If you’re anything like me, the idea of slipping off on a Saturday morning with a coffee, a rope and a neodymium magnet has real appeal.
It’s quiet, it’s hands-on, and there’s a genuine jolt of adrenaline when the line goes tight on something heavy and unseen.
But before you start chasing history under bridges and along towpaths, there’s a simple question to nail down: do you need a licence to go magnet fishing in the UK?
The Short Answer
There’s no general UK “magnet fishing licence”. But that does not mean you can throw a magnet anywhere. What you need (or don’t need) depends on who owns or manages the water and where you are in the UK.
In some places it’s outright banned; in others it’s allowed with permission; in Scotland, formal consent is required on scheduled canals.
England And Wales: Most Canals Are A No
Most inland canals and a number of navigable rivers in England and Wales are managed by the Canal & River Trust (CRT). CRT explicitly does not allow magnet fishing on its waterways, citing hazards to navigation, risks to people and the environment, and issues when piles of scrap are left on the towpath. In other words: even though there’s no state “licence”, you are not permitted to magnet fish on CRT waters. Expect to be moved on.
CRT also makes a point that magnet fishing isn’t “angling”. That matters because some newcomers assume they just need an Environment Agency rod licence. You don’t need an EA rod licence for magnet fishing because you’re not fishing with a rod — but that doesn’t change CRT’s ban on their waters.
Are There Exceptions In England?
A few navigation authorities take a different view. For example, the Broads Authority says magnet fishing can take place from its 24-hour moorings at your own risk, provided you have the landowner’s permission when operating from private land.
Policies vary, so you need to check who’s in charge of the stretch you’ve got your eye on.
Scotland: Consent And Permission Required On Canals
Scotland is the outlier — and more structured. Much of the Scottish canal network is designated as scheduled monuments. To magnet fish on those canals you need two things: Scheduled Monument Consent from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and permission from Scottish Canals as landowner. There’s even an approved group scheme that covers certain stretches, but the principle is the same: no consent, no magnet.
HES also reminds finders in Scotland that portable antiquities of archaeological or historical significance fall to the Crown under Scots law and must be reported to the Treasure Trove Unit. If your aim is to connect with real history, that reporting duty is part of doing it properly.
Northern Ireland And Other Waters
There’s no single, explicit NI-wide rule on magnet fishing equivalent to the CRT ban in England and Wales. The safe, lawful approach is the same as anywhere non-CRT: identify the land/water owner or navigation authority and get permission; then follow any local rules. Where waters are managed (reservoirs, ports, certain rivers), a local policy may exist even if there’s no “licence”.
If you can’t identify permissive authority, don’t do it. (General NI fisheries and water regulation sits with DAERA; magnet fishing is not currently treated like angling.)
Who Actually Owns The Stuff You Pull Up?
“Finders keepers” won’t cut it. On privately owned waters, items you recover may still belong to the landowner or original owner.
If you believe you’ve found treasure (as defined by the Treasure Act 1996 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland), you must report it within 14 days to the local Finds Liaison Officer and coroner.
Material from shipwrecks in tidal waters must be reported to the Receiver of Wreck within 28 days. In Scotland, report significant finds to Treasure Trove.
The Rod Licence Myth
Because friends will ask: an Environment Agency rod licence is for fishing with a rod for fish. It doesn’t cover magnet fishing and it won’t legitimise you on CRT waters. Magnet fishing is a different activity with its own permissions (or bans), depending on the authority in charge.
If You Find Weapons Or Something Dangerous
Part of the thrill is the unknown — but that can mean knives, guns or even unexploded ordnance. If you recover a firearm or suspect you’ve hooked one, don’t take it home; call the police.
Use 101 to report non-urgent finds, and 999 if there’s any immediate danger. If you ever suspect an explosive device, move away and dial 999.
Doing It The Right Way
Here’s how to keep your day out magnet fishing peaceful:
• Pick your water with intent. If it’s CRT-managed (a huge chunk of England and Wales), magnet fishing is not permitted — choose somewhere else. If it’s a different authority, read their policy; the Broads Authority, for instance, hasn’t banned it at its 24-hour moorings, but you’re there at your own risk.
• Always get the landowner’s permission on private waters. A friendly ask beats an awkward conversation later.
• Plan for disposal. Authorities complain (fairly) about scrap left on towpaths. If you pull it out, take it away or arrange collection with the landowner/authority.
• Respect archaeology. If something looks historic, stop yanking and think. In Scotland, report to Treasure Trove; in the rest of the UK, follow the Treasure Act/PAS guidance.
• Safety first. Gloves, sensible footwear, and a stable stance are your basics. Don’t lean out over fast water. If the magnet locks onto something you can’t move, accept defeat — there’s a reason CRT flags the risk of being pulled in.
Why Men Catch The Bug
There’s a uniquely male kind of headspace you slip into when you’re out on your own, working a bank in the cool of the morning. It’s part exploration, part problem-solving: reading the history of a place through what the magnet finds in the dark.
A bridge by an old factory; a basin next to a goods yard; a bend where people tended to linger — the geography whispers. You’re not just collecting scrap, you’re testing hunches.
And when something heavy slides through the silt and bumps the surface — be it a First World War horseshoe or a supermarket sign — you’ve connected with the story of the place in a way most people never do.
So Where Can You Actually Go?
If you want a hassle-free day that stays on the right side of the rules, you’ve got three realistic routes.
- One: private lakes, ponds, or rivers where you’ve secured the landowner’s permission.
- Two: non-CRT waters with a permissive policy — double-check the local navigation authority first (as noted, the Broads Authority hasn’t imposed a blanket ban from its 24-hour moorings).
- Three: Scotland’s canals — but only after obtaining Scheduled Monument Consent and Scottish Canals’ permission, or by joining an approved scheme that already has consent for specific stretches.
If your chosen spot is on CRT’s network in England or Wales, pick another location; their ban is clear. Do that, and you keep the hobby about what it should be: fresh air, a bit of solitude, a test of nerve and patience — and, with luck, a small piece of history in your hands.