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Locals hooked on magnet fishing reel in treasures at St. Patrick’s Day meetup

Scooters, golf clubs and tires were among the objects uncovered at the Salvage Arc event

By Kaitlin Newman

Published on: March 17, 2023 9:57 AM EDT|Updated on: March 17, 2023 8:25 PM EDT

Gina Ciardi fishes out a metal stand. The Salvage Arc Magnet Fishing Meetup hosted a Saint Patrick’s Day-themed event where 30+ people went treasure hunting in the Inner Harbor on March 16, 2023. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)

Salvage Arc Baltimore is a group founded by local photographer and historian Evan Woodard. The group meets on Thursday evenings to “fish” for objects. Using heavy-duty, powerful magnets attached to ropes, hidden objects underwater are reeled in. They’ve found many objects to date, including scooters, headphones, trash cans, chairs and tires.

More than 30 people showed up on Thursday, many decked out in green for St. Patrick’s Day.

The Salvage Arc Magnet Fishing Meetup hosted a Saint Patrick’s Day-themed event where 30+ people went treasure hunting in the Inner Harbor on March 16, 2023. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)

A baby crap says hello to magnet fishermen.

A baby crab waves hello after catching a ride on a scooter pulled from the water. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)

A baby crap says hello to magnet fishermen.

Powerful magnets like this one are used to fish objects out of the harbor. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)

Jack Benson and David Jameson work together to get a magnet unstuck.

Jack Benson and David Jameson work to get a magnet unstuck. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)

Jack Benson fishes out a scooter.

Jack Benson fishes out a scooter. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)

Jack Benson fishes out a scooter.

Mark Gunderson fishes out a chair. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)

Gina Ciardi casts her magnet out into the water, hoping it sticks to something interesting.

Gina Ciardi casts her magnet out into the water in hopes of it sticking to something interesting. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)

Participants struggle to pull heavier objects out of the water. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)

Many objects pulled out of the water are covered in barnacles and other marine life, which is a good indicator of how long they’ve been submerged. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)

Jonathan Foster casts his magnet out into the water as the sun goes down. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)

Jack Benson uses a boat to tug free a magnet.

Jack Benson uses a boat to tug free a magnet. The Salvage Art Magnet Fishing Meetup hosted a Saint Patrick’s Day-themed event where 30+ people went treasure hunting in the harbor on March 16, 2023. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner)