Quick Answer
Magnet fishing is dropping a strong neodymium magnet on a rope into canals, rivers, lakes and harbors and pulling up whatever ferrous metal it grabs. A beginner needs a 500–1,200 lb pull-force double-sided or 360-degree magnet, 65–100 feet of paracord or marine rope tied with a secure knot (or a carabiner to an eyebolt), cut-resistant gloves, a bucket and a grappling hook for things the magnet cannot lift. It is legal on most public waterways in the US with landowner or municipal permission, restricted on some canals in the UK, and anything that looks like a weapon or ordnance must be reported to the police without handling it.
Key Takeaways
- Pull force on the box is measured on thick steel under ideal conditions; real-world lifting is a fraction, so 500–1,200 lb is plenty to start.
- Double-sided magnets drag better along a bottom; 360-degree magnets grab from any angle; single-sided are cheapest.
- Use a double figure-eight or Palomar knot, or a locking carabiner to the eyebolt, and check the rope for frays every trip.
- Bridges, piers, canal locks, old swimming spots and boat ramps are the productive spots.
- Guns, knives, ammunition and anything military must be reported; do not handle suspected ordnance.
- Clean and dispose of scrap responsibly; take the junk home, not just the treasures.
Magnet fishing grew from a niche into a popular hobby because it costs under $100 to start, needs no license in most places, and regularly turns up bicycles, tools, coins, safes and the occasional historical object. It is also a hobby where the right gear and a few habits separate a good day from a lost magnet or a dangerous find. This guide covers how the magnets work, what to buy, where and how to fish, the legal position in the US and UK, safety, and cleaning what you pull up. Pull-force figures are manufacturers’ ratings.
Choosing a Fishing Magnet
| Type | How it works | Pull force (rated) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-sided | Magnetic face on one side, eyebolt on top | 300–1,000 lb | Vertical drops off bridges and piers; cheapest |
| Double-sided | Magnetic faces top and bottom, eyebolt on the side | 600–2,600 lb (combined) | Dragging along a bottom; grabs on either face; the beginner favorite |
| 360-degree | Magnetic on all sides in a cylinder | 800–2,000 lb | Dragging through debris; grabs from any angle; harder to release |
| Clamp / dual magnet | Two magnets on a frame | 1,500–4,000 lb | Heavy recoveries, experienced users |
All serious fishing magnets are N52 neodymium in a steel cup that focuses the field on one face. Rated pull force assumes a thick, flat, clean steel plate in direct contact; a rusty, curved or painted object in silt gives a small fraction of that. A 500–1,200 lb magnet lifts almost everything a beginner can safely haul up a rope.
Rope, Knots and Hardware
Use 65–100 feet of 550 paracord (rated ~550 lb), or better, 8–10 mm marine-grade or climbing rope rated well above the magnet’s pull. Tie a double figure-eight, a Palomar or a bowline with a stopper, and whip the tail; or use a locking stainless carabiner clipped to the eyebolt, with thread-locker on the eyebolt threads so it cannot unscrew. Add a grappling hook on its own rope for bicycles, shopping carts and non-ferrous objects, and a short stainless lanyard to the rope so the magnet is retrievable if the main rope snags. Inspect the rope for cuts each outing; a frayed rope is how magnets are lost.
Essential Kit
- Fishing magnet (double-sided or 360, 500–1,200 lb rated)
- 65–100 ft rope with a tested knot or locking carabiner
- Cut-resistant gloves (fish hooks, broken glass and rusty metal are routine)
- Grappling hook with 65 ft rope
- Bucket or heavy bag for finds and scrap
- Thread-locker for the eyebolt
- Wire brush and small scraper for cleaning finds on site
- Hand sanitizer and a first-aid kit
- Optional: a magnet-release tool or wooden wedge for removing finds, a headlamp, a small net
Where to Fish
The productive spots are where people have dropped or thrown things for decades: bridges (especially railway and road bridges over canals and rivers), piers and jetties, canal locks and moorings, boat ramps, old swimming holes, ferry landings, fishing spots, and anywhere a town once had a mill, ferry or industry. Slow water with a soft bottom holds objects; fast rivers wash small items away. Drop the magnet, let it settle, drag it slowly toward you, and lift straight up when it catches; sweep an area in a fan pattern before moving. Early morning and low water levels help.
Laws: United States
There is no federal law against magnet fishing. In most states it is legal on public waters, but you need permission to access private banks, and some states and cities regulate removal of objects from waterways (South Carolina, for example, restricts recovering artifacts from state waters without a permit under its underwater antiquities law). Dams, locks, military property and nature reserves are commonly off limits. Anything that could be an archaeological artifact belongs to the state in several jurisdictions. Check the state wildlife or natural resources department and the city’s rules for the specific waterway; when in doubt, ask.
Laws: United Kingdom
The Canal & River Trust’s byelaws prohibit removing objects from the canals it manages without permission, and it asks people not to magnet fish on its network; many magnet fishers do so anyway, and enforcement varies. Rivers and lakes owned by other bodies have their own rules; private land needs the landowner’s consent; Scotland’s access rights do not cover removing objects. The Environment Agency has no general ban. Finds of treasure (gold, silver, old coins) must be reported under the Treasure Act, and anything that may be a weapon must go to the police.
Safety and Dangerous Finds
- Ordnance: grenades, shells, mortar rounds and old munitions are found regularly, especially in Europe and near former ranges. Do not touch, move or wash them; put the magnet down, step back and call the police. Many are live.
- Firearms and knives: report to the police; do not take them home. They may be evidence.
- Safes and lock boxes: often crime-related; report, and never claim contents.
- Sharp metal and needles: gloves every time.
- Pinching: a strong magnet snapping onto a railing or another magnet will crush fingers; keep hands clear and store it on wood.
- Water: never lean out over a bridge rail or stand on wet, sloping banks; a life jacket is sensible near deep water.
- Electronics: keep the magnet away from phones, cards and pacemakers.
Cleaning Finds and Disposing of Scrap
Rinse finds in fresh water, scrub with a wire brush, and soak rusted items in white vinegar or a citric acid solution for a day, then neutralize in a baking soda solution and dry; electrolysis cleans valuable items thoroughly. Coins and small objects clean up with a soft brush. Take all the scrap you raise (bike frames, rebar, nails) to a recycling center or a scrap yard; leaving a pile on the bank is what gets magnet fishing banned in a spot. A cheap luggage scale tells you whether a haul is worth the scrap trip.
Starter Kits
Kits from Brute Magnetics, Kratos, Magnet Fishing Depot, Bondi and similar brands bundle a double-sided or 360 magnet, rope, gloves, a grappling hook and a case for roughly the price of the magnet alone, and are the easiest first purchase. Choose a kit with a magnet in the 800–1,200 lb range, a rope rated above it and a locking carabiner; upgrade the rope if the included one is thin paracord. Expect to spend $50–$120.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is magnet fishing legal?
In most of the US, yes on public waters with access permission, subject to state and city rules on removing objects and artifacts. In the UK it is prohibited on Canal & River Trust waters without permission and allowed elsewhere with the landowner’s consent. Always report weapons and possible ordnance.
What magnet is best for beginners?
A double-sided or 360-degree neodymium magnet rated 500–1,200 lb, with 65–100 feet of rope rated above its pull and a locking carabiner. Kits from Brute Magnetics, Kratos or Magnet Fishing Depot are a simple start.
What do people find magnet fishing?
Commonly bicycles, tools, fishing gear, coins, nails and rebar, shopping carts, scooters and safes; occasionally knives, firearms, historical objects and munitions, which must be reported.
What rope do I need for magnet fishing?
At least 550 paracord for small magnets; 8–10 mm marine or climbing rope rated well above the magnet’s pull force is better. Tie a double figure-eight or Palomar knot or use a locking carabiner, and inspect the rope each trip.
What should I do if I find a weapon or a bomb?
Do not touch or move it. Put the magnet down, keep others away and call the police. Unexploded ordnance is regularly found and can be live after decades underwater.
Conclusion
A mid-strength double-sided magnet, a good rope and knot, gloves and a grappling hook are all magnet fishing needs, and bridges, locks and piers are where the finds are. Check the rules for the water you fish, report anything dangerous or suspicious without handling it, and carry the scrap away with the treasures. Done that way, it is a cheap, outdoor hobby that regularly turns up something interesting.
