I got to the riverbank about an hour or so before high tide and was kicking myself for only bringing my smaller root shovel with me. (I forgot to put my regular one back in the car from my travels out of town!) Sigh!
I decided to check around the roots of a tree near the water that has produced 1800’s copper/brass parts. The tree is dead so there are only larger roots to contend with. It was a challenge in the sandy soil with my narrow, 3″ wide shovel. Half an hour in and still no finds…