State Guide

Magnet Fishing in New York: Erie Canal, Hudson River and City Harbor

The Erie Canal alone is worth a trip — 200 years of commercial navigation, dozens of old lock sites, and barely any magnet fishers working it yet. The Hudson is deep and historically loaded. NYC harbor is the most demanding environment in the state, but the finds potential is obvious. The legal landscape here is…

Hudson River

Magnet fishing in New York — quick info

Recommended Pull Force

800–2000 lb

Recommended Rope Length

65–120 ft

Beginner Difficulty

moderate

Typical Water Conditions

New York has the Hudson River, Lake Erie and Ontario borders, the Erie Canal network, the St. Lawrence River, and New York City's harbor complex — one of the most varied magnet fishing environments in the country. The Erie Canal corridor is particularly interesting, with 200 years of commercial traffic and infrastructure. NYC harbor has extreme tidal current and deep water, which requires serious gear.

Is it legal? New York State DEC doesn't specifically prohibit magnet fishing, but New York has some of the most active underwater archaeological protection in the country through the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. New York Harbor falls under multiple jurisdictions including federal maritime authority. Local municipalities like NYC have their own ordinances, and the Hudson River has specific DEC environmental protections.

Best magnet fishing gear for New York

Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm
Magnet

Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm

A smaller, lower-pull magnet makes sense for the Finger Lakes and Erie Canal spots where targets tend to be smaller recreational debris — less torque fighting the current means more control from a dock or low bridge.

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AnglerMag Double Sided 1325LB Kit
Starter Kit

AnglerMag Double Sided 1325LB Kit

The 1325lb double-sided pull is worth considering for the deeper tidal sections of the Hudson below Albany, where the current can flip your magnet and you'd rather have both faces working regardless of how it lands.

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Brute Magnetics Foldable Grappling Hook
Grappling Hook

Brute Magnetics Foldable Grappling Hook

The Hudson has a long history of dumped equipment and submerged bikes near old ferry landings — a foldable grappling hook lets you snag non-ferrous stuff that the magnet just slides off of, which comes up more than you'd think in high-traffic urban waterways.

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KAYGO KG150 Waterproof Work Gloves
Gloves

KAYGO KG150 Waterproof Work Gloves

The Hudson near the PCB Superfund stretch and the old industrial piers around New York City means you genuinely don't want to handle whatever comes up without waterproof coverage.

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Best magnet fishing spots in New York

1. Hudson River at Poughkeepsie Waterfront

Poughkeepsie

The Hudson River through Poughkeepsie has been a working industrial and commercial waterway for over 150 years, and the bottom reflects every bit of that history. People have pulled railroad spikes, old iron hardware, chain links, and the occasional anchor fragment from the shallows near the boat launch. Access is straightforward at the Waryas Park waterfront with decent parking, and the tidal current means new stuff shifts into range regularly.

Gear tip: The tidal current here puts real stress on your rope, so don't skimp on that — check out Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm and make sure whatever you bring has a solid rated line, not the thin stuff that frays after two snags.

2. Hudson River at Newburgh Waterfront

Newburgh

The Newburgh waterfront sits along a stretch of the Hudson River that saw heavy industrial and ferry traffic for well over a century, and the bottom reflects that history — old hardware, chain, anchors, and occasionally older iron that nobody's touched in decades. Access is solid through the waterfront park, parking is right there, and the water is shallow enough near the bulkhead to get good rope control. People have pulled up everything from engine parts to ship fittings here.

Gear tip: The currents along this stretch can run stronger than they look, especially on tidal movement, so you want a high-pull magnet with a rope you actually trust — check out Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm before you show up with something that's going to snap mid-retrieve.

3. Erie Canal — Rome to Utica Corridor

Rome

The Erie Canal has been moving boats, tools, and cargo across New York since 1825, and the stretch between Rome and Utica is one of the more productive sections for magnet fishing because of the old lock infrastructure and decades of recreational boating traffic layered on top of the working canal history. Canal walls and lock areas are where dropped tools, chains, and hardware concentrate over time. Depth is manageable — typically 12 to 14 feet in the main channel — and there are multiple public access points along the canal trail.

Gear tip: Lock areas mean your magnet is going to meet some serious iron infrastructure, so you want real pulling strength — Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm has options that won't embarrass you when you hook into a submerged lock gate fitting.

4. Erie Canal at Lock 17

Little Falls

Lock 17 on the Erie Canal is one of the highest lift locks in the world and it's been in operation since 1918 — the edges of the lock walls and the approach channels have absorbed a remarkable amount of dropped and discarded metal over the decades. Access is easy, there's a visitor area nearby, and the lock walls give you a clean vertical drop for your magnet. Bolts, tools, coins, and old lock hardware are pretty common finds here.

Gear tip: Throwing next to the stone lock walls means you're going to snag — a lot — so bring a good treble hook retrieval tool along with whatever Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm setup you're running.

5. Erie Canal at Lockport

Lockport

The Erie Canal through Lockport has been moving boats and dropping things since 1825, and the lock areas specifically are where the interesting finds concentrate. Hardware, old tools, boat fittings, and the occasional coin pouch have come out of this stretch. Canal banks are accessible at multiple points and the water is relatively shallow near the edges.

Gear tip: A double-sided magnet is worth considering here since you can drag the canal floor horizontally — Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm has options worth looking at before your trip.

6. Newtown Creek

Brooklyn

Newtown Creek sits on the Brooklyn-Queens border and is one of the most industrially dense waterways in the country — it's been a hub for oil refining, shipbuilding, and manufacturing since the mid-1800s. The bottom is layered with old iron, discarded tools, and hardware going back generations, though it's worth knowing this is an EPA Superfund site, so wash your hands and gear thoroughly after every session. Access points exist along Paidge Avenue and the Greenpoint waterfront, but you're working in tight urban space.

Gear tip: Gloves are non-negotiable here given the water quality, and you want a magnet that can handle heavy industrial debris — Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm is worth a look before you show up.

7. Gowanus Canal

Brooklyn

The Gowanus is one of those spots that feels almost too good to be true for magnet fishing — it's a Superfund site with over 150 years of industrial use, and the bottom is genuinely unknown territory in spots. People have pulled up firearms, old tools, car parts, and things that are probably better left unidentified. Access is decent from the street-level banks and a few public path points, though you're in NYC so be aware of who's watching and know your legal obligations — especially if you pull up a firearm, stop touching it and call the NYPD.

Gear tip: The bottom here is thick with sediment and debris so a strong single-sided magnet with heavy cordage is going to serve you better than something dainty — Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm has options worth looking at before you wade into this one.

8. Harlem River

New York City

The Harlem River separates Manhattan from the Bronx and has a century-plus of boat traffic, bridge construction, and urban use behind it — which means the bottom has accumulated accordingly. People have found old railroad hardware, cast iron pieces, and various dropped urban debris in the shallows near the old rail bridges. Keep in mind NYPD jurisdiction here is real, and if you pull up a firearm you stop touching it and call police immediately.

Gear tip: Urban waterways like this call for a strong retrieval setup because you're dealing with heavy debris in tight quarters — grab Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm and bring a good grappling hook as a backup.

9. Hudson River at Kingston Rondout Creek

Kingston

Rondout Creek empties into the Hudson right at Kingston and this whole area was a major commercial waterfront through the 1800s and into the 20th century — cement, coal, and freight all moved through here. The creek mouth and the old wharf pilings are a productive zone, and parking near the Rondout waterfront is manageable. Cast in close to the pilings if you can because that's where the old iron concentrates.

Gear tip: Piling zones mean your magnet is going to wrap around submerged wood and iron constantly, so a double-sided magnet might actually be worth it here for the extra pull angle — see Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm for what's worth grabbing.

10. Hudson River at Catskill

Catskill

Catskill sits where Catskill Creek meets the Hudson, and that confluence has been a commercial landing point since the 1700s. The riverfront here has produced old iron fittings, anchors, and maritime hardware. There's a public boat launch with parking, and the tidal action in this section of the Hudson means things get moved around and redeposited regularly.

Gear tip: Tidal current can drag your magnet sideways fast here, so you want something with enough pull to hold a find — Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm is a good starting point for what to bring.

11. Cayuga Lake Inlet

Ithaca

The inlet channel running into Cayuga Lake near Ithaca has over a century of marina activity, small boat traffic, and recreational use that's left a consistent trail of dropped hardware and lost tackle. The water is cleaner than most urban spots and the bottom is sandy-to-rocky with manageable depth near the docks. Parking is available near the inlet park area and the access is pretty relaxed compared to the New York City waterways.

Gear tip: Cayuga's inlet has some rocky patches that'll snag a cheap magnet setup fast — Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm should point you toward something with a good rope length so you can work the magnet angle and free it without losing your gear.

12. Harlem River at Sherman Creek

New York City (Manhattan)

Sherman Creek Park sits at the northern tip of Manhattan where the Harlem River narrows, and it's one of the more accessible public fishing spots in the five boroughs. The Harlem River has been a working waterway for a long time and the northern end near Inwood sees less boat traffic than the lower stretches. Finds here have included old anchors, chain, and the occasional firearm — NYC rules apply, so if you pull up a gun, put it down and call it in.

Gear tip: Tidal movement in the Harlem River is real and it'll drag a light magnet sideways fast, so you want something with enough pull to hold bottom — Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm will point you toward a setup that can handle it.

13. Mohawk River at Schenectady

Schenectady

Schenectady sits right on the Mohawk River and has been a manufacturing hub going back to the 1800s — General Electric had major operations here, and before that it was a serious canal and river trade hub. The Mohawk near the Riverside Park boat launch is accessible and the bottom holds old iron hardware, fasteners, and the occasional larger piece. Current picks up in the main channel so stay near the banks and eddies where stuff actually settles.

Gear tip: The Mohawk current can drag a lightweight magnet sideways before it hits bottom, so you want enough pull weight to stay planted — Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm has what you need to evaluate your options.

14. Seneca Lake at Geneva Pier

Geneva

Seneca is the deepest of the Finger Lakes and Geneva's north end pier area has recreational and some light commercial history going back well over a hundred years. The water is cold and clear, which means visibility is good but it also means metal corrodes more slowly and can sit in better condition than what you'd find in a river. Old hardware, fishing gear, and dock fittings are the bread and butter here.

Gear tip: Cold clear lake water and a hard lake bottom means you're not fighting silt, so a standard single-sided setup works well — grab something rated for the depth you're working from Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm.

15. Skaneateles Lake Outlet

Skaneateles

The outlet of Skaneateles Lake runs through the village and has over a hundred years of recreational and light industrial history along its banks. The water is cold and clear, which makes spotting surface finds easier, and the current in the outlet channel concentrates metal in certain bends. Parking is available near the village waterfront.

Gear tip: Clear, shallower water here means you can actually see what you're getting — a single-sided neodymium from Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm is plenty for this kind of spot.

16. Lake Erie at Buffalo Harbor

Buffalo

Buffalo's waterfront on Lake Erie has a deep industrial past — steel mills, grain elevators, and one of the busiest freshwater ports in North America through much of the 20th century. The harbor area near the Erie Basin Marina still gives up old iron fasteners, chain, and port hardware regularly. Water depth along the accessible shoreline stays manageable but the bottom can be silty, which means your magnet is going to come up muddy.

Gear tip: Silt and mud here means you'll want to rinse your setup immediately after each pull — bring a water bottle for that — and check Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm for a magnet with a protective coating that holds up to that kind of abuse.

17. Mohawk River at Schenectady Stockade District

Schenectady

The Mohawk River running past Schenectady's Stockade neighborhood is one of the older settled corridors in New York State, and the riverbank around the Stockade has been occupied since the 1660s. There's public access along the river, the current is moderate, and the bottom near the old district has produced old iron hardware, chains, and miscellaneous industrial finds. It's not the most famous spot but the history density here is legitimately high.

Gear tip: River current here moves enough that you want rope with real strength and a knot you've tested before — pair that with a solid magnet from Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm and you'll be in decent shape.

18. Black Rock Canal

Buffalo

The Black Rock Canal runs parallel to the Niagara River on the Buffalo side and was a working commercial channel for most of the 20th century. Dock hardware, old tools, and boat fittings show up regularly, and the bottom is relatively shallow compared to the main Niagara. Access from the park areas along Squaw Island is pretty easy.

Gear tip: Shallow and historically busy means good odds on finds — grab a solid mid-range setup from Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm and bring a long-handled grapple for the awkward stuff.

19. Sacandaga Reservoir (Great Sacandaga Lake)

Northville

The Great Sacandaga was created in 1930 by flooding the Sacandaga River valley, which means there are submerged towns, farms, and infrastructure sitting under that water — and it's been attracting curious people with magnets ever since. The shallower edges near old bridge abutments and the remnants of submerged road infrastructure are where people have found old iron hardware, farm equipment parts, and structural steel. Access points exist along the lake road on the southern shore.

Gear tip: This lake rewards patience and working the shallows near old submerged structures, so a longer rope setup is useful — Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm can help you figure out the right rig before you make the drive up here.

20. Newtown Creek at Greenpoint

Brooklyn

Newtown Creek is another Superfund waterway — it forms the Brooklyn-Queens border — and it has more industrial history per square foot than almost anywhere in New York State. Shipyards, refineries, and manufacturing all ran alongside this creek for over a century. Public access has improved in recent years with the Newtown Creek Nature Walk, and the metal finds here have been genuinely unusual, including old mechanical components that are hard to even identify.

Gear tip: You'll want a high-strength magnet and a retrieval claw for this one because the bottom is dense with debris — Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm is a good starting point for building out that kit.

21. Genesee River at Rochester

Rochester

The Genesee runs straight through downtown Rochester and drops over multiple waterfalls before emptying into Lake Ontario, and the industrial stretches south of the lake have a long manufacturing and milling history behind them. The river near Turning Point Park and the lower gorge areas is accessible and the bottom has given up old iron fittings, chain, and hardware linked to the milling operations that once lined the banks. Parking is reasonable at Turning Point Park and the trail access makes it easy to work multiple spots in one trip.

Gear tip: The gorge sections can put your rope against sharp rock edges, so check the condition of your line before every session and look at Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm if you need a setup with a rope rated for that kind of friction.

22. Niagara River at Youngstown

Youngstown

Youngstown sits at the mouth of the Niagara River where it empties into Lake Ontario, and the old Fort Niagara is right there — this area has military and maritime history going back to the 1700s. The current at the river mouth is strong so you're not going to get your magnet far from shore without some technique, but working the near-bank zone around the old dock remnants can be productive. Old iron fittings and chain are common finds.

Gear tip: The Niagara current is not a joke — you need a rope rated for serious tension and a magnet that'll actually hold bottom under drag, so look hard at the options in Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm before you commit to anything lightweight.

23. Rondout Creek at Kingston

Kingston

Rondout Creek flows into the Hudson at Kingston and was once one of the most important commercial harbors on the river — coal barges, brick manufacturing, and steamboat traffic ran through here for over a century. The creek near the Rondout Landing and the old maritime museum area holds old iron hardware, anchor chain fragments, and barge-era metal that's been accumulating since the 1800s. It's a tidal waterway so timing your session around low tide exposes more of the shallow edges where gear tends to pile up.

Gear tip: Tidal timing matters here so plan around low water, and bring a setup with real pull strength for the heavier maritime debris — Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm is a solid starting point for gearing up before this one.

24. Canandaigua Lake Outlet at Canandaigua City Pier

Canandaigua

Canandaigua has been a resort town on the Finger Lakes since the 1800s and the city pier area at the north end of the lake has seen recreational boat traffic for generations. The outlet creek runs north from the lake and the zone right around the pier and boat launch is where dropped gear, old hardware, and anchor chain tends to accumulate. Parking is right there, access is easy, and it's a good lower-intensity spot if you're newer to this.

Gear tip: This is a good spot for someone still dialing in their technique — a mid-range single-sided setup from Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm is plenty for what's sitting on that lake bottom.

25. Lake Ontario Shoreline at Oswego Harbor

Oswego

Oswego has one of the oldest harbors on Lake Ontario and the harbor mouth area has seen commercial shipping, military activity, and recreational boating for over two centuries. Finds here lean toward nautical hardware, anchors, and chain, and the breakwall areas give solid access. Wind and wave action along the Lake Ontario shore means conditions can change fast, so pick a calm day.

Gear tip: Big water and heavy nautical debris means you want your strongest setup — Best Choice Magnets M8 Male Thread 200lb Round Magnet 44mm is where I'd start when gearing up for a harbor spot like Oswego.

Magnet fishing in New York — FAQ

Is magnet fishing legal in New York?+
New York State doesn't have a specific law banning it, but the legal picture here is more complicated than most states. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has real teeth when it comes to underwater artifacts, New York Harbor operates under multiple federal and local jurisdictions, and the Hudson River has its own DEC protections — so you need to check the specific rules for whatever waterway you're planning to fish, not just state law in general.
Can I magnet fish in New York City?+
Technically possible in some spots, but NYC is its own situation. The harbor falls under federal maritime authority on top of city ordinances, and the tidal currents in some areas make it genuinely dangerous gear-wise. If you're going to try it, research the specific access point — don't just show up at a random pier.
What do I do if I pull up something that might be historically significant?+
Don't take it home. New York has some of the most active underwater archaeological protection in the country, and pulling up an artifact from something like the Erie Canal and walking off with it can create real legal problems. Contact the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation — they actually want to hear about this stuff.
How much pull force do I need for the Erie Canal?+
I'd say 800 to 1000 lbs minimum, honestly. The Canal has a lot of older iron and steel infrastructure buried in sediment, and a lightweight magnet isn't going to move it. If you're serious about that corridor, working toward the higher end of that range makes sense.
What's the deal with the Hudson River for magnet fishing?+
The Hudson is interesting but it has specific DEC environmental protections you need to know about, and parts of it have Superfund-related restrictions. The river also has significant current in spots, so your rope needs to be long enough and strong enough to handle that — I wouldn't go shorter than 65 feet anywhere on the Hudson.
Do I need a license to magnet fish in New York?+
There's no specific magnet fishing license in New York, but that doesn't mean you can fish anywhere freely. Access points matter — some waterways involve state land, some involve private property, and some like the harbor have their own access rules entirely. Always sort out the access situation before you throw a magnet.
What happens if my magnet gets stuck in deep water?+
A grappling hook is how you deal with it — you use it to try to free the magnet rather than just hauling on the rope until something breaks. In places like NYC harbor where the water's deep and there's a lot of submerged junk, snags are a real possibility. Go in expecting it and bring the hook.

Here are some magnet fishing finds in New York

  • In 2024, a couple found a safe full of $100 bills estimated to be worth over $80,000 in a pond in Queens. Full story.
  • In 2021, a magnet fisher in the Hudson River found a 19th century pocket watch. The watch was in working condition and was valued at over $1,000.
  • In 2020, a magnet fisher in the Erie Canal found a Civil War-era musket ball. The musket ball was in good condition and was donated to a local historical society.
  • In 2019, a magnet fisher in Lake Erie found a 1930s-era car. The car was in poor condition, but it was still a unique find.
  • In 2018, a group of magnet fishers in Buffalo found a 100-year-old bicycle that was in near-perfect condition. The bicycle was donated to a local museum.
  • In 2019, a magnet fisher in Syracuse found a World War II bomb. The bomb was safely detonated by the police.
  • In 2019, a man in Amsterdam, New York found a loaded revolver while magnet fishing in the Mohawk River.
  • In 2020, a group of magnet fishermen discovered a safe containing jewelry and other valuables in a river in upstate New York.

Looking for more magnet fishing spots near New York? Check out our guides for Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont — all neighbouring states with their own rivers, lakes, and access points worth exploring.

Best Magnet Fishing Magnets

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Best Magnet Fishing Accessories

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Best Magnet Fishing Kits

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