01
The picks
Four magnets sold alone and three kits, from 2 to 4.72 inches. Each frame shows what the listing title names.
1. DIYMAG 2-inch fishing magnet
The smallest and lowest-rated pick: 2 in across and 350 lb.
2. FINDMAG 2.36-inch fishing magnet
A stronger magnet than the DIYMAG for little more size.
3. FINDMAG 2.95-inch magnet kit
Rated 1,000 lb at under 3 in across, sold as a kit.
4. NIUKNOW 3.54-inch fishing magnet
Rated like the FINDMAG 2.95-inch kit, on a wider face.
5. FINDMAG 4.72-inch magnet kit
A 4.72-inch single-sided magnet sold as a kit. More pull also means more snags you can't free.
6. VNDUEEY 4.72-inch fishing magnet
Second only to the 2,000 lb double-sided kit, with a countersunk hole and an eye bolt named in the listing.
7. Platinum Online Products double-sided kit
The complete kit: its title names N52 neodymium magnets, a 65 ft rope, a carabiner, gloves, a grappling hook and a carry case.
The frames show the facts each Amazon listing names, checked Oct. 17, 2026. We have no maker spec sheet on file for these products.
02
Pull, size and rope
No listing here says how its pull was measured. A rusty bolt on a riverbed touches only a small part of the face, so expect far less hold than the rating. Compare ratings between listings, not against what you hope to lift.
A double-sided magnet catches on both faces, which helps when you drag it along a bank. It also snags more. Bring a strong rope, gloves, and a grappling hook to free anything stuck.
03
Wrecks, old objects and local rules
Old objects can carry rules of their own. Under federal law, the United States asserts title to certain abandoned shipwrecks and transfers it to the state whose submerged lands hold them. On federal public lands and Indian lands, removing an archaeological resource without a permit or a listed exemption is prohibited.
In Virginia, recovering underwater historic property from the state-owned bottom needs a permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission first. At Corps of Engineers lakes, removing historical and archaeological features, or any public property, needs the District Commander's written permission. Found items fall under 36 CFR 327.15 and 327.16, except coins worth less than $25 and other non-identifiable items.
| Land | Rule | Text |
|---|---|---|
| Abandoned shipwrecks Definition | The United States asserts title to certain abandoned shipwrecks and transfers it to the state whose submerged lands hold them. Wrecks on federal public lands belong to the United States, and wrecks on Indian lands to the tribe that owns the land. | 43 U.S.C. 2105 (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
| Federal public lands and Indian lands Digging or removal prohibited | Excavating, removing, damaging or defacing an archaeological resource, or trying to, is prohibited without a permit or a listed exemption. A knowing violation is a federal crime. | 16 U.S.C. 470ee(a) and (d) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
| U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes and projects Digging or removal prohibited | Removing or altering public property, historical and archaeological features included, is prohibited except with the District Commander's written permission. | 36 CFR 327.14(a) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on ecfr.gov |
| U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes and projects Finds turned in | Found items must be handled under 36 CFR 327.15 and 327.16, except non-identifiable items such as coins worth less than $25. | 36 CFR 327.14(d) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on ecfr.gov |
| U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes and projects Allowed with limits | Metal detectors are permitted on designated beaches or other previously disturbed areas unless the District Commander prohibits them to protect archaeological, historical or paleontological resources. The Manager's Office has the metal detector policy and designated use areas. | 36 CFR 327.14(d) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on ecfr.gov |
| State-owned bottoms of Virginia's rivers, the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic coastal zone Permit required | Underwater historic property on the state-owned bottom belongs to the Commonwealth. Any recovery that removes, destroys or disturbs it needs a permit from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission first. A violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor. | Code of Virginia 10.1-2214(A)-(C) and (E) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 17, 2026 on law.lis.virginia.gov |
04
Care in three steps
Dry it after each trip
Rinse off mud, dry it along with the eye bolt, and pick off metal flakes with a gloved hand or tape.
Store it apart
Keep it in its case, away from phones, bank cards and other magnets. Two strong magnets that snap together can pinch fingers.
Check the knot and eye bolt
A loose eye bolt or a worn knot can cost you the magnet. Tighten and inspect both before each session.
05
Questions
Answered from the texts and listings on this page, checked Oct. 17, 2026.
Three of the seven here sit between 500 and 1,000 lb, a sensible start. Larger ratings lift more but snag more, and no listing says how its rating was measured.
The texts we read do not name magnet fishing. They do cover what you might pull up: certain abandoned shipwrecks and, on federal public and Indian lands, archaeological resources. Ask the owner or manager of the water first.
A magnet, a long rope, gloves and a grappling hook. The double-sided kit here names magnets, a 65 ft rope, gloves and a grappling hook, plus a carabiner and a carry case.
06