A method and apparatus for a streamer having a total field magnetometer (“TFM”). A streamer includes a plurality of TFMs in proximity with one another and distributed symmetrically about an axis of the streamer. A streamer includes a first subset of TFMs in a streamer section and in proximity with one another; a second subset in the streamer section and in proximity with one another; wherein the first subset is not in proximity with the second subset. A method includes towing a streamer through a body of water, the streamer comprising first and second TFMs; acquiring magnetic data with the first and the second TFMs; and reducing noise in the data based on at least one of: averaging data from the first and the second TFMs; filtering data from the first and the second TFMs; estimating motion of the first TFM; and estimating rotation of the first TFM.