITS & NUTS!!! THAT PLACE IS NOW A TOTAL SHT-HOLE...silverseeker 2Well…. That sure was a strange encounter for sure.. you did the right thing to leave the area…..he must have been a nut!!
Goldstrike
Well-known member
Yep, you meet all sorts of individuals m.d. All my interactions on beaches have been positive including one where a young 20 something old bikini clad young women insisted I take a $100 bill.! She really insisted so I took it. She had won some money in LasVegas and wanted to share it! She walked off the beach and I did not see her again!! Newport beach btw.
Wow that was very generous of her.
Here's another interesting encounter I had that occurred approximately a year and 1/2 ago. I met a detecting buddy of mine at La Jolla shores for a early morning minus tide. We had already been on the beach for several hours, its dark of course, and he usually heads in one direction, and I the other. So I get a target, dig it up and its a ring, not gold but maybe stainless. So I flash my strobe in the general direction he went to get his attention. I see this guy start walking towards me from the dry sand, and its not by detecting buddy. The person is flailing his arms, and yelling something discernible. As he gets closer he tells me in a thick accent, oh my gosh I thought you were 
policia. I was so scared. Oh wow you have metal detector. Ever since I young I want one. You looking for treasure. I hope you find big treasure. I believe he said he was from Venezuela, and he reeked of alcohol. Dude is right in my personal space following me around. He than says to me, don't worry I'm not going to kill you and take your metal detector. Im in fight or flight mode, I told him, I was going to continue what I was doing, and didn't want him following me. He got the hint, and walked up towards the restrooms. I immediately called my friend only to find out he had already left the beach, not seeing that he had texted me that he had left already.
policia. I was so scared. Oh wow you have metal detector. Ever since I young I want one. You looking for treasure. I hope you find big treasure. I believe he said he was from Venezuela, and he reeked of alcohol. Dude is right in my personal space following me around. He than says to me, don't worry I'm not going to kill you and take your metal detector. Im in fight or flight mode, I told him, I was going to continue what I was doing, and didn't want him following me. He got the hint, and walked up towards the restrooms. I immediately called my friend only to find out he had already left the beach, not seeing that he had texted me that he had left already.
OldBeechnut
Well-known member
I have a interesting story from 2017. Had a Honey Hole spot I was getting several gold rings near Annapolis. And wish I had my Go Pro for this one. So i'm hunting away and noticed some young adults on shore partying. About hour later I did my turn around and there was a young lady standing in the water right in front of me (waist deep) with just a bathing suit bottom. She asked if I had found anything, caught me off guard and almost could not look but I did.. Nice young lady, was a cadet at the at the Naval academy which was about 2 miles from this spot. Said she was from Georgia and I could tell she had a deep accent. After a minutes she went back to her friends never to be seen again...
And I missed this one, my buddy n I were at Sandy Point one early morning, he was finding nothing so he motioned he was going to the other beaches around the corner, name North Beach. The beach is closed to hunters after 9am so I met him where we parked once time ran out. He told me there were a couple young ladies up at the North Beach having a Nude Photo shoot. Missed that one!
And I missed this one, my buddy n I were at Sandy Point one early morning, he was finding nothing so he motioned he was going to the other beaches around the corner, name North Beach. The beach is closed to hunters after 9am so I met him where we parked once time ran out. He told me there were a couple young ladies up at the North Beach having a Nude Photo shoot. Missed that one!
