As gold prices skyrocket, metal detectors are flying off shelves as more and more people are looking to gold mining and prospecting as a hobby.

Nathan Bruttell/News-Herald Photo. Several items resident Sam Scarmardo has found on gold prospecting trips are shown in this photo. The items include gold nuggets, gold sand, placer and a 1927 uncirculated St. Gaudens $20 Double Eagle Gold coin. The coin is valued at around $1,700 and the items shown are valued at around $20,000.

Gold prices recently hit record highs and settled at $1,139.40 an ounce Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. As a result, local merchants are flooded with consumers looking to sell old jewelry and lone earrings to make a few bucks in a tight economy. The rush has been on for quite some time, local sellers said, but now prospecting and mining are seeing surges as well.

“We’re buying wagon-loads right now,” Sam Scarmardo of Sam’s Shooters Emporium said. “We’ve been seeing tons of people coming in looking to sell gold jewelry lying around the house but we’re also selling tons of metal detectors, too.”

The hobby is booming now, Scarmardo said, adding that he’s seen a “huge increase” in people coming in with questions looking to get started.

“It’s one of the few hobbies that pays for itself, and we’re seeing lots and lots of people that want to hit it rich,” he said. “I have one guy who brings in a coffee can full of silver and gold about twice a year, and I usually write him a five-figure check.”

The Lake Havasu Gold Seekers, a local mining hobbyist group, has also experienced a surge in membership recently.

“Last month we added about 35 new members. We’ve had a pretty steady stream since gold prices have gone up but nothing like this last month,” Gold Seekers President Joe Tommila said. “There’s no doubt the price of gold is what’s making more and more people interested.”

Tommila said while a few members recorded big finds on the 20-acre property off Franconia Road, most members do not.

“We had somebody six years back or so find a 44 ounce nugget and you always hear stories like that,” Tommila said. “But it’s like taking $200 to Vegas and expecting to come back with $2,000. It doesn’t happen to most people.”

The Gold Seekers are always seeking more members and Tommila said it’s a good place for new people to learn, but new members should bring their own equipment.

“It’s mainly a hobby for us though. We’re not just trying to get rich quick,” he said. “We’ve all heard the expression that we spend $100 to make a buck in gold. But we do it because it’s fun and it can be exciting.”

Scarmardo also advised new hobbyists to not expect to get rich quick, but instead invest time and learn the trade. He also said finding spots to find gold nuggets can be difficult.

“A lot of places have been scoped out already,” he said. “You’ll find a lot of people in this are very secretive about where they go. I’ve walked in circles and zigzags just to make sure no one follows me when I go out to my site.”

Prospectors should always bring plenty of water to drink on every hunt, Scarmardo said.

“Sometimes it can take hours so even in the winter time you’ve got to make sure you bring water,” he said. “It’s a great hobby and it’s a lot of fun to find a gold nugget and they can be worth a lot. You might go days without finding anything but that one nugget is going to pay for your equipment and your week.”

Scarmardo said he’s collected several nuggets, coins and placer during trips. He estimated he’s found more than $30,000 worth of gold.

“It depends on the nuggets because it’s impossible to fake a true gold nugget so their value is always going to be a lot higher than their weight alone,” he said. “I’ve got a large jar full of nuggets that are worth quite a bit.”

Prospecting, panning and mining can be fun hobbies, Scarmardo said, but people need to be more aware of pricing. The Federal Reserve’s low interest-rate policy has weakened the dollar this year and driven commodities prices sharply higher, according to the Associated Press. Scarmardo recommended viewing gold Web site Kitco.com before selling to any dealer.

There are several gold buyers in Lake Havasu City, including Sam’s Shooters Emporium, which can be reached at 680-7000 and Lake Havasu Coins, Gold and Silver at 680-2646. Those interested in joining the Havasu Gold Seekers are advised to call Tommila at 208-7098.

You can contact the reporter at nbruttell@havasunews.com.