The Coho Oceanfront Lodge Present

Beach Combing

As any dedicated beachcomber can tell you, the best of the sea’s treasure comes ashore after a big storm and an especially high tide. You’ll find beautiful driftwood, agates, shells, sea creatures, fishing boat equipment, and if you’re lucky, a Japanese fishing float shaken loose from the seaweedy depths, or a multi-colored handblown float from Lincoln City’s Glass Floats Finders Keepers Event. The mighty Pacific gives up treasures, large and small, for Lincoln City beachcombers who have the patience and luck to find them.

For some, there’s no prize like an agate. The semi-transparent stones are pieces of quartz, carnelian, chalcedony and jasper that come loose from the headlands during storms and are left behind when the waves recede at low tide. Agates come in all colors, but most of them are clear or milky. Some even contain tiny fossils.

Japanese glass fishing floats are highly valued by dedicated beachcombers. Some of these absorbingly beautiful finds are huge, up to two and three feet in diameter; most, however, are between four inches and a foot wide. They come in various shapes, colors and sizes, but the most common are ball-shaped and are blue or green. They are becoming increasingly rare as fishing boats around the world convert to modern materials like plastic or Styrofoam to float their nets. When the glass versions do appear, they are usually very old and have spent many years drifting in the Pacific Ocean.

But floats and agates are only the beginning. Part of the fun of beachcombing is finding a mystery, a piece of something that could be flora or fauna, man-made or naturally occurring. Old bits of ocean-worn glass, boat equipment from around the world, netting, rope and other curiosities abound.

Perhaps the most fruitful season for beachcombing is the winter, after a particularly high tide and after a big storm. But beware: that’s also the most dangerous time to be on the beach. When looking for good things on the Oregon coast, be on your guard. Keep a sharp watch for so-called “sneaker waves” that can sweep the unwary out into the surf. Also, stay away from logs and timber that can be caught by the waves.

Walking the beaches of Oregon can yield a treasure trove – agates, shells, nets, driftwood, a multitude of gifts from the sea. But in Lincoln City, beachcombers can also find brand-new art glass floats, gifts from the City of Lincoln City as part of its yearly Glass Floats Finders Keepers Event.