EXPLORE MORE These treasures are reel-y insane. A New Yorker resident has been using a rare earth magnet to pull abandoned objects from the city’s hidden depths — finding bikes, nearly a

dozen guns and even inert grenades at the bottom of Big Apple waterways. James Kane, 39, eschews traditional lines and bait in favor of a long orange rope with the magnet tied at the end to

go fishing in bodies of water at parks across the city. “I was bored during COVID-19. We had nothing to do, we were locked down, so I started watching YouTube videos. I’ve always liked

treasure hunting ever since I was a child, mysteries — treasure-hunting stuff,” Kane — who lives in Jamaica, Queens — told The Post of his exploits. “The first big thing we found was a

You’re always shocked when you find a firearm,” he told The Post. “It’s never there because someone slipped and dropped it. I mean it’s there because they shot somebody and threw it in the

water. I was shocked when I noticed the logo – a beautiful brass eagle. “I researched it on my phone, what that logo was, and it was of a Hi Standard. You’re always amazed and in shock and

also nervous at the same time because it’s really there because somebody didn’t accidentally drop it. I called 911 and the police came and took it.” Just three hours before he roped in the

Hi-Standard, Kane also managed to latch onto a Smith and Wesson, Gothamist reported. When police showed up to rope off the scene later on, an officer joked that if Kane and his team ever

found a body, they should “push it back in,” the outlet noted. Within the last couple months, Kane has also reeled in two dummy grenades — one off Long Island City and another in Sheepshead

Bay. “I go treasure hunting Wednesdays and Saturdays. I choose the place first — anything blue [water bodies] — and then I do the research and go back as far as I can,” Kane told The Post of

his process. “We do a three- to eight-hour search. We’ve done 12-hour trips in Central Park,” he said. Some days, Kane explained, he comes up with garbage. Other times, they manage to pull

in bigger scores, including seven Citi Bikes, all found around the Prospect Park Boathouse. Eventually, Kane said, he is hoping to find “a treasure chest type of deal or safe with money in

it.” “We found a safe yesterday — my first ever — but it was empty, except for the crab,” he added with a laugh. For his searches, Kane uses two neodymium magnets — one that can hold up to

2,400 pounds and the other rated for 3,800 pounds, Gothamist noted. “I can’t explain it. It’s treasure hunting. I mean who isn’t excited to find history, historical pieces?” he told The Post

of his passion for magnet fishing. Kane also boasted of the hobby’s potential environmental benefits. “This is not just treasure hunting. While you are treasure hunting, you are also

cleaning out the water because the waterways in everyone’s hometown around the planet are the most polluted thing you can ever see,” he said. “What you imagine in your brain is absolutely in

the water. So as we are treasure hunting, it is called magnet fishing, you are helping the environment at the same time. We’ve taken two or three tons of steel and garbage out of the water

so far and just knowing that it is also maybe making an impact on the environment, it makes it all better. It just makes it worthwhile. “I want to clean the environment. I’m respectful, I

don’t litter, I don’t pollute … but I got into this because I wanted to treasure hunt and knowing that it is also cleaning up the environment at the same time is what keeps me going.” Local

officials, however, would beg to differ. “We appreciate New Yorkers helping to keep our parks and greenspaces clean by removing litter. However, using magnets to retrieve sunken metal

objects can have negative impacts on local wildlife and is not permitted,” city parks department spokesperson Chris Clark told Gothamist. The Prospect Park Alliance shared Clark’s concerns

and stated that the pastime could harm water habitats. Magnet fishing is more widespread in Tennessee and Florida, Kane told Gothamist. In New York, Kane and his team — clad in bright

construction vests and surrounded by fetid treasures — tend to attract an audience. Brooklyn onlooker Al Torres told Gothamist that he was curious about the unique hobby, but decided against

it once he saw Kane reel in the pistol. “I don’t want to pull up nobody’s murder weapon. I wanted to do it in Red Hook, but I kept saying, ‘No, I’m gonna find too many guns.’ So I’m gonna

leave that alone,” he explained.