Detecting in the Wake of Sandy- Your Opinions

[Surfline]

Dear Forum,

I wanted to get opinions from you regarding detecting at the Jersey Shore in the wake of Sandy. I love the beach and have spent many years there, ranging from detecting, boating, and taking family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who are suffering after this storm.

I do think at some point it is OK to go back and start hunting again. The question is when. Emotions are high and many people (most) are both sad and angry at what has happened. Many of the beaches have been closed (I called the local police departments, etc.). They seemed stunned when I asked when the beaches would be open again.

So.... I am looking for your advice.....

Sincerely,

Surfline

 

[Elton]

Not now. wait till clean up is completed......... emotions, and catastrophic losses of those effected almost surly dictate good judgement.

If you feel your skills could benefit someone in recovery of lost items in sand washed ashore, and recovering personal items lost ..Offer your services...

 

[ZOFCHAK]

Dear Forum,

I wanted to get opinions from you regarding detecting at the Jersey Shore in the wake of Sandy. I love the beach and have spent many years there, ranging from detecting, boating, and taking family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who are suffering after this storm.

I do think at some point it is OK to go back and start hunting again. The question is when. Emotions are high and many people (most) are both sad and angry at what has happened. Many of the beaches have been closed (I called the local police departments, etc.). They seemed stunned when I asked when the beaches would be open again.

So.... I am looking for your advice.....

Sincerely,

Surfline

I would say whenever you have safe and legal access, but unless you have a reliable local source that's tough to determine. Calling the authorities and asking "When will the beaches reopen?" garnered the exact response I would expect. Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't get an ear full from them for even asking.

Beaches in that area are going to be really hit or miss anyhow. A lot of the footage shows massive beach erosion, but other beaches seem to be buried in new sand. Traveling further South into areas that were not hit as hard and are more accessible may be your best bet.

 

[TRIPLE-SSS]

I would wait till everything calms down and don't waste any time when you do get clearance to go back. When Ike hit this part of the country a few years ago, I had the same reservations about going back too soon. When everyone was allowed to go back, it looked like a metal detecting bonanza on the beaches. Some of my best finds were a result of the storm.
HAPPY HUNTING
TRIPLE-SSS

 

[John(Tx)]

Wait a few more days, people that are hurting tend to resent people searching the beach for items that are there because of the storm that hurt them, they also tend to forget that this was an act of God and nothing else.....Just be careful with resentful people. I live on the Texas coast and know how it can effect people....HH

 

[tomcatpl]

the stuff i have seen i'm not in the mood for detecting broad channel in the looks like a bomb wet off over 100 houses where on fire

 

[Surfline]

Thanks to all Forum members who responded to the inquiry. I want to make it clear that when I did call, I DID NOT indicate that it was related to metal detecting. I think it is important that we protect the hobby and be respectful.

It is obvious I have not been out. I will not make any more calls.

Thanks again, and we're thinking about those who have had a difficult, if not impossible time during and after this storm.

Surfline

 

[Tom_in_CA]

surfline, you called and asked, eh? Then I would agree with zofchak: what did you expect? The beaches may actually be wide open. What I mean is, if you were to go down there, at that exact moment, perhaps you'd find no shortage of people already back down on the beach (walking their dogs, looking for drift-wood, or whatever). But lo & behold, someone calls and asks "can I metal detect?" The mere fact that you think you have to ask, merely puts you in their light of "oh no, what is wrong with this activity ?" In other words, the mere fact you felt you needed to call and ask, simply implies that something is inherently wrong with your activity, that you had to ask first. (Lest why else would you be "asking"?)

The BEST time to hit the beaches after erosion, is IMMEDIATELY after it has occured (assuming of course, you're not snooping around looting zones of blown open houses, where news crews are present, I mean, ........ OF COURSE use "due discretion"). But beach erosion hunting is kinda like the hobby of surfing: you do not necessarily wait around for "nice sunny days" when the wife says "there are no more house chores". On the contrary: the perfect erosion (where targets 100 to 200 yrs. old) are as fast as you can dig them, might not last more than a single day! I've been down in the middle of howling rain, when the winds are moving the rains sideways across the beach, as the beach is eroding. If I'd have thought: "I'll come back in a week when the sun it out", I'd have arrived to find the beach sanded back in.

 

[Surfline]

Yes, I agree. Lesson learned. Thanks for the feedback.

Here is some more background. I called and asked if the beaches were open. Metal detecting was not mentioned when I called whatsoever. They could have assumed I was going to go fishing or surfing, which are also common at this beach.

I called specifically based on my experience last year. For the particular beach I am interested in hunting, I was there last year immediately after Hurricane Irene. Authorities were there and said the beach was closed. I was not allowed to enter. I had to turn around and drive home. This is becoming increasingly the case at this particular location.

I just want to detect at some point because I enjoy the hobby and history as well, not to mention helping to clean the beach. There a lot of concerns right now regarding people wandering around, possibly theft, etc.

So there's nothing to do for now. Going out is not worth getting escorted off the beach, arrested, car towed, etc, at least at this particular location. It is not worth tarnishing the hobby. The locals don't have to allow metal detecting if they don't want it, so it's better not to stir the pot.

I also agree with your observation to be there immediately after the erosion has taken place. I have many examples of this after Nor' Easter's (when I did get beach access). One week later it was sanded in.

Please give me any other recommendations you may have.

Sincerely,

Surfline

 

[Tom_in_CA]

ah, good that you only asked "is the beach open?", not "can I metal detect?". My recommendation is, to simply choose another beach, that is not shooing people away. I don't know about over there, but over here where I'm at, there is 1000+ miles of coastline. If, for some reason, one beach parking lot (or trail-head or whatever) is "closed", then we merely go to the next beach north or south of there. Invariably there HAS to be a beach, where no one is standing there telling people "beach is closed". In fact, I've sometimes seen where the main boardwalk into a beach (starting from the most prominent parking lot/frontage) is "closed" with ribbons and signs and so forth (and perhaps even a city official shooing people away), yet ...... on the same beach, just a few blocks further up or back, is other smaller/lesser beach street dead-ends, where there is no such yellow tape.

 

[Surfline]

Thanks Tom. The beaches out here, for the most part, are heavily populated. I think your advice is good, however and I will use my best judgement.

Happy hunting.

Surfline.

 

[Bondguy]

Definitely a sad situation going on along the coast. More so along the back bay communities. Those folks also lost it all, but don't have the million dollar bank accounts of those living on the barrier islands. Most houses are primary residences. No news crews, no convoy of FEMA trucks, no presidential visits. Just cold and wet waiting for the power to come back on.

That said, there is some detecting going on. All on the southern NJ beaches. And much of that in commercial zones that are open for business. Not all the communities got hammered. Or, at least to the degree shown nightly on the news. No one is hunting the devastated areas. I wish i could say that is out of respect, but likely more due to access.

The go/no go decision is highly personal. For example, I'm not hunting even the lesser hit areas for fear of being a nuisance. Even finding a place to park the car where it's not in the way, a problem in some areas.

The one exception, AC. Plenty of parking and the city is coming back. It's one big business district. And, it is open.

 

[hunter12]

Surfline, Do the right thing and always check for access. Don't listen to these guys the ends justifies the means. Jails are full of them. You did the right thing by calling. A lot of beaches have opened up south of the storm. I do this :when the bait and tackle stores open, that's when i hit them after a cl osier. and they try to open asap.Up north N.J and N.Y. they were hit the hardest. The Delaware beaches are open now. Give them a try, I'm heading down this Saturday.We have another Nor' easter heading our way soon and a lot of the hard hit areas will get hit again. Good luck.