How to Hunt Beaches for Glass Floats for Fishing

Glass fishing balls attach to fishing nets and are used as markers and floats for commercial fishing rigs. These floats break free of the nets due to storms, abrasions and bad knots. When they detach they begin a long sea journey that sometimes ends along shores and beaches. If you wish to beach comb and hunt for these little treasures, use a few tips to maximize the chances of scoring your quarry.

Instructions

1

Download or listen to online marine forecasts for your area. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also called NOAA, maintains updated marine forecasts for all coastal regions in the United States. Go to the NOAA website and get a current forecast.

2

Wait for a day after a large coastal storm. Storms push ocean currents. If there is an offshore storm with winds coming off the water, ocean-based detritus may blow to shore. Glass balls may ride these storms into the beaches of your area.

3

Check the tides of your area. Decide the date you are heading to the beach and find the low tide times for the day. Low tides are the best times to beach comb and search for the glass balls. Low tides provide more beach access and ocean deposits. In addition, if you live in a region with large currents such as the Puget Sound, consult a current table and try to find a time where the currents are pushing in toward the coast because this brings in ocean debris.

4

Walk the beach in a grid pattern. Wear rubber boots or waterproof sandals. Section the beach into quarters and walk them going up and down in a grid. Look around large rock beds or other areas where debris entangles. Pick up the balls and put them in a storage bag as you progress through the beach.