Magnet Fishing FAQ: Your Questions Answered

Magnet fishing is fishing with a magnet instead of a hook, and for metal instead of fish. You tie a strong magnet to a rope, throw it into the water, and drag it along the bottom to see what it picks up. All you really need is a good fishing magnet and a sturdy rope. More about the hobby.

A magnet built to be magnetic on every side, not just one or two. Single and double sided magnets are significantly weaker and are not made for magnet fishing, even when they are advertised as such. Every magnet in our fishing magnet range is 360 degree.

Anything ferrous, plus plenty of non-magnetic things tangled in or locked inside something ferrous. Coins, keys, tools, bicycles, motorbikes, firearms and safes all turn up. People have opened fished-up safes to find jewellery and gemstones inside.

Technically yes, practically no. Almost any strong magnet works underwater, but your success rate will be much lower. Most cheap magnets are magnetic on one face only, so dragged along the bottom they grab only what happens to meet that surface. All Bondi magnets are 360 degree neodymium, made specifically for magnet fishing.

We make a range for every level: the Nugget at 760 kg for beginners, the Jackpot at 1080 kg as the step up, the Bondi Gold at 1460 kg as our best all-rounder and the magnet Bondi fishes with himself, and the Holy Moly at 1800 kg for experienced fishers only. Not sure? Take the 30 second magnet quiz on any collection page.

Use the form on our contact page, or email hello@bondimagnets.com. We answer every message, and when Bondi is not out on the water he sometimes answers them himself.

A magnet that pulls on every side, made from neodymium, a rare earth metal. It gives a strong, consistent pulling force that does not weaken over time, which is exactly what magnet fishing asks of it.

Two numbers get quoted for fishing magnets. Direct pull is the force on one face, measured straight on. Combined pull adds up the pulling force across all magnetic sides. Because our magnets are magnetic on every side, combined pull is the more useful figure for comparing them against each other.

It is measured in lab conditions with all sides combined, against a flat steel plate. In real conditions mud, rust, suction and partial contact all reduce it, so it is not what you will lift out of a canal. A higher figure still improves your chances with heavier finds.

The Holy Moly at 1800 kg combined pull is the most extreme magnet we make, and it is intended for experienced magnet fishers only. Stronger is not automatically better.

Not always. Stronger magnets pull more, but they also lock onto large metal you did not want, like sheet piling and bridge structures. Around heavy metal or in unfamiliar water, start smaller and work up. The Jackpot is a sensible middle ground for adults starting the hobby.

Fishing magnets are a specific thing. Many cheap magnets sold as fishing magnets are ordinary magnets with a new label, and they disappoint. Ours are designed for magnet fishing and tested by Bondi Treasure Hunter before anything reaches the shop.

Every magnet ships with a golden Bondi magnet cover, durable waterproof gloves, the Bondi Extra Tough XL bucket, a foam travel cover, thread-locking Loctite, and it arrives pre-assembled. We recommend adding at least a heavy duty rope and a grappling hook. A kit works out cheaper than buying the pieces separately.

A kit contains the 360 degree magnet of your choice, a three-point grappling hook, a heavy duty rope sized to the magnet (8 mm for the Nugget and Jackpot, 10 mm for the Bondi Gold and Holy Moly), the golden Bondi magnet cover, durable waterproof gloves, the Bondi Extra Tough XL bucket, Loctite and a foam travel cover.

You can fish with just a magnet, but a grappling hook lets you recover non-magnetic finds and takes the strain on big pulls like bikes and safes, which tend to lever themselves off a magnet at the surface. Two people can pull together by looping the hook through the rope carabiner.

It is probably strong enough, but climbing rope soaks up water and can knot permanently. Our heavy duty ropes are water-repellent, carry a stainless carabiner at each end, and still untie easily after a day in the water.

No noticeable difference. The cover is machined to 1 mm and the pulling face stays exposed. It is included free with every Bondi magnet.

It is already on your magnet. The gold coloured outer layer is the protective cover.

Neodymium is powerful but brittle. Our magnets come pre-assembled with a protective cover to absorb impacts, but chips can still happen. They do not affect magnetic strength.

No tools needed. Apply the adhesive to the nut and it will seep between the nut and bolt to secure it.

Check with your airline first, since policies differ. If it is allowed, pack it in the original box with the protective cover fitted to minimise magnetic attraction.

Merch is on the roadmap. Keep an eye on the site or sign up to the newsletter for updates.

In most countries there is no general permit requirement for magnet fishing itself, but the rules depend on your country, state and municipality, and on who owns the water. Some waterway authorities prohibit it outright. Check with the authority responsible for your spot before you fish it. Our permits and laws guide covers this country by country.

Almost any body of water works if it is safe and you have permission to be there. Rivers with a lot of boulders and rock will trap a magnet more often, so bring a spare rope and be prepared to lose the odd one.

You can, but salt water accelerates rust on neodymium and can reduce pulling power over time. It also degrades the finds themselves, so it is rarely the best water for recovering anything interesting. If you do fish salt water, rinse your magnet with fresh water afterwards.

All year round is fine. Most people prefer spring and autumn, when water levels tend to be lower, visibility is better and vegetation is out of the way.

Step back to put distance on the rope, then pull with short sharp pulls from several different angles rather than one steady heave. Bouncing with your body weight helps, and a second pair of hands helps more. If it stays stuck and entering the water would not be safe, a winch is the answer. Never go in after it.

Take it with you. A scrap dealer will pay for some of it, and the rest belongs at a recycling centre. Do not throw it back and do not leave it on the bank. Piles of rusted scrap on a towpath are the most common reason local authorities ban the hobby.

Modern scrap and loose coins are generally not covered by heritage legislation. Anything that looks old or archaeologically interesting is treated differently in most countries and usually has to be reported. If you think a find may be valuable or historic, contact the responsible local authority before doing anything with it.

The most common injury is trapping fingers between the magnet and an object, or between two magnets, which happens faster than you can react. You can also damage the bank, structures or underwater habitat if you are careless about where you fish. Our safety guidance lists the twelve rules we give every customer.

Unbox in an open space, well away from metal objects, electronics, bank cards and watches. A 360 degree magnet is magnetic on every side and will snap to anything ferrous the moment the box opens. There is fuller guidance here.

For firearms, ammunition or anything resembling a shell or grenade, do not touch it and do not take it home. Leave it attached, lower it back, move away and call the police or emergency services. Age does not make ordnance safe. For historic finds, keep the object wet and muddy, report it to the responsible authority, and contact a specialist or local museum. There is more detail on our permits and laws page.

Done properly it is the opposite. Our magnets are solid neodymium in a machined casing, so nothing leaches into the water, and every session removes metal that should not be on the bottom. The one way it does cause harm is when people leave what they pulled out on the bank, so be mindful of wildlife and habitat and take your scrap with you.

We ship the next business day and send you a tracking code. Most packages arrive within a week.

Processing occasionally takes a little longer. You will get a confirmation email once the order is processed, and a tracking number once the carrier scans the parcel. Worth checking your spam folder too.

Once your order is processed we email you a tracking code you can follow all the way to delivery.

Add your items to the cart and the total shipping cost for your address is shown before checkout.

Add items to your cart and check the country list at checkout. If your country is not listed, contact us and we will try to make it happen.

We already use the fastest available air shipping on every order, so there is no separate priority option to pay for.

Yes, within 30 days of delivery, at your own shipping expense. We refund once we receive the items unused, in original packaging and in the condition they were sent. Full terms are in our refund policy.

Post your photos on social and tag @bondimagnets. Your find might end up on our profile.

Bondi's main spots are the canals of Amsterdam. If you spot him, say hello. He might let you throw his magnet.

Send an email with links to your socials to hello@bondimagnets.com and we will take a look.

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