I have very good luck metal detecting the Southern California beaches.  The best beaches are those after a high tide or a major storm.  Fire rings and picnic tables that receive heavy traffic are good places to go first followed by working the catch basins.  I always prefer Sunday afternoons to hit the beach.  They have not been raked (which is usually done on Monday morning) and most of the beach-goers have left for the week end so you avoid the crowds.  When going to the beaches remember to bring meter money as most charge for parking.  Do not forget a hat to wear and water to replenish your fluids.  You already look like a nerd with your metal detector attached to your arm like an appendage, at least the hat will cut down on the sun burn.

I hit the south facing beaches, especially the protected ones as the tides will bring in targets daily.  I prefer a high frequency metal detector as this makes the detector sensitive enough to detect small targets like broken chains.  Keep the coil flat when swinging back and forth (no arch).  This will cut down on the reset and ground balance problems.  I cover the Metal Detector with a clear plastic bag.  A one-gallon zip-lock bag with a cut in the center of the bottom, to slide the coil through, works great.  A piece of masking tape will seal up the end while in use.  Salt water is unforgiving to the box unit if you get hit be a rogue wave.

Refresh your battery cells regardless of their storage life.  The older the battery, the more depth you lose, especially when being out for awhile and leaving the detector on.  Carry an extra set with you at all times.  This will avoid the disappointing trips back to the car empty handed.

When checking out the volleyball courts on the beaches, pay special attention to the areas where viewers would normally sit.  I found more coins on sidelines than playing areas.  Beaches are like mountain streams in that coins and jewelry end up between rocks carried in by the waves so check out the rock areas.

A great way to detect metal on the beach is to have a friend or spouse with you.  I have always been told to go slow and go over the area twice.  Having a second person 4 feet over and slightly behind you will allow the two of you to cover a lot more beach in a shorter amount of time and as long as one of us goes home with the prize, I do not mind who found it.

On this trip Sue worked the upper area of the beach which included the plants and bushes.  She was constantly digging up bottle caps that people threw from their balconies.  This is one of the bad parts of this area.  I worked the wash outs and drains coming from the housing area.  Watch the waves coming and picture stronger waves pushing coins along with the sand.  This will give you an idea of where to search.  Draw a line down the beach where people are sitting and search straight down that line.  Most people sit in the same general areas as others before them.  The good spots are well used and you are able to figure that out by scouting it out in advance.

Good luck and bring home the Gold & Silver.