Magnet fishing has increasingly become a popular hobby among many in the recent past. The magnet fishing adventure has gained popularity, despite its dangers. However, the case is different in this article; you will find an in-depth coverage of all the magnet fishing dangers that lurk around this hobby. All this is not to scare you, but to ensure that finding metal objects in the water doesn’t cause you any harm.
But before discussing the dangers, here is what exactly magnetic fishing is. It involves using a magnet, a very strong magnet (neodymium magnet), a high-quality rope and a fishing or grappling hook to pull metal objects from the bottom of water bodies. It is similar to metal detecting, but it’s done in water bodies.
In some cases, it’s also referred to as treasure hunting. As cheap and simple as it is to start, ensure you are aware of the magnet fishing danger that may befall you to be on the safer side at all times.
Legal Issues
Breaking the law is a hidden magnet fishing danger because most magnetic fishers still question if there are laws governing this practice.
It is better to ensure your magnet fishing safety by consulting your local authorities on areas where magnet fishing is not allowed. Some of the laws you should be keen on include those governing disturbance of marine life and preserved artifacts. Magnet fishing on private property without permission would also land you in trouble.
How you handle weapons like guns, knives, and other explosive devices could get you in trouble with local authorities. Report all weapons and unexploded bombs immediately to ensure you stay out of trouble.
If you are casting your fishing magnets near military bases or historical world war areas, you are likely to get some of these dangerous finds, among other exciting things.
Dangers of Weapons and other Fishing Finds
Besides magnet fishing legal issues, there are direct dangers of magnet fishing if some finds like handguns, knives, unexploded bombs, and grenades are not handled carefully.
For instance, knives and other rusted metal items can easily cut you. But to ensure your magnet fishing safety, ensure you wear gloves at all times.
In the case of guns, you can shoot yourself or other magnet fishers if the gun is not handled properly. Besides, you could be tied to crime if your fingerprints are found on items that were used for crime and dumped in water bodies.
The dangers of explosives are fatal despite how careful you may handle them. Therefore, they should only be handled by the authorities to ensure your magnet fishing safety.
Increased Risks of Drowning
When you are out to magnet fish, the risk of drowning increases even though you don’t need to enter the water body. The drowning risks are even more pronounced when you go magnet fishing alone, at crumbling shores, and even at high cliffs.
Additionally, you may find it difficult to save yourself from drowning because of heavy metals that your powerful magnets may have attracted.
To avert the risks of drowning, here are some of the magnet fishing safety tips you should consider. First, ensure you are magnet fishing alongside other fishers, avoid the risky areas, and lastly, avoid diving into the water at all costs, especially if you can’t swim.
Effects of Magnet Strength
The strength of neodymium magnets is far way high than other magnets. It’s one of the rare earth magnets and, at the same time, among the strongest magnets. While this is an advantage, the strong magnetic forces pose risks to other electronic devices like cell phones, computers, among other devices. The neodymium magnets can wipe the memory of your devices if handled carelessly.
In addition, they can interfere with pacemakers, which is likely to cause cardiac problems or even heart attacks.
Other effects of the magnetic force from these strong magnets may include damage to your skin, sparks and worst of all, fires if handled carelessly.
To ensure your magnet fishing safety when dealing with fishing magnets, always wear gloves and store them safely enclosed in their bulky case after use.
Tangled Ropes
Tangled ropes are a magnet fishing danger that is likely to occur, especially when you are using low-quality ropes. And in rough waters, you will need more than one rope to avoid losing your Neodymium magnet while magnetic fishing.
The use of more than one rope increases the chances of the ropes being tangled together. To remove the knot, you will have to get into the water, which could result in other dangers like drowning.
To avoid the dangers arising from the knots, you should use high-quality ropes at all times. Using a pulley will also help you avoid knots on your magnetic fishing ropes.
Releasing Hazards to the Environment
Magnetic fishing has both positive and negative effects on preserving the environment. While it removes some environmental hazards, it releases others at the bottom of the waterway floor.
For instance, the fishing magnets may stick so hard in very heavy metal objects that they cannot be removed. In such situations, the neodymium releases elements that damage the cell membranes of some water animals.
In worse-case scenarios, it penetrates the soil and starts seeping water, and this has severe damage to the entire ecosystem due to the moderately toxic elements that are released into the environment over time.
Disputes Among Magnet Fishers
Fishing valuable items and failure to reach an amicable agreement among magnet fishers is likely to occur in some instances. It usually occurs when both of your magnets latch and draw out the same find.
It is advisable to come to a reasonable agreement to avoid escalating the situation in such situations. But to prevent this from occurring, magnet fish in isolated areas that are less known to most anglers.
Effects of Magnet Composition
While neodymium may sound new to some, it is a popular element that is widely used in different devices. Its combination with Boron and Iron enhances magnetic strength, thus increasing its popularity among the fishing magnets.
The combination of these elements results in moderately toxic elements that pose a danger to the skin and eyes.
Therefore, while magnet fishing, ensure to handle the magnets carefully and thoroughly wash your hands after magnetic fishing.
Bottom Line
To sum it up, being aware of the magnet fishing danger puts you in a better place to have in place countermeasures hence ensuring your magnet fishing safety at all times. And now that you are aware of the dangers, ensure to stay safe as you go out magnet fishing.