There is a new trend in the treasure hunting community. Magnet fishing has been rapidly growing in popularity all over the globe. The trend seems to have been a phenomenon in the UK, and is now becoming one of the fastest growing new hobbies in the USA and rest of the world. With any new hobby comes a lot of questions. Weather or not it’s legal can seem very murky. There are some safety concerns, and some water’s have different rules and regulations that many may not be familiar with.
There are no specific laws directly regarding magnet fishing directly. It’s important always abide by maritime laws when around water. Trespassing laws are important to keep in mine when magnet fishing on public property. They may add laws in the future, but for now, it’s a good idea to assume that magnet fishing laws are governed by treasure hunting laws that are on the books.
Still there are some laws that may come into play with activities surrounding magnet fishing. It depends mainly on location. Laws vary by country and state, so whether or not it’s legal depends on your location. We will address some of the laws that you may encounter below:
Maritime Laws
If you’re going to go magnet fishing in the sea, then you definitely need to consider maritime law. Maritime law governs all behavior on the sea.
Maritime law is the collection of laws and agreements that govern behavior and activities on the seas. The area of law governs how people interact and do business on the waters of the world. Also called admiralty law, maritime law primarily governs activities on international waters. However, there are also laws that apply to the waters in and near each country. Generally, each country applies their own laws to inland waters like lakes and rivers.
When most Americans board a cruise ship, they’re blissfully unaware of the maritime law that applies to their case. However, maritime law affects everyone who travels on the high seas. Maritime laws regulate a wide variety of activities and possible events including commerce, navigation, lost cargo, leisure travel and the interaction between employers and seamen.
Trespassing on Private Property
The best places to go magnet fishing are typically going to be public spaces. These are usually perfectly legal, but lots of treasures have been found on private lakes and ponds. If you do decide to take it private, trespassing law still applies. If you are on someone else’s private property, make sure you have the owners permission to be there. Otherwise you are breaking the law.
When you enter land without consent of the landowner, you are trespassing. There are two types of laws that govern trespassing, criminal and civil. Criminal Trespassing is controlled by government officials, such as police, game wardens, and sheriffs. Weather or not it’s legal for you to be on the land, depends on the body of land your on. Civil trespassing generally requires that the landowner take action in court.
It’s also important to keep in mind that trespassing laws change by state:
Here is a list of trespassing laws by state.
Finding a Weapon.
We have thoroughly covered What To Do If You Find a Gun While Magnet Fishing. Most of the same information applies to other weapons. A pocket knife could be cleaned and reused, but other weapons are more dangerous. Make sure kids can’t access these weapons. Call the cops if you’re concerned, but make sure to be safe above everything. Keep it legal.
Is it Legal to Keep the Loot
While most things you find will be trash. There is the chance in which you will find something of value. Anything that has a registration or deed is not yours to keep. You may not be able to find the rightful owner, but if you can, it’s best to return it.