Magnet fishing
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. That is the whole hobby, and it is one of the cheapest outdoor pastimes there is to start.
How magnet fishing works
Attach the magnet to a rope, check the knot, and throw it as far out as you can. Then pull the rope back in slowly and see what came with it. Going slowly matters: a fast pull skims over objects that a slow drag would have caught.
People have recovered coins, jewellery, keys, tools, knives, bicycles, motorbikes and safes, and occasionally things that had to be handed straight to the police. Anything thrown off a bridge in the last hundred years is a candidate.
What you need to start
A 360 degree neodymium magnet, a rope rated for the pull, a grappling hook for anything heavy that breaks the surface, gloves, and a bucket for what you recover. Our magnet fishing kits bundle all of it, which works out cheaper than buying the pieces separately.
Which magnet to choose
Most cheap magnets are magnetic on one face only. Dragged along the bottom, they grab only what happens to meet that one surface, and everything else is missed. Every Bondi magnet is 360 degree, magnetic across the entire body, so it attracts from any angle regardless of how it lands.
- The Nugget, 760 kg combined pull. Compact and easy to throw and retrieve. The one to start with if you are completely new.
- The Jackpot, 1080 kg. The step up, and a sensible middle ground for adults starting the hobby.
- The Bondi Gold, 1460 kg. Our best all-rounder, and the magnet Bondi fishes with himself.
- The Holy Moly, 1800 kg. The most extreme magnet we make, for experienced fishers only.
Stronger is not automatically better: heavy magnets lock onto sheet piling and bridge structures you never wanted. In unfamiliar water, start smaller and work up. Our guide to choosing a magnet covers the full range, and the 360 versus single and double sided comparison explains why the difference changes what you find. You can also browse all fishing magnets.
Where to go
Rivers, canals, lakes, harbours and docks all work. Bridges, locks, marinas and old city centres tend to produce the most, because they combine water, history and foot traffic. What matters more than the type of water is access and permission. Our guide to the best magnet fishing locations covers how to research a spot properly before you travel to it.
Staying safe
The most common injury is trapping fingers between the magnet and an object, or between two magnets, which happens faster than you can react. Wear gloves, watch your footing near steep banks, be careful of strong currents, and do not fish alone in unfamiliar places. Our safety guidance sets out the twelve rules we give every customer, and there is separate advice on unboxing a magnet safely.
Check the rules first
The rules vary by country and sometimes by town, and they usually depend on who controls the water rather than on the magnet itself. Heritage sites and protected waterways are normally off limits even where the general rule is permissive. See do you need a permit for magnet fishing for a country by country guide.
What it does for the water
Every session removes metal that should not be on the bottom in the first place, which is why a lot of magnet fishers think of it as cleaning up as much as treasure hunting. The one way the hobby does cause harm is when people leave what they pulled out on the bank. Take your scrap with you, drop it at a recycling centre, and leave the spot cleaner than you found it. Local bans usually follow complaints, and complaints usually follow mess.
Why Bondi Magnets
For those in the magnet fishing community, Bondi Magnets has become synonymous with quality. The range covers various sizes and strengths, for beginners and seasoned professionals alike, and every magnet is tested by Bondi Treasure Hunter before it reaches the shop.
Still have a question?
Our magnet fishing FAQ answers 44 of the questions we get asked most, from what combined pull means to what to do with the scrap you pull out.