I think you'll find the wiggle technique to work well. It takes some practice to perfect, but you can see the results begin right away when you suspect that any deeper target is going to initially read on the low side. One of THE most important things in getting proper ID is to accurately pinpoint the target before you decide you do or don't have a digger. If you're not directly over it, you can't get proper ID. Also, due to mineralization, other objects nearby, more than one coin in a hole, and coins on edge, it's important to sweep the target for a few different angles before giving up on it.
Now as for our beaches, I wouldn't trade them for any. If you look at the posts people are making NOW you would get the idea that the best move would be for somebody to just sell their detector and cash out of the hobby. But in the summer it's a beach hunter's wet dream out there.

I hunt the beach strictly at night in the summer, every Friday and Saturday night, about 2 hours on either side of low tide. It's pretty well lit out there, but I use a headlight for when I need it. I hunt the wet sand and shallow water almost exclusively, seldom going into the dry sand. If low tide is at 3AM I will be out there from 1 to 5. It's a formula that works and you avoid the heat of the day and the throngs of people getting in the way. And it's incredibly relaxing and peaceful as well. Plus, you sometimes see some wild stuff out there.
Here are just a few pics from my summer night hunts here in Virginia Beach.
This is about 2/3's of the rings I got one season...
[attachment 15138 SummerBooty.jpg]
This was a particular night's hunt right here...
[attachment 15139 5rings.jpg]
Silver and gold...
[attachment 15146 710b.jpg]
Diamonds, silver, and gold...
[attachment 15141 rings08082003.jpg]
One hunt...
[attachment 15142 3Julya.jpg]
One hunt, my best find this summer too...36 grams of 18K gold chain and charm. I've been wearing this one ever since. Jeweler said about $1500.
[attachment 15143 731a.jpg]
So you can see that our beaches are pretty active in the summer. This time of year though I would rather go into the woods and fields and dig up bullets and look for old silver coins, so that's what I do. You can walk the beach for 4 hours right now and come back with a few corroded pennies.
