Wedding Ring Recovered in Surf City, LBI – Recovered by Edward Trapper, NJ Ring Finder
It was a beautiful holiday weekend at the Jersey Shore when I got a call from Mary Grace. She asked if I could help find her friend Scott’s lost wedding ring in Surf City on Long Beach Island (LBI).
Scott had taken off his ring to apply sunscreen while sitting at the top of the tide line. As the tide started coming in, they moved their setup back—forgetting that the ring had been resting on his beach chair.
We discussed the time and area of the loss, and rather than battle the evening crowds and traffic, I agreed to arrive early the next morning. Mary had sent me a Google Maps pin and a photo showing the exact area. When I arrived, I matched both references and began searching a 50-foot-wide path from the high tide line, across the slope, and into the dry sand.
Nothing.
I extended my search deeper into the dry sand—still no luck. I reviewed the map and photo again to triple-check I hadn’t made a mistake. Confident I was in the right spot, I called Mary Grace to see if she could come down to meet me, especially with the tide rapidly rising.
While waiting, I noticed the wave pattern pulling southward into a rip current, where the water had carved a small groove into the sand. Based on where the ring was likely dropped, it made perfect sense that it might have been pulled in that direction.
I shifted my grid search south. Just a few passes later, I heard a sweet signal on my detector—one that had me hoping it wasn’t just another pull tab. I scooped the sand and saw the glint of Scott’s wedding ring shining through.
It was a great feeling. I snapped a few pictures just as Mary arrived. She was thrilled that I was able to recover the ring and get it back to her friend. Moments like these are what make ring finding such a rewarding experience.