The full how to guide & the best tips and tricks for magnet fishing!
What is Magnet Fishing?
Using a high strength magnet to search underwater for magnetic treasures!
Hobbyists throw a large magnet tied to a rope into the water (i.e off a pier), drag the magnet around on the seafloor and pull it back up again.
With some luck the magnet will be attached to a piece of magnetic treasure, such as a safe, bicycle, coins or antique guns!
Choosing the right type of magnet
There are 2 types of magnets used for magnet fishing: Single sided magnets & double sided magnets. Both have their specific uses for magnet fishing!
Single sided
Best used when not throwing the magnet far. Better suited when dropping the magnet into water. I.e dropping it from a pier.
Double sided
The most versatile type of magnet because it has 2 different eyelets you can tie your rope onto. This allows it to be used like a single sided magnet for dropping and pulling straight up. The other eyelet allows you to throw the magnet afar and retrieve it by dragging it along the oceans floor - covering much more ground and increasing the likelihood of a catch!
Single Sided Magnets
Double Sided Magnets
Threadlocker: What is it and how will it save your magnet?
Threadlocker is a glue like substance that is applied to the thread of your magnets eyebolt to lock it into place and prevent it from coming undone!
It is critical to threadlock your magnet so that the eyebolt which you tie your rope onto, doesn’t come undone in the water!
Extra Tips
1. Overtime threadlock can come undone through wear and tear and salt water. It is best to always test the strength of the eyebolt connection and re-threadlock again if needs be. There’s nothing worse than going for a cold swim to retrieve your magnet… Trust me!!
2. If you need to undo the threadlock to re-arrange the position of your eyebolt (this applies to double sided magnets), the best strategy is to put something long and strong through the eyebolt and lever the eyebolt anticlockwise to undo the thread :)
Check out our full guide to applying threadlocker here:
3 Tips to Choosing the Right Location to Magnet Fish!
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Busy places = lots of treasure: Pick a location the gets a lot of foot traffic and fisherman. Why? Because the more people that go here means the higher chance someone has dropped a phone, fishing rod, bike (believe me it happens). Meaning that there is the potential of plenty of treasure. Word of warning, don’t go here if people are fishing, they will soon tell ya to leave because you’re scaring the fish..!
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Use Google maps if you are unfamiliar with the area: Google maps is great to use to find piers, boat ramps, fishing pontoons to magnet fish at. Toggle between the default view and satellite view to get some CIA grade intel!
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High crime rate areas will increase your chance of higher quality treasure! These areas will usually have more stolen goods thrown in the water than your all your local pawn shops combined! Stolen safes, watches, gun, knives you name it! Please keep in mind, if you believe you have found stolen goods it is correct etiquette to report it to the police for guidance on what to do!
What Treasures will you discover?
There is an abundance of metallic treasures waiting for you underwater! You can expect to find things like:
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Stolen Safes (hopefully full of money)
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Old Magnetic Coins
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Antique Swords & Daggers
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Historic WWII Guns
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Phones / Cameras
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Watches
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Bikes, scooters & shopping trolleys
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Car parts
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And so much more!
What to do with all the scrap metal and junk you pull out?
Option A: Keep it and take it to a scrap yard! You will accumulate enough scrap metal overtime to make yourself a small fortune! Did you know different types of steel will fetch you different prices, especially dense car parts! Check out Southern Cross Metal Recyclers for a full range of scrap prices!
Option B: Leave it in a neat pile easy to see and contact your local council and they will respond and pick it up!
Bonus Section: Secret Tips!
Here are our top 3 secret tips
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Getting your magnet off of a large piece of metal if it is stuck (above water)
-Try sliding the magnet off of the edge of the metal. It is easier to slide a magnet vs pulling it straight up!
-Use a rubber mallet to knock the magnet sideways off of the metal.
-Use a lever (crowbar, prybar, large screw driver etc) to help create extra force and lift off the magnet.
-Use a wedge made of plastic or other non magnetic material to try get in and under the magnet! -
Get a heavy duty case and ensure it is packed with foam to neutralise the magnet field
-There is nothing worse than getting your magnet attached to something unwanted like your car. Always keep it in a safe and secure storage solution and always away from children or pets! Did you know: Our heavy duty cases are lockable! Simply get a mini padlock and put it through the lockable slot! - Credit: Branden Johns - Founder of Great White Magnetics. -
Take a bucket or wheeled cart to collect your finds!
-You are going to be pulling up some serious metal, make sure you have something to put the wet and potentially muddy finds into something! If you are collecting the scrap metal, make sure you have something extra large to be putting it all into! - Credit - Fraser D. - Product Tester -
“Do your research about the spot prior, the last thing you want to do is throw your magnet in a river and get snagged under a rock or tree instantly, and the method to help remove the magnet is pull it from various angles to better help loosen it”. - Credit - Jake Robson - The Unfiltered Fisherman
That’s all folks!
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