Learn how to fish with young kids during your vacation!
❝Fishing with younger kids is a great way to spend family time on your OBX vacation.
They love being on the water while feeling the push of the outboard engine as they travel. They begin looking at wildlife, other boats, beautiful scenery, and of course, they are thinking about the very real chance of catching some fish.
They are fascinated with fishing gear. We always have lots of rods with shiny reels and different colored lines. Brightly colored lures, shiny swivels, pretty beads, cool natural baits, and more. All are sure to please.
As a parent or guardian, use all of this to keep a high-level of excitement and enthusiasm in the child. This is a great time for learning and bonding, just do not overdo it. Limit the length of the trip to two to four hours. Take breaks from fishing to enjoy other activities. Keep this in mind and your trip will be most enjoyable for everyone.
Hook Your Kids First
Use proper-sized tackle and fish for species that are sure to bite and provide lots of activity. The more bites, the better. Kids like to feel the bite and catch something. It does not matter to them that they are not all big gamefish for the cooler. That comes later, after you hook them on the overall sport of angling.
Rod
Use a graphite spinning rod that is five to six feet long and has a medium action with a fast action tip. It should be rated for 15 to 20 pound lines. Make sure that the handle is thin enough near the reel seat in order to accommodate smaller sized hands. This rod should be lightweight yet strong enough to handle most of your target species.
Reel and Line
Use a size 2000 to 2500 spinning reel outfitted with 15- to 20-pound braided lines. The very small diameter of this line allows for more yardage and the use of a heavier test on the smaller sized reels.
Terminal Tackle (all the stuff at the end of the line)
Your best luck with kids is usually basic bottom fishing. The easiest method here is to use a pre-made bottom rig found anywhere fishing tackle is sold.
Bait
A small box of squid from a grocery store or tackle shop is a perfect choice. The creature itself is cool to look at and kids love to touch it. After checking it out, cut it into small pieces to bait the hooks. Other good natural baits are shrimp and bloodworms. For the ultra squeamish, try an artificial bait such as Fishbites or one of the Berkley gulp products.
Technique
- Tie a two hook bottom rig at the end of your line.
- Attach a snelled size six or eight long shank hook on each arm of the rig.
- Clip a one- or two-ounce sinker at the bottom.
- Cut a ΒΌ inch by one-inch strip of squid.
- Pierce the strip near one end.
- Fold and pierce it again leaving the rest to dangle.
- Drop your bait to the bottom and make sure that you connect the bottom.
- When a fish bites, jerk the rod up quickly and sharply. This is called setting the hook.
- Using your rod as a lever, pull up on it while using the reel to recover the line.
- If all goes right, hoist your catch into the boat and gently inspect it.
- Deal with your catch quickly. Release it or put it in the cooler.
Tips
- Try a hook with a colored bead or spinner on it.
- Use bronze color, freshwater hooks. If a fish is hooked too deep for safe removal, cut the line close to the mouth. The hook will rust away quickly in salt water.
- Raise and lower your sinker occasionally while waiting. It attracts nearby fish.
- Use two different baits on rigs to see if one is better.
- Bend the hook barbs down to minimize harming the fish.
Fishing with kids is great fun for a family and it entertains in so many ways. Kids get so excited that they squeal. They get silly and happy, but they can also get tired, hungry, and grumpy. Remember all of this and use your time on the water wisely and efficiently. A trip like this will be a family memory that sticks. Do it right.
