Detecting at night and tide timing

[Steve from Ohio]

I just got my new Excalibur 800 and am tricking it out for beach and shallow water hunting. Putting on the straight shaft and upgrading the battery to NIMH.

I am from Ohio but I do spend a lot of time in the winter in Florida so I have decided that I am going to hit the beaches.

I was wondering if anyone recommends hunting the low tide line at night. I notice that the tide is out for a very short time and goes out twice a day.

Do I want to hit the low tide twice a day to optimize my time detecting or should I not worry and just wade during the day ?

Is there that much of a difference in the water level that would make low tide hunting worth while?

And if I am detecting at night, should I invest in a head mounted LED light?

Do I want to stay out of the water after sundown due to possible shark activity and other factors ?

 

[Bling]

n/t

 

[brobox]

Here in Florida we lead the nation in shark attacks. You be the judge if you want to hunt during shark feeding hours. I have been water hunting for 16 years and some of the things I have seen in the water here, there is no way I'd be in the water at night when I can't see.
Wet sand at low tide at night would be my choice. Also watch for wet troughs in the sand, they do hold stingrays that were caught in the out going tide. You can't see them as they are laying under the sand, until it's too late. Be sure to scrub your coil in front of you, in water holding troughs to run the stingrays out. However, these troughs are the most productive wet sand hunting are not to be passed up.

Chuck in Cape Coral

 

[Steve from Ohio]

Thanks Chuck for the warning on the stingrays. I forgot about those. I don't want to do a Steve Irwin.

I think I will just hit the low tides at night and get in the water only in the daytime.

 

[Ron Lord]

An Ohio man was eaten by Sharks will metal detectting in the water at night.the man was warned by other huntter in the area. this could be you. Get the point.HH Ron Lord Naples, FL.

 

[Steve from Ohio]

Your warning has some teeth to it.

It has really sunk in.

I don't want to become dinner for a fish.

 

[brobox]

My relic hunting partner just started water hunting after 32 years of relic hunting. He got excited to see a large trough cut into the wet sand about 3 foot deep at low tide. He forgot the warning about stingrays and jumped in and started swinging. Half way through the trough, forgetting to scrub has coil, a ray nailed him on top of the foot. He said it was like someone hitting your big toe with a ballpeen hammer. Do hunt the troughs, but remember to shuffle your feet (the stingray shuffle) and scrub your coil in front of you. If a ray is land locked in the trough, hunt it from standing on the outside of the trough, not inside. A little slower hunting but a lot safer.

Chuck in Cape Coral

 

[GaBeachsweeper]

I imagine there's already some NIMH batteries in you rechargeable pack. That's what came in my 1000 pack. NICad won't give you proper voltage for the Excal

 

[Chi Town Bruce]

n/t

 

[beachmole]

I'm not aware of any ray-proof booties but I know that regular dive booties will not save you. My friend got nailed in Cancun. The ray pierced right thru the boot about an inch above the ankle. Very painful. I was told that the best pain medicine is to urinate on the wound.

 

[erikk]

Right now i am wearing Chota reef boots made with Kelvar and Windguard leg shields which will stop a ray hit. You may shuffle your feet and get by but eventually you will get nailed. I have a pair of Everlast reef boots on order now as my Chotas are starting to wear out and they do not make them any more

 

[patnok]

And jelly fish...don't forget them.....

 

[JOHNMARKHAM]

hello there fellow buckeye,
well i live in kissimme and can go to either side of Fla with ease,
Ive gone to the beach at night and have some success,
my pointers are; always take a buddy with you at night on the beach
somebody to watch your back. Ive heard a story where a guy was searching beach in daytona and got attacked
and he used his shovel to ward off attackers and he got charged with a criminal charge!
Now you will need a good head lamp works great for me,
good bug spray, you ll get ate up from the sand fleas..
and know the local laws as to if you can be on beach at night.
then know when the tides are coming in so you don't get caught on the beach,
watch the weather reports as the weather in Fla can change very quickly..
hope this helps..have fun..