Amber-hunting gear

The classic tool is a long pole ending in a fine net — in Polish a «kaszorek». Hunters wade in with it and scoop up what the waves carry in the surf zone, gathering seaweed and light material with amber among it.^[1]

A net like this lets you pick amber out of the water column while avoiding digging in the seabed. It’s a tradition most associated with the Polish coast, but the same wade-and-scoop technique is used elsewhere on the southern Baltic too.^[1]

The Baltic during the storm season is freezing, and scooping means standing in the water. So hunters wear waders — high rubber trousers — with warm layers underneath and gloves.

This is gear for people who understand the risk: cold water, waves and a slippery bottom call for caution. Never go into a rough sea during a storm — wait until the waves drop.

A UV torch is one of the most effective ways to spot amber — under its light real amber fluoresces bright yellow, sometimes shading into orange, while most imitations don’t.^[2] It works especially well after dark: sweep the beam slowly over the strandline.

Which wavelength? Torches in the 395–420 nm range work best, and 420 nm in particular when scooping from the water, because seawater absorbs short-wavelength light fast. On the beach, a strong lamp or head torch in that range lets you spot amber from several metres away.

Common 365 nm torches will show amber too and are fine for casual hunting on the beach, though the glow is weaker. In short: for the beach alone a 365–395 nm torch will do; if you also want to search the drifting material in the water, choose 420 nm, which works in both cases. On the beach, the brighter the torch, the further you’ll see amber. With a powerful UV torch, wear glasses matched to its wavelength: they protect your eyes from reflected light and noticeably improve contrast, because amber glows against a darker background. More in our guide amber hunting at night with a UV torch.

For more on how amber reacts under UV and which tests confirm it’s genuine, see our guide on how to identify amber.

Amber hunting has its limits, and the rules vary by country. In Poland, the amber collectors’ association (Stowarzyszenie Bursztynników) states that you may not use fishing nets, pumps or diving equipment to harvest amber.^[1] Picking up amber washed ashore by the sea, and scooping it from the surf with a hand net, is the traditional, accepted practice; mechanical or diving extraction is a different matter.

In protected areas — national parks and reserves — extra restrictions apply almost everywhere on the Baltic, and other countries set their own rules. Before you go, it’s worth checking the local regulations for your stretch of coast.