Beach metal detectives
Recoveries
Ring recovered at the Sandpearl Resort on Clearwater beach
3/21/24
I’d gotten an email from Ben around 7:15pm on this night asking if I had recovery services that could help him find a ring he’d lossed while tossing football on the beach?
He informed me it had sentimental value and would love to have it back if I could I help?
Absolutely yes!
I met him in the lobby of the Sandpearl Resort on Clearwater Beach first thing the next morning at 7:45am. After walking me to the general spot, he went back to his room. I told him I’d call when I found it. I marked the search area w/ tennis balls, powered up my Minelab X-Terra Pro, noise cancelled, ground balanced, and found Ben’s ring in 15 minutes.
I laughed when he said I was doing God’s work out here finding rings.
Glad we could help you Ben.
~ Stay Gold
Engagement Ring Recovered at the Hilton on Clearwater Beach
3/23/24
This night, the emergency call came in from the Food and Beverage Manager at the Hilton, Clearwater Beach around 6:30pm. A guest had lost a ring and needed immediate Recovery Service. I told them I’d be there in less than an hour. 45 minutes later, I’m pulling up like “THE WOLF” in Pulp Fiction and park right in front.
I met the couple and learned I was looking for a gold ring. An “Engagement Ring” as it were. They are getting married in July. The sun was setting and time was of the essence. So they gave me the small search area, I noise cancelled and ground balanced, went ALL METAL…and pinpointed the ring in 15-20 minutes as the sun was setting.
Incredible!
The couple was very happy and said, “I was now IN THEIR STORY.”…and, the Beverage Manager said he hadn’t seen anything like that, in his 6 years at the Hilton. As I left to cheers bursting with BMD pride. Congratulations & Good Luck to the Bride & Groom to be.
~Stay Gold
Ring found with rental in an hour
4/17/24
We love happy endings at Beach Metal Detectives. Our friend Tina and, her Sister in law found her Sister's ring in around an hour w/ an Xterra Pro rental machine from BMD. Congratulations ladies.
Glad Beach Metal Detectives could help.
~Stay Gold
Apple watch found in first scoop
5/02/24
This day, Lauren called Beach Metal Detectives, having lost her Apple Watch the day before on St. Pete Beach in the dry sand.
The call came in around 2pm, as I was on another job. I agreed to meet Lauren at the beach at 5:30pm. I got there alittle early as I wanted to surprise her and have the watch in hand when she pulled up. I searched for an hour or so, however there were sunbathers in the search area, so I respectfully searched around them. I took a break and extended my parking. Lauren got there, and by that time the sunbathers had left the remaining search area. We walked to where her phone pinged the watch. I powered back up, swung over the target, and the Apple Watch was in my scoop. As I pulled the scoop to me to inspect it, we could hear the watch ringing. We high fived and, rejoiced. Another CASE CLOSED.
Thanks again Lauren, enjoy the rest of your trip.
~Stay Gold
gorgeous diamond Engagement ring found in 5 minutes (first scoop)
5/26/24
On this day, Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend, at 1pm, Beach Metal Detectives got the call from Paula & Chris. Paula had lost her engagement ring in the dry sand. BMD arrived to the scene within the hour, powered up and, had her very beautiful diamond ring back where it belonged in 5 minutes. In the very first scoop to be intellectually honest. Thank you for trusting us at Beach Metal Detectives…and, remember if you lost something metal at the beach, tell’em…You know a guy.
#BeachMetalDetectives
~Stay Gold
money clip w/ $625 cash, found & returned
5/28/24
This day, I was out on Passagrille Beach just south of the Don, looking for goodies after the Memorial Day weekend crowd. After about 45 minutes of swinging the X-Terra Pro, I got a strong 78-81 signal and expected a bottle cap.
It was not a bottle cap. I pushed my scoop into the fine shell by the water’s edge and about a 1/4” inch down, there it was, as pretty as ya please. Still intact, a money clip with the Identification, credit cards, and $625 in cash.
After several phonecalls, an accepted facebook friendship request, and a Messenger video call, I found it’s owner. Barry from New Jersey was down visiting and lost his money clip. We were both very happy and, his billfold is now on it’s way home.
Also, thank you so much to Barry for the $200 reward. Always appreciated my friend.
~Stay Gold
Whodey!?
Gold & Diamond wedding ring found
6/08/24
This day, Beach Metal Detectives got the distress text from Sam at 4:47pm. I recognized the (513) area code immediately being born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio myself. His party had lost a gorgeous gold and diamond wedding ring. I geared up and, headed to Sam’s search location without delay. I pulled up to the condos and met up w/ Sam.
We greeted each other as I told him I recognized the “513” area code being from Cincy myself. We exchanged afew WHODEYS and he walked me down to the beach. There was a 10 X 20 yard stretch of dry sand in question where the target “should” be according to eyewitnesses. I powered up my Minelab X-terra Pro, the very same model available to rent here at BMD, if you will…noise cancelled, ground balanced and after 10-15 minutes, and a couple of pulltabs later, I got a solid #39 44/46, shallow tone I liked.
I dug the target and BLAM!
A true stunner!
Like Joe Burr tossin’ a Tuddie to Ja’marr Chase…SCOREBOARD!
Thanks Sam for calling a great play and dialing up Beach Metal Detectives. WHODEY!!!
~Stay Gold
Diamond Wedding ring found in “Record time”
6/21/24
This day, Tiffany called Beach Metal Detectives around 7 am with a lost diamond wedding ring. She and the children had been playing just outside thier condo the night before in dry sand, and the ring slipped off. Tiffany cleverly marked the spot and reached out to BMD first thing. I loaded my gear and made it to Madeira beach in around 30 minutes. Tiffany met me in the condo parking lot and put me on the search area, I noise cancelled and ground balanced my XTP. I immediately got a shallow #62 and dug it up…and, just like that…
60 seconds…in the first scoop. Tiffany’s ring!
~Stay Gold
This incredible diamond wedding ring was found in 15 minutes
6/22/24
This day, the distress call came into BMD from Matt on Madeira beach around 1:45pm. His wife had lost her diamond wedding ring in the dry sand. They’re party was moving and in moving their chairs her ring fell into the abyss. Matt did the right thing and wasted no time, calling Beach Metal Detectives immediately. Time is crucial. Additionally, a storm was approaching. Matt and his wife gave me the approximate search area. I powered up, noise cancelled and ground balanced my Xterra-Pro and went to work. After several passes and several signals, I got one that sounded like what I was looking for. I dug the hole and gently shook the scoop revealing her ring as I offered the scoop to her w/ her ring inside. High five’s and hugs all around. Thank you Lord for another Beach Metal Detectives happy ending.
~Stay Gold
Celtic Wedding band recovered on a 2nd day hunch
7/08/24
This day, Keith contacted Beach Metal Detectives in search of his lost white gold celtic wedding band, that was lost while at the beach in dry sand, on the 4th of July, a couple of days prior. I knew time was a factor. I met Keith and his wife at the search location the next day. I brought an extra machine and Keith and I both searched the area through a rain event, for well over an hour. Keith turned in his machine and I continued for another 2 plus hours. I dug many signals but none were the target. Reluctantly I shut it down and ended the search, informing Keith I came up short.
That night I went home and replayed the search in my mind over and over. There were a few spots that went unchecked as there were sunbathers in that AO. Something kept telling me to go back and search again. On a “HUNCH”, I followed my intuition and revisited the scene. Under ideal search conditions with only 2 others on the beach, I had an open search area. I immediately investigated the areas I missed the day before, with no luck. I continued on for about 90 minutes gridding & expanding the search zone. I re-noise cancelled and ground balanced and was set to take one last pass towards the exit…just then, after calling out to the (celtic) Gods for guidance, my X-Terra Pro rang up a 26 on the target ID. About 4” deeps. I dug the signal, gently shook the scoop…and, there it was!
I immediately called Keith with the great news and he met me right away. All the recoveries are very special but, this one felt extra special as I went back and FINISHED THE JOB. Thanks to Keith and his misses for trusting BMD.
~Stay Gold
Keys in the scoop in 5 minutes
7/14/24
This day, Beach Metal Detectives was patrolling the beach looking for evidence of treasures left behind. After 2 hours of the usual suspects in the scoop, pulltabs, bottle caps and the like, I came across a citizen in need of immediate BMD assistance. His party was setting up their spot for the day and flagged me down. The young man proceeded to explain they’d lost their keys the day before in the same general area.
I cleared the search area of any possible target contamination and made a few passes with my trusty Minelab X-Terra Pro. I dug a pulltab first, then hit a shallow target around 4 inches deep. I liked the sound and depth immediately and dug it gently. As soon as I flipped the contents of the scoop in the sand, I saw the keys.
Applause all around!
Gracias me amigos!
~Stay Gold
post “milton” husband & wife Tag team wedding ring recovery in under 90 minutes
10/10/24
Absolutely incredible!
The morning after Hurricane “milton” passed, Jennifer & Hasan contacted Beach Metal Detectives to rent 2 machines, to tag team a wedding ring recovery. They were cleaning up hurricane debris when Hasan noticed it missing. Jennifer & Hasan picked up the machines and after a short 10 minute tutorial, off they went. Maybe 90 minutes later, Jennifer called...She had found the ring. Congrats you guys...well done. Case closed!
~Stay Gold
This rental turns into an iphone recovery in real time
1/03/25
What a red letter day for Beach Metal Detectives!
This day Nancy and her family were vacationing, in from L.A. and staying on Indian Rocks Beach. They rented a waterproof Minelab X-terra Pro metal detector and it was delivered first thing. That afternoon I received a text saying they had found an iphone in the shallow surf and found the owner, who’d lost it on New Years Eve. What a great story. Congratulations to Nancy and her Son on a great recovery, and return. And to a happy ending to the young lady that’d lost her phone. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
~Stay Gold
A Mom in Massachusetts reaches out to find her vacationing daughter’s lost diamond ring.
2/09/25
This day, Beach Metal Detectives got the call around 3:48pm from Melissa. The Mom of the young lady that had lost her diamond ring while playing volleyball in the dry sand at the Opal Sands resort on Clearwater Beach. Melissa was calling from Massachusetts on behalf of Ava who was vacationing and lost a ring that was very special to her. I told Melissa not to worry, that I’d be on my way.
I geared up and made the 45 minute drive to CWB.
Once at the Opal Sands, the valets parked me right up front, appreciate you guys BIG TIME!
I met up w/ Ava beachside where she gave me solid intel and a certain search area. I ground balanced my trusty XTP and made several passes. A few pieces of trash later, I got a strong, shallow signal. The VDI rang up a 29-31…that’s a nice number. I had a good feeling about it. Ava took off down the beach, I told her I’d call her either way. About 10 minutes later,
I texted her the GREAT NEWS! I FOUND IT!!!
~Stay Gold
3 yr olds gold Saint christopher necklace & pendent found at daycare
1/20/25
This day, Shelby contacted Beach Metal Detectives after her Son lost his gold Saint Christopher necklace & pendent while on the playground at his daycare in Clearwater.
Shelby arranged with the DIRECTOR of the facility for me to be there Thursday morning between 5:30a-9a. I wanted to get a good 2 hours of search time in so I rolled up just after 6am. The staff, expecting me, buzzed me in and showed me the suspected search area. Still dark I engaged the backlight and flashlight on the X-terra Pro and began marking spots to come back to at first light. After about 45 minutes I started searching the rest of the playground. Channeling my inner 3 year old…lol. On a hunch…thinking, where would I be…
…I’d be under that blue thing…like it’s a FORT!
So I swung my detector on one side…then the other, reaching in halfway. Then like a bolt, a shallow “91” on the VDI. Now daylight, as I brush away the leaves, it revealed the necklace. Thank you Lord!
I immediately called Shelby and gave her the good news. She was very happy and told me the boy’s Grandma would cry tears of joy. I left Saint Christopher with the staff. God is good.
~Stay Gold
This ring recovery was different
4/03/25
This day, the Beach Metal Detectives were part of a different type of lost ring recovery.
BMD got the distress call around 4:45pm. I geared up and made my way to the search location right away, pulling up to Madeira Beach about 5:30pm. I powered up the XTP and searched the AO for about 90 minutes in the soft dry sand. Adam called off the search...I wasn't ready to give up and went alittle longer, widening the search area to no avail. As I often do on an unsucessful recovery effort, I went home to sleep on it...something wasn't ADDING UP...
...I decided to head back after work the next day to take another crack at it.
Fast foward to the next morning, Adam texts me that someone in their building found his girl's PROMISE RING in the parking lot of the Hotel.
A “Happy Ending” and a lesson in, INTEL IS EVERYTHING!
~Stay Gold
solid intel leads to fast wedding band recovery
4/20/25
This night, Beach Metal Detectives got the distress call via text from Gerardo in Orlando around 10:45pm. He lost his wedding ring while having a family beach day out on Upham beach.
BMD raced out to the scene first thing the next morning and had it in the scoop in 15 minutes.
Credit Gerardo with giving me great Intel to go on.
I got to the AO before first light and powered up the X-terra Pro.
A few swings later, I got a solid shallow VDI reading of #93.
It was a beautiful day for a SUNRISE EASTER RECOVERY!
Thank you Lord.
~Stay Gold
On the strength of cam’s intel, his lost ring was in the first scoop.
06/28/25
This day, Jessica’s distress call came into Beach Metal Detectives concerning her Son’s lost ring, lost the day before in the dry sand on Oasis Beach, on Honeymoon Island. The “Treasure Truck” was already geared up, so I made my way there right away. I met Cameron at the entrance of the park and he guided me back to the AO.
As I always say…”intel is everything.”
Cam walked me down the beach to where his beach chair had flipped over. After afew deductions, I marked off the search area, powered up my XTP and had his ring in the first scoop.
God is good!
~Stay Gold
Head of security at St. Pete’s most haunted hotel ,“The don cesar”, calls in beach metal detectives for a ring that ghosted a guest.
07/19/25
This day, Mark the Head of Security at The Don Cesar reached out to BMD in a timely manner. A guest at St. Pete's finest Haunted Hotel needed service, and I responded immediately. Madelin, who had lost her ring in the dry sand, met me on the beach. She gave me excellent intel, which is key in a search and I was able to have her lost ring in the scoop in less than 60 seconds.
~Stay Gold
dog walk turns into a beach metal detectives tagteam effort, to recover a lost golf cart key.
07/19/25
This afternoon, Beach Metal Detectives got the distress call from Kari, a local resident of St. Pete around 4:48pm. She had lost her boyfriends golf cart key while walking her dog at Denver Park, in the Shore Acres neighborhood.
Time was of the essence…
I assured Kari I was on my way.
I had planned ahead and brought a 2nd metal detector so we could cover twice the ground in 1/2 the time.
While waiting for Kari to meet me at the Search point, I’d gotten the settings set on both X-Terra Pros. The “Signature Machine” of Beach Metal Detectives.
Once there, I gave Keri a short metal detecting machine tutorial and off we went. Not 5 minutes later…
Kari found her key!
She was very happy and able to return the golf cart safely home.
Congrats and thank you Madame…YOU ROCK!
~Stay Gold
Jay find’s late father’s wedding ring in 20 minutes.
08/11/25
This day, Jay called Beach Metal Detectives about a lost wedding ring in high grass at his St. Pete Beach Condo. Chris, Jay’s buddy was in the area and picked up a fully charged, clean, and ready to rock n’ roll Minelab X-terra Pro metal detector. Jay was looking for his late Father’s wedding ring who’d passed back in 2018. Before Chris arrived, I preset the unit’s settings for success. Upon Chris’ arrival, I gave him a quick tutorial and off he went. Approximately 40 minutes later, Jay texted…
“Thanks, I FOUND IT!”
This one really felt good.
Congrats Jay! Well done my friend.
~Stay Gold
Me & my winston, we got a real good thing.
07/11/25
This day, Winston called Beach Metal Detectives with a lost key fob and 2 lost keys that he’d dropped into 4 feet of water while exiting his kayak at the kayak launch ramp on Gandy Blvd Beach.
Once at the search location I powered up the XTP and both Winston and I got into the water. It wasn’t 5 minutes, I was about to dig my first target when Winston just 10 feet to my left, pulled the keys up from the water. Great Job buddy!
Lol, it was more exciting getting out of the water as there was no ladder. A couple of barnacle scrapes later, I made it.
~Stay Gold
Double trouble ring recovery in 15 minutes
09/21/25
On this day, Lizette and friends were in town on vacation from various places across the country and had a condo out on Indian Rocks Beach. Beach Metal Detectives got the distress text from Lizette around 8:30am. She sent me her location and I went right away. As I often do on recoveries, I took an extra machine so the client can aide in the search. This does several things. No one knows their steps better than they do, and it doubles the chances for success. This day was no different. I handed Lizette a machine and gave her a quick tutorial.
About 10 to 15 minutes in…I had her ring “IN THE SCOOP”.
Lizette was a great search partner and did a great job marking the spot where she thought she lost it the night before.
Almost to good…lol…a seasoned detectorist may’ve sniffed this out.
~Stay Gold
SPF 30 almost claims another wedding ring
09/24/25
This day, Blake called Beach Metal Detectives concerning his lost gold wedding band. He needed immediate service out on Indian Rocks Beach, as his ring slipped off applying sunscreen to his Son. Blake sent me his location and I made my way.
IRB is about a 30 minute drive so I assured Blake and his family that I was on my way.
I pulled up to the Bon Aire Hotel where they were staying, past SANDBAR BILLS, and down to the beach. Blake explained the situation and I went right to work. I powered up my XTP and noise cancelled while the group cleared the area under their tent. Once the space was clear,, maybe 10 minutes tops, after a few passes…I zero’d in on a target and had his WEDDING RING in the scoop soon thereafter.
Thank you to Blake for the great intel.
They were in town visiting from Rockford, Illinois.
FUN FACT: I saw Motley Crue in Rockford back in the late 80’s.
~Stay Gold
2 rings in 2 scoops in 5 minutes…A-Town down case closed!
09/24/25
This day was a busy day out on Indian Rocks Beach. Earlier this particular morning I had a successful wedding ring recovery. (see above story) and was called back to IRB when Kelly, in town from the “ATL”…Atlanta, Georgia rang up Beach Metal Detectives for 2 lost rings in dry sand, lost during a sunscreen mishap. She lost 3 rings off of her beach chair and found 1.
BMD got the call and went right away to the 18th ave. Indian Rocks Beach Access parking lot. Kelly met me in the parking area and walked me down to the search area as I took in the evidence.
Once down by their spot, I met the family and powered up my gear.
2 rings were at large. I made a few passes and got a nice shallow signal and had the 1st ring in the scoop…as it should’ve been, another shallow strong VDI signal was inches away…bing, bang, boom…ring number 2.
Case Closed!
God is good.
Thank you Kelly for trusting Beach Metal Detectives.
~Stay Gold
recovered gold cross pendent at the volleyball court complex
10/07/25
This particular morning Alex called Beach Metal Detectives to rent a metal detector and sand scoop to recover his own lost gold cross pendent that he lost while playing volleyball at a local Volleyball complex. After a few hours I reached out to Alex to see if he’d had any luck. He texted back, not yet…
So I offered to come out to the search area and back him up.
The volleyball complex is about 25 minutes from the BMD HQ, so I headed right over. Alex gave me the down low on the sitch when I arrived and I went right to work. Narrowing down possibilies, about 20 minutes in, I found his gold crucifix. God is good. Thank you Lord.
~Stay Gold
2 rings in 2 minutes
10/12/25
This day, Kenny in town from Indiana contacted Beach Metal Detectives concerning his Daughter Kelsi’s lost wedding band and engagement ring lost in dry sand out on Madeira Beach approximately around 4:45pm.
I went from watching “CLUTCH” Baker Mayfield and the Bucs on TV to, being CLUTCH myself during a “2 minute” drill.
Kelsi fumbled her rings around her beach chair and cooler area.
I called the play…X-terra Pro, Z spot right, swing left, turbo dig…on 2.
and literally, 4 scoops and 1:47 seconds later, Kelsi had her rings on her finger.
Another score on 4th and long for BMD.
Good call!
~Stay Gold
9mm Lugar round recoverd to help close a Pasco County Sheriff’s investigation in Hudson
10/14/25
This was an absolute RED LETTER DAY for Beach Metal Detectives.
Let me rewind…
Yesterday Mike contacted BMD after someone fired a 9mm Lugar round into his dwelling, backyard area, that entered and exited his metal shed, shot from long range in Hudson, Florida.
The Pasco County Sheriff’s office investigated the crime scene for 2 hours searching for the discharged bullet and came up empty. Mike also spent some time with a modest metal detector with no luck.
That’s when Mike reached out to Bill Jackson’s on US19 and they recommended Beach Metal Detectives.
Much thanks to the Brant Bowers & the Bill Jackson’s crew.
So I make arrangements to meet Mike at his Hudson property…
…Fast forward back to today.
I learned from my pre search interview that I’d be searching for a lead round and did some tests using various settings & a lead fishing weight to mimic the lead bullet. So going in I knew I was looking for a VDI # around 45. Also Mike had a casing and similar round to get base readings. All were similar, so I felt good. Now we swing, narrow down possibilities, figure out where it’s not, using ricochet angles the search AO was narrowed down. Also, Mike gave accurate intel for me to go on.
He was present when the shot was fired and was narrowly missed. His account of what he saw and heard was beneficial in the find.
After about an hour and 15 minutes in, I got a great 45 signal, in the right spot, dug deep, then emptied the scoop onto the shed’s concrete slab. Both Me & Mike got close, cleared the rock debris and reveal…THE FULL METAL JACKET!
~Stay Gold
Samantha’s stunner recovered in the 1st scoop at Frenchy’s rockaway volleyball court
10/20/25
This evening, Samantha called Beach Metal Detectives concerning her lost diamond wedding ring that she’d lost while playing volleyball at Frenchy’s Rockaway on Clearwater Beach. The call came in around 7:30pm…we were losing daylight quickly and knew we’d be searching in darkness. No matter. I assured Samantha we were on our way, and not to worry.
I already had my gear in the “PULLTAB” (my truck) and just needed to make the 40 minute drive from St. Pete to CWB.
When I got the distress call I was watching the Bucs game and continued to listen on my way to the search area. Note, the Bucs lost this one..and Baker was not as clutch as yours truly on this night.
I get to Frenchy’s and Samantha and her man were out on the volleyball with their phone’s flashlights, searching in the dark. I introduced myself and dialed in my settings on the XTP. It was dark at this time so I enabled the red backlight on the control pod so I could see, while Samantha shined her flashlight on the scene. Sam explained the situation when she felt the ring come off.
I took a couple of swings back and forth and got a shallow 52-54 VDI number and I knew right away I had the target. That’s when I start capturing the recovery on my Ray-Ban Meta Smart glasses, to get real time reaction. This never gets old. I had Samantha’s STUNNER in the 1st scoop, as applause broke out from Frenchy’s. God is good. Thank you Lord. And thank you Samantha.
~Stay Gold
2 rings & a bracelet rescued at Honeymoon Island beach in 20 minutes
10/22/25
This recovery actually started the night before. Beach Metal Detectives got the distress messenger messege from Abby at 12:59am. She was visiting Honeymoon Island Beach and left behind 2 rings and a bracelet that fell out of her shorts pocket as she left her beach spot. I woke up to Abby’s text and responded immediately. After a few text exchanges we were able to come up with a nice aerial “treasure map” if you will…lol.
I geared up and went right to HMI as the park opened at 8am. Abby gave me great intel to go on, as well as recent photos of the targets. I was to work the dry sand about 10 feet from the water’s edge.
I work on auto ground balance so just had to run a quick noise cancel and off I went. Abby’s diagram was great and I matched up the beach evidence. I dug a handful of targets at the beginning of my visual grid then hit a shallow signal that I liked, as I plunged my scoop into the sand, I could see 1 of the ring and the bracelet, then…1 swing later I had the 2nd ring. Cased closed in a very timely manner.
~Stay Gold

