Top Long Beach Magnet Fishing Spots for Beginners
If you've never done this before, magnet fishing is basically what it sounds like. You tie a strong neodymium magnet to a rope, toss it into a body of water, and drag it along the bottom to see what sticks. Old tools, fishing weights, bolts, bike parts, the occasional knife, it all ends up down there over the years. It's part treasure hunt, part urban archaeology, and one hundred percent a good time. And Long Beach, sitting right where the Los Angeles River spills into the bay with decades of marina and port history behind it, is honestly one of the better spots in Southern California to do this.
I've put together five solid spots in Long Beach that check all the boxes. We're talking piers with high foot traffic, active boat launch ramps, a historic river mouth, and marina areas that have seen more dropped hardware than I can count. Whether you're rolling solo or dragging the whole family out for the day, there's a spot here for you. Let's get into it.
Check out our How to Start Magnet Fishing: A Beginner’s Guide for all the newbie tips!
Top Magnet Fishing Spots in Long Beach
These spots are all working from real research, not guesswork. Each one has at least one solid reason why metal collects there, whether that's decades of boat traffic, a converging waterway, or just a lot of people standing on a pier over the years accidentally dropping stuff.
Shoreline Aquatic Park Piers (Queensway Bay)
Why It's Great: There are five public piers here sitting right on Queensway Bay, and they've been pulling in foot traffic since they were built in 1982. More people means more stuff dropped over the railing over the years, and the mud and sand bottom is exactly the kind of terrain where metal likes to sit and wait for you. The northernmost piers sit right near the entrance to the Los Angeles River, so you've got a convergence point on top of everything else.
Accessibility: You can get here through the Shoreline Village shopping area, and it's an easy walk along the breakwater with no fishing license required. Parking is a little limited so arriving early helps.
Pro Tip: Get here in the early morning before the crowds show up. You'll have room to work the rope without bumping into people, and low foot traffic means less chance of someone walking into your line.
Nearby Perks: The Queen Mary is right across the water, so the whole family can make a real day out of it. There are shops and food options nearby in Shoreline Village too.
Los Angeles River Mouth (Queensway Bay Entrance)
Why It's Great: This is where the LA River finishes its long run through the city and dumps into Queensway Bay, and that transition from moving water to calm bay water is basically a metal magnet in itself. Heavy objects carried downstream by the current lose momentum right here and settle to the bottom, and since this river runs through a massive urban and industrial corridor, the variety of stuff that could be down there is genuinely wild. Historical floods in 1914 and 1916 alone dumped four million cubic yards of silt and debris into San Pedro Bay, so there are actual layers of history sitting down there.
Accessibility: The LA River bike path runs along portions of the river, making it reachable on foot or by bike from the Shoreline Marina area. There's nearby parking in the urban setting around the marina.
Pro Tip: After a significant rainstorm, the river flushes new material downstream and deposits fresh debris near the mouth. If it rained hard the week before your trip, this spot moves up on the priority list.
Nearby Perks: You're close to the whole Shoreline Aquatic Park area, so you can easily hit both this spot and the piers in the same outing.
Alamitos Bay Marina (Granada and South Shore Ramps)
Why It's Great: Alamitos Bay Marina is a public facility spread across multiple basins with several named launch ramps, and boat launch ramps are some of the most reliable magnet fishing spots you'll find anywhere. Every time someone launches or retrieves a boat, there's a solid chance a tool, a piece of hardware, or a piece of rigging goes into the water. Multiply that by decades of use and you've got a serious accumulation on the bottom near those ramps.
Accessibility: Multiple entry points across the different basins make this spot pretty flexible depending on where you want to set up. Parking is available at the marina facilities and the whole area is family-friendly with the beach nearby.
Pro Tip: Focus your pulls right at the bottom of the ramp slope where the concrete meets the water. That's the zone where things fall during the chaos of launching and loading, and the slope can actually funnel metal objects toward one area.
Nearby Perks: Alamitos Beach is right there, so if the kids get bored of watching you haul up rusty bolts they can go play in the sand. Problem solved.
Long Beach Shoreline Marina (Rainbow Harbor Area)
Why It's Great: This city-operated marina sits right in the middle of downtown Long Beach's waterfront district and sees some of the heaviest foot traffic of any spot on this list. It's adjacent to major tourist attractions, meaning thousands of people walk through here constantly, and where there are people near water, things get dropped. The marina is part of the larger Queensway Bay complex and has been active since the marina infrastructure was built out starting in 1982.
Accessibility: Getting here is easy with nearby parking structures and public transit options. The Aquarium of the Pacific is right next door, and the whole waterfront area has walkways along the water.
Pro Tip: The walkways and public access points near the marina edges are your friend here. Look for spots where the dock is lower to the water surface, which is usually where gear slips out of people's hands most easily.
Nearby Perks: The Aquarium of the Pacific is steps away, which is a fantastic excuse to turn a magnet fishing trip into a full family day out. Pack lunch, hit the aquarium after, everyone wins.
Marine Stadium Launch Ramp (Marine Stadium)
Why It's Great: The Marine Stadium Ramp is one of five public launch ramps operated by the Long Beach Marine Bureau, and this one has a little extra history behind it because the stadium was historically used for boat racing events. That means on top of regular recreational launching activity, you've got years of race-related boat handling happening in this water. More activity, more potential drops, more stuff on the bottom.
Accessibility: The ramp is a public access facility with parking typically available on site. It's a solid solo or family outing spot given the open waterfront setting.
Pro Tip: Don't just work the bottom of the ramp. Fan your casts out to the sides too, because stuff dropped during boat maneuvering can end up off to either side of the main lane, not just straight down the middle.
Nearby Perks: The Marine Stadium area gives you a nice open waterfront setting that doesn't feel as crowded as the downtown spots, which is a welcome change if you want a little more room to work.
Essential Tips for Magnet Fishing in Long Beach
Safety first, and I say that as someone who has absolutely gotten a rope burn from a magnet snapping onto a metal piling. Neodymium magnets are no joke. These things can pinch hard and fast, so keep your fingers out of the gap when the magnet is close to metal. Gloves are genuinely helpful, not optional. Also, if you pull up anything that looks like it could be a weapon or something sketchy, don't mess around with it. Set it aside safely and contact local authorities.
Long Beach's waterways are tidal, so the bay and harbor areas shift with the tides throughout the day. A lower tide can expose different terrain near the ramp edges and pier footings, while a higher tide gives you more water column to work through. Checking a local tide chart before your session is a small thing that can make a real difference in what you pull up and where you're able to cast.
Seasonally, Long Beach is pretty friendly for year-round magnet fishing thanks to the mild Southern California climate. That said, winter is when the real heavy rain hits, usually December through March, and after a significant storm the LA River and other waterways flush new debris into the bay and harbor areas. Showing up shortly after a big rain event can get you some genuinely fresh finds. Summer and fall bring more recreational boat traffic, which means a higher chance of recently dropped items around the marinas and ramps.
Be a good steward of the waterway. Whatever you pull up, pack it out. Don't leave rusty junk on the pier or piled on the ramp. A trash bag in your kit is just standard equipment at this point. The spots stay open and accessible when people don't leave a mess, and the last thing any of us want is a magnet fishing ban at a great spot because someone left a pile of corroded metal on the dock.
If you're bringing kids, and honestly I highly recommend it because their reactions when something comes up are priceless, keep them back from the water's edge while you're pulling. Set up a little spot a few feet back where they can watch the rope and call out when it goes heavy. Give them a job. They'll feel involved and you won't be nervous about them leaning over the edge. Pack snacks. This is non-negotiable. A hungry kid at a magnet fishing spot is a very impatient kid.
Finally, and I cannot stress this enough, contact the Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Department before fishing in any managed marina area. The Marine Bureau runs several of these spots and it's just courteous and smart to make sure you're not stepping on any rules. A two-minute phone call keeps you good and keeps the hobby accessible for everyone.
Recommended Gear for Long Beach Adventures
After testing way too much equipment over the past couple years, here's what actually works well for Long Beach's spots:
FINDMAG 700lbs Magnet Fishing Kit
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VNDUEEY 760lbs Magnet Fishing Kit
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GRTARD 500 lbs Magnet Fishing Kit
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760 lbs Magnet Fishing Kit for Beginners
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700 lbs Beginners Maget Fishing Kit
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Magnetar 360° 600lbs Magnet Fishing Kit
Read ReviewNeed gear to get started? Check out our guides to the best magnet fishing kits for beginners, top-rated magnets for every budget, and essential accessories that'll make your trips way more fun—I've tested everything so you don't have to!
Do I need a permit for these spots?
Most public parks and waterways in Long Beach don't require a special permit just to magnet fish. That said, the city-managed marinas and launch ramps are operated by the Long Beach Marine Bureau, and it's a smart move to check with them directly before setting up in those areas. If you're new to a spot, a quick call to the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department can save you a headache. Better to spend two minutes confirming than to get turned away after the drive over.What can I find magnet fishing in Long Beach?
Long Beach has over a century of maritime and industrial history, so there's a solid chance you'll pull up old boat hardware, anchors, and tools that have been sitting on the harbor floor for decades. The LA River drains a massive urban corridor before emptying into Queensway Bay, which means plenty of urban runoff finds like bike frames, fishing tackle, and hand tools make their way here too. Don't be surprised to haul up some real junk either, and hey, cleaning it up is part of the fun. If you're hitting one of the marina boat ramps, dropped trailer hardware and outboard motor parts are especially common.Is magnet fishing legal in Long Beach?
Magnet fishing in public waterways is generally fine in Long Beach, but you'll want to check the rules for whatever specific spot you're heading to since park regulations can vary. The Port of Long Beach and some managed marina areas may have restricted access zones, so it's worth a quick check before you show up. Private property is always off-limits, no exceptions. When in doubt, reach out to the Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Department or ask a staff member on-site.