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SUBJECT: # 39541: kids fishing
Submitted by fishless (66.177.65.219) from SOUTH CAROLINA on 7/10/05 5:54:00 PM
My kids and I will be vacationing in Beaufort the week of the the 17th. I will be bringing my 20' center console boat. Where are some simple spots where the kids can catch fish (any fish) and what bait should I use?
Fishless
- 7/12/05 8:20:00 AM
Submitted by
Capt. Ken Roy Tale Spinner Charters from FLORIDA says Kids fishing
As a long time charter boat operator, I sometimes think I have seen it all. I love kids and lots of kids love me. I try very hard to make a kid's day aboard my boat a happy experience, one that makes him want to ask Dad to bring him back. Good parents are more interested in seeing that their children are comfortable, do not get bored and want the kids to have a good time. These parents also make sure sunscreen is applied correctly and replenished often. I have a fish coloring book and fish ID book aboardI ask that the parents bring a "Snoopy" life vest for each of the kids, especially if they are under 7. Law requires that children under 7 wear a life vest any time the vessel is underway. I am required to furnish offshore PFDs with lights and whistles for each person aboard so I have 2 kids’ vests aboard. Unfortunately, these approved vests are horribly uncomfortable. Kids willingly wear the Snoopy kind though. There is a loophole in the law that allows the use of the Snoopy types as long as there is the other kind available. One parent got the ball really rolling by playing with her children with their vests on and allowing them to wear their vests at nap time. Additionally she talked up the trip every day for several weeks ahead. These parents never have to yell at their kids because the kids are totally engrossed in the fishing. I rig a "Guppy Rig" with 3 small hooks and the kids have constant action, sometimes catching 2 fish at the same time. I segregate each kid’s fish and the parent's fish. When we get to the dock, I clean and package each kid’s fish separately. If their bag is a little short, I put a couple of fillets from their parent's catch in the bag then label the bag with "Danny's fish." Kids derive a lot of pride knowing that the fish they caught themselves provided a meal for the family. I make sure the kids get their hands real stinky by throwing scraps to Gulls, Pelicans, dock Snapper and the several huge Tarpon that hang out under the dock. Conversely, with the wrong kind of parents, it is every man for themselves. Get out of daddy's way!!! Dad gets drunk; mom gets blistered and bitches constantly while yelling at the kids every other breath. I do what I can with the kids but I have a hard time being a baby sitter for kids that would do just fine if the parents gave a damn. Yeah, daddy catches fish and occasionally a fly-lined bait hooks something big that dad just may be too drunk to do anything about and mommy is too busy yelling at the kids to fight it. This is the kind of day I like to see daddy wearing his pants down so low that he gets his butt sun burnt. Would I ever warn him? Not in a million years. On days like described in the last scenario, let the parent’s just sit on the dock and let me take the kids fishing. We'd catch more fish and the kids would have a positive experience and want to go fishing with Capt. Ken again. When I think of some of the things I have seen with kids aboard my boat, I can't help but smile. Then, some of the things I have seen border on child abuse. #########################################Fresh Shrimp(live, cut into chunks) is pretty close to the universal bait for most small saltwater fish. It will work just about anywhere. If you use small hooks, you will catch a variety of small fish that can be ued to catch bigger fish.
A couple of small rigs with 8-12# test for smaller fish, 20-30 for larger fish and, if the kids want to catch a Shark, a big rig with 50 will hold about anything you want to hook inshore.
Wish I could help you with where. If you need help rigging, just ask here of e-mail me. I am not at all busy right now. Too doggone hot to fish right now.
