What is the history of magnet fishing? (Origins and development)

There isn't a precise historical moment for the invention of magnet fishing, like the invention of the light bulb.  Instead, it evolved gradually from a practical life hack into a globally popular outdoor hobby.

Here's an overview of the activity's development:

1. Accidental Origins: A Clever Trick for Retrieving Keys

Initially, the use of fishing magnets wasn't for entertainment, but for practical purposes.
Essential for Sailors: Early sailors and dockworkers often accidentally dropped keys, tools, or small parts into the water. To retrieve these items, they would simply tie a magnet to a rope and repeatedly search the seabed.
Practical Experience: This method of using magnetism to recover metal objects had existed among ordinary people for a long time, forming the most basic form of magnet fishing.

2. Technological Breakthrough: The Advent of Powerful Materials

Although people had long known about using magnets to attract objects, early magnets weren't strong enough to lift many heavy items.
New Materials: With the widespread industrial application of powerful magnetic alloys (especially those containing rare earth elements), the true "heart" of the fishing magnet was born.
A Transformation: These new generation magnets are small in size but extremely powerful, easily lifting heavy iron gates, old bicycles, and even safes, providing the technological possibility for this activity to become a "treasure hunt."

3. Environmental Cleanup: From Tool to Public Service

In the mid-to-late 20th century, some environmentally conscious volunteers began to use powerful magnets in an organized manner.
Cleaning Waterways: They discovered that using fishing magnets was more effective than nets for cleaning metal debris (such as scrap rebar and iron barrels) from riverbeds.
Image Transformation: This behavior made people realize that magnet fishing could not only find objects but also beautify the natural environment, adding a public service aspect to the activity.

4. The Explosion in the Social Media Era

The real driving force behind magnet fishing becoming a globally popular hobby was online videos.
The Allure of Mystery: In the early 2000s, some enthusiasts in Europe began posting videos online of themselves pulling strange objects from the bottom of the water.
Viral Spread: This sense of surprise, like "opening a mystery box," quickly attracted a large audience. People have discovered that with just a fishing magnet and a piece of rope, anyone can become an explorer.

5. Contemporary Multiculturalism

Magnet fishing has now developed into a unique culture:
Treasure Hunting and History: In some ancient rivers, people can sometimes fish up old objects with historical significance.
Global Community:  Nowadays, there are dedicated communities all over the world where people share their equipment tips and latest discoveries, transforming magnet fishing from a niche tool into a link connecting people with nature and history.