How to get kids started fishing the right way this summer and fall.
Throughout the year I always hear about great times families have had on the water with their kids; catching fish. Think back to your younger years. When you went fishing at a young age, first off how old were you, and second, what made the day so great? I’ll bet a lot of young anglers will say they caught their very first fish, while some may say it was swimming and playing that made the day great.
When I started fishing, most of my adventures were by bike or foot, we had no boat. That all changed in the early 70s when my neighbor Frank Michelson told me he had a good friend that loved to fish Montauk, and had a boat. That “friend” was then, Long Island Fisherman Editor, Scott Simons! As Frank and Scott fished a lot together, I became part of the outings. We sailed Great South Bay for tiderunner weakfish using Salty Dog Jigs, where fish of 12 to 16 pounds were quite common. Early trips began in Montauk, where it was strictly porgy fishing, and those were the most fun. I remember catching fish-after-fish, all day long. At the end of the day we would head home. I would be asleep before we left East Lake Drive, but Scott always woke me up for traditional Carvel Ice Cream on 27 in Bridgehampton.
Bringing kids fishing isn’t always about catching, but making sure they have fun, regardless of the day is very important too. If you have any plans to take the kids out this summer or fall, do your research and make sure the day will be as comfortable as possible – weather wise – and there is a good shot at catching. Catching isn’t everything, but it sure keeps the kids occupied and wanting to fish more.
The Party Boat Adventure
Party boat fishing is a great way to start off if you do not own a boat. There are some great party boats around the island that specialize in families and kids. On these trips, it is all about fun. In fact, sometimes the kids are chasing each other around with spearing or crab baits rather than fishing. Some days it’s rock and roll action with smiles galore of kids and their first fish.
One of the best aspects of party boat fishing is these guys “know” what they are doing and they know how to find the fish, make no mistake about it. Also, with party boat fishing, rods, reels and tackle are all available for free, this way if this is something new, you don’t have to head to the local tackle shop and empty the wallet. The mates are also great with kids and know how to keep them interested. Whether it is loading bait buckets and giving them out, to learning how to cut up clams, will make the youngster’s day a fun-filled one.
The Protected Bays And Harbors
There is a vast amount of areas to fish, I mean jeez, we are surrounded by water. That definitely does not mean all waters are the same, and prudence needs to go in when choosing a location. I would not want to take a first time angler 10 miles outside Fire Island because weather and sea conditions can change in a minute, making for a scary and uncomfortable trek home. Which in turn could result in a lost fishing partner for life!
However, there is a plethora of back-bays and harbors on both shores of Long Island that offer protection from the winds, depending on how they are blowing, plus relatively close to a home port. Although I have fished most of the bays and harbors that dot Long Island, my favorite kid friendly spots remained the same: Moriches Bay – Gull Island into Harts Cove. This area is always calm and the water is pristine blue for the most part. There is also a beach you can pull up on at Gull Island if the kids get a little tired of fishing and just want to play. Great South Bay – Ocean Beach and the Heckscher Flats. Ocean Beach is another nice calm area with deep water channels and protection from any south wind. This is where I had those big tiderunners as a kid. Heading back across the bay, the Heckscher Flats always played host to summer weaks, blowfish, kingfish, spot and more which will keep the kids smiling. There are hundreds of other great spots, but for me, these are great kid spots.
Hit The Docks
I grew up in Islip, and the Bay Shore Dock was my second home. My mom would drop me off with my dog Ginger, lunch and a Thermos, plus bait. I would be there all day, fishing and catching. In fact, one day I remember running out of bait and started using cigarette filters I found on the ground! They produced blowfish after blowfish as I can remember.
We have docks all around the Island and they basically are all fishable. Some of the best are right in my South Shore Report areas back yard – Bay Shore Captree, West Sayville, Blue Point, and Tanner Park. All of these docks will provide you with an ample shot of fish. And, to make it even better some of these have playgrounds where the kids could take a break from the action if needed.
What Are We Gonna Catch?
One of the biggest mistakes I see parents make all the time is telling their kids what they are going to catch. Before even heading out you have be firm but try and make it understandable. If you tell a youngster we are going to catch some bass and bluefish, you better make sure you do. So rather than offer what, offer what we are “looking” to catch, but with fishing there are no guarantees. Another key is to scope out the area you plan to fish. In the fall, bait begins to move about so targeting the channels on the outgoing tide may be more productive for certain fish. Call or talk to the local tackle shops for insight on “best bets” for a given day or tide. Doing some minor research will go a long way in making sure you have a productive day.
Another key is to have a backup plan if the bite is sour. If you are heading to Moriches Bay and chasing fluke, make sure you have some clam chum and clam baits for bottom dwellers just in case, for whatever reason. The fluke have lockjaw. Making a kid go any more than 5 to 10 minutes without at least losing a piece of bit will quickly get old.
There you have it, the simple way to make a day of fishing with the kids both memorable and enjoyable. Remember, catching is important, but making sure they had fun is even more critical. The fall run is about to start and weekends or off days from school will be the best chance to get them ready for the spring run in 2025.
