FIRST FIHING TRIP

[JAYBIRD]

I was looking for opinions on what you would think the right age is, to take a child fishing for the first time. This would be out on a boat, lets say, outfront or bay fishing. Obviously in ideal conditions. I have a son very young, but am really looking foward to taking him out in a couple years. I don't run a boat, so it would be on someone else's. Also, I was wondering if anyone really- really remembers their first time out on a fishing boat. I can't picture it personally, but do recall certain times and certain specific days for some reason.

[Younger]

I started my nephew out in fresh water. The first time we fished Hopewell Lake (French Creek SP) out of a little jon boat I have. I figured sunnies would be our target species.

We were motoring from one spot to another and he was "trolling" his nightcrawler against my advice. Don't you know it but that is how he got his first bass.

He now loves to fish and I wish I could get him out more often.

[luv2fish67]

If they are old enough to hold the rod and crank the reel, then they are ready to fish. My only suggestion is to target small fish that are plentiful.
Unless they are catching a fish every 30 seconds, young kids get bored real quick, and wanna go home.

[Sea Draggin]

I think every kid is different. For Kelsey, I started her in Freshwater at 2. At 8-9 I took here out spanish/blue fishing off the beach. At 10 I took her offshore on a dead flat day. At 11 I took her Bluefin fishing and it was nasty enough I really didn't want to be there. It was a good formula, as she is rock solid now and a pretty good fisherwoman.

This was a video from last summer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGoID9CfUb8

[fishskipper]

I was three when I went fishing for the first time. Believe it or not I still remember it at 55. I was thrilled and its still my passion!

Oh yea almost forgot ..its fithing not fihing

[Squidnation]

We started taking Nicholas out with us on the boat when he was two weeks old. We called the doctor first and asked and he said no problem. Chances are he would just be rocked to sleep. That is pretty much what happened. He started actively fishing by 4 yrs old.

[hunt4fish]

I started my son fishing @ 3 fishing farmponds,and took him out on the boat when he was 4,fishing for spots/spainish.He has fished a a few club tournaments and the Barta and he is now 7,and he loves every minute of it,start them out young and slow,and when they get bored and want to go home take them home.

[gottaflylee]

Jaybird, I run quite a few kids fishing trips each year. I think the first thing is to be able to keep them catching. I do this with fishing this one oyster rock that is loaded with Pinfish, Oyster Toads (I call them Mr. Ugly's,kids think its funny), Sea Robins and Baby Sharks (sorry Tim...). Most of the kids I take are between 4 and 9 and have never fished before, tourists, many that have never seen the ocean. Over the years I have found that the attention span is about 1 hour 15 minuets max and they start getting board. Some Moms and Dads are cool with that and some insist that they fish some more...don't push it. I think Mom and Dad are into more than the kids. Any way back to your question...start with pier fishing, move to a boat and only you can decide if your child is ready for the ocean. When you do make the move to the ocean, do it in small steps, start with a clam day, don't keep asking if he or she is feeling ok, Matter of fact, don't say anything to them prier to this about sea sickness...what they don't know...if they feel bad they will let you know and you should come back to calmer water ASAP. Good luck with your kids and remember to do it in baby steps, no pun intended...

[ejstenger]

The first time I took my Grandson fishing I went on a small lake in a canoe and I put a couple of jigs out and let them drag to catch a few crappies. Every time I got one, I pried his hands off the side of the canoe and handed him the pole and said " I think there is something on this pole". he was only 4 and he pulled in several fish that day. When we got home I handed him the stringer of fish, that he could hardly carry. He carried them in the house and told Grandma "I caught all these fish and Grandpa didn't catch anything". He has caught a few more since then and would rather eat fish than anything else,got that from Grandpa too.

[dubb]

I have a five year old that is crazy about fishing. He started with bluegill in our pond at 3yo. Now he fishes 3-4 days a week during the warm months. This year he has really moved up though. This summer he caught a little of everything from croakers and sharks to flounder and rockfish. Just last week we were in isla mujeres and he caught 2 sailfish with some help from me. He has been offshore 3 or 4 times now in calm and rough and I think he handles it better than me. Children do not get motion sickness as much as adults in most cases. Take a look at amusement parks kids can spin around for hours while an adult can only take one ride. That is because as you grow older the small hairs in your ears start to brake off. These hairs are used for equilibrium. One last thought is this, make sure everyone fishing with you is willing to help with your child that day. It will take a boatful of adults to make sure the child is safe and haveing a good time.