The sky has been a gorgeous blue and the surf has been calm for the last couple of days. I’ve been itching to get out before it got rough again. I had decided Thursday that I would go out on Friday for the 2:45 pm low tide. I was going to take the Sand Shark for a spin since I hadn’t taken it out in quite a long time. I was going to go after the thick gold chain that I mentioned a few hunts ago that was told to me by the tourist that lost it on South Beach. I wasn’t able to find it with Merlin at that time and wanted to give it a go with my pulse machine. I turned on the SS and it seemed good to go! I checked my surf app and it indicated “FLAT” conditions for tomorrow. In the morning, I loaded up all my gear and took it school. I asked the boss to leave early after last lunch if things were calm (around 1 pm) and he gave me the green light.
When I walked out onto the beach it was just unbelievable perfect weather! Beautiful blue skies, nice very light surf and throngs of Spring Breakers!!
I was in the water and hunting just after 1:30 pm. I noticed another pirate about 200 yards just north of me. Within 5 minutes I got my 1st target - a junk ear ring. Within a minute after that I noticed a problem with the Sand Shark. 
It was working and making noise, but would only pick up the scoop after nearly touching it. I tried all the settings before realizing that I probably should’ve charged the Double A batteries at some point during the week since they hadn’t been charged in over a year. I felt like an IDIOT knowing I had just wasted a beautiful opportunity, especially after asking the boss to leave early. 
There was just no way I was going to go home, grab the Excal and come back as traffic was terrible to get onto MB. As I’m walking to my car I decided that I am not going to let this beautiful day go to waste. I rushed home, took a shot of espresso, dropped off the SS, got Merlin and went to my regular beach. I would have lower chances at finding gold but at least I would be able to salvage a hunt and a beautiful day. 
I initially spent about half of my 3 hour hunt working off shore with few targets. I started to bring it in back closer to shore. The last hour I spent working near shore getting PT’s and occasional coins. The Wheatie that looked like was a recently came early at this point. I then reached a non-descript patch where the coins I was getting were caked. At some point, I picked up a key and shortly afterwards a sinker and I’m thinking these are “good signs” but dismissed them. Just around this time, I’m thinking to myself “I can’t f**king believe I did this today”, and right then comes up the scoop with a beautiful, heavy little GOLD RING!
I notice that it has diamonds and started laughing! I just couldn’t believe the coincidence of what I had been thinking at the exact moment that I pulled that ring up. I had planned on going for 4 hours but decided I was done and happy and headed home about 15 minutes later so that I could have a couple of celebratory glasses of wine. 
At home, I examine the ring and it weighs 6.2 grs. and though unmarked, passes the 18K acid test with flying colors and the diamonds test good! 
(The 22K acid takes a bit but it dissolves). Well fellow pirates, that’s the story. If I can, I will head out Sunday afternoon with the Shark again and try to pick up where I left off.
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
When I walked out onto the beach it was just unbelievable perfect weather! Beautiful blue skies, nice very light surf and throngs of Spring Breakers!!
I was in the water and hunting just after 1:30 pm. I noticed another pirate about 200 yards just north of me. Within 5 minutes I got my 1st target - a junk ear ring. Within a minute after that I noticed a problem with the Sand Shark. It was working and making noise, but would only pick up the scoop after nearly touching it. I tried all the settings before realizing that I probably should’ve charged the Double A batteries at some point during the week since they hadn’t been charged in over a year. I felt like an IDIOT knowing I had just wasted a beautiful opportunity, especially after asking the boss to leave early. There was just no way I was going to go home, grab the Excal and come back as traffic was terrible to get onto MB. As I’m walking to my car I decided that I am not going to let this beautiful day go to waste. I rushed home, took a shot of espresso, dropped off the SS, got Merlin and went to my regular beach. I would have lower chances at finding gold but at least I would be able to salvage a hunt and a beautiful day. I initially spent about half of my 3 hour hunt working off shore with few targets. I started to bring it in back closer to shore. The last hour I spent working near shore getting PT’s and occasional coins. The Wheatie that looked like was a recently came early at this point. I then reached a non-descript patch where the coins I was getting were caked. At some point, I picked up a key and shortly afterwards a sinker and I’m thinking these are “good signs” but dismissed them. Just around this time, I’m thinking to myself “I can’t f**king believe I did this today”, and right then comes up the scoop with a beautiful, heavy little GOLD RING!
I notice that it has diamonds and started laughing! I just couldn’t believe the coincidence of what I had been thinking at the exact moment that I pulled that ring up. I had planned on going for 4 hours but decided I was done and happy and headed home about 15 minutes later so that I could have a couple of celebratory glasses of wine. At home, I examine the ring and it weighs 6.2 grs. and though unmarked, passes the 18K acid test with flying colors and the diamonds test good! (The 22K acid takes a bit but it dissolves). Well fellow pirates, that’s the story. If I can, I will head out Sunday afternoon with the Shark again and try to pick up where I left off. HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
Nice gold find though... only ones I show are the ones that are broken or ugly 
really nice wedding band! Congrats!
