Captain Tred Barta - FISHING: Kids and Billfishing

[captbigjohn]

Hi Tred,
Capt. John Pfeiffer here. I have my father to thank for my love of the sea. I am now 53 and have been in the sportfishing industry for over 30 years last running the Cisco Kid.
I have tried to pass it on all my life and will continue to help kids learn about the experience we both enjoy. I am a fan of yours and I champion the many stances you take on sportfishing and hunting. Like you I cut my teeth on the great Northeast inshore and Canyon fishing. It is very hard for me to see the decline in our offshore fishery as I reflect, as I am sure you do, on the past. I never thought I would start my war stories beginning "Back in the old days" but I now do.
I want to thank you for joining this forum and hope to meet you some day other than on here or the VHF.
Maybe I'll see you at the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show.
Thanks,
Capt. John Pfeiffer

[Hucklebuck]

I agree 100% with your stance on taking kids fishing. I have two girls ages 12 and 14. My 14 year old has been fishing offshore with me since she was 7. I continue to challenge her and every trip i make sure she participates. She has become an integral part of the crew. At first it started by just bringing the clips down when a line popped. Little things to keep them engaged. I had her put lines out to get the "feel" of a line running off the spool at trolling speed vs. line being stripped from the spool by a fish. To feel the excelleration after a bite (a key to success in my opinion). Slowly but surely she has become a fantastic light tackle angler. She can whip a 50# YFT on 30# line on a TLD 25 faster than most men on a 50 international because she has come to understand the concept of the harder you pull the harder they fight. Last year her hard work paid off as she won Top Lady Angler and Top Jr angler in the Cape May Marlin and Tuna club. This was the first time in the clubs history that any angler won both awards. She loves Spanish and is studying it in school so last year i took her to Isla Muerjes sailfishing. I new she would get multiple opportunities to practice her circle hook technique and she took full advantage of the trip. Not only did she hook plenty of fish she acted as an interpreter for my Father and I. All in all she is realizing the joys of fishing and we spend some great quality time together. Fishing 70 plus miles offshore is a great place to tell secrets. We communicate on levels offshore that aren't possible in every day home life. She knows she can come to me with any problem. What goes on offshore stays offshore is how we put it. Heres a picture taken is Isla when we had to go after a fish that was strung out and was in danger of getting cut off by another boat fishing the bait ball. Like I said she's a gamer but she is all lady. The other was taken by a friend while the two of us enjoy life on the rip together.

[Fins&Feathers]

Captain Tred,

I want to thank you for all you do for the outdoor sports.
I am a father of 3 and my oldest is 7 this year. I have a 24ft. CC and love to take the family fishing and crusing. My son and I have caught everything from small brim to 40in. red drum.

I took him out about 10 miles this past summer and he didnt get sick but he was a littel scared.

How should I handel him beign a little scared when we get out of sight of land? I try to destract him the best I can with snacks or odd jobs like cutting bait or something.

When should I expect him to get comfortable with being off shore?

We are also going to try to get our fist white tail together this year.

Lin

[Baydivot]

I'm 17 and haven't really thought about this(kids not getting the opportunities that they deserve) until I started fishing on some other boats. I rode out on some charter boats and i know that most of the people that charter the boat usually don't fish much not saying that people who know a whole bunch about fishing don't charter boats too. But whenever a fish was hooked one of the grown ups would jump on the rod. So i guess i am trying to say that I want to thank my dad and his mate for really showing me how to rig baits and tie different knots as well as let me pull some fish in. My friends dad as well for letting me mate for them. This has helped me so much in learning about fishing. The first time i went out with him without my friend and a few of his friends we hooked up on a nice dorado about 35 pounds and i looked at him like you can gaff this because i hadn't gaffed a fish like that before, but i stuck him right in the head after a miss or two. I also got to leader my first billfish this summer on his boat which was the most exciting thing i had ever done in my fishing history.

[Captain Tred Barta]

Hi Tred,
Capt. John Pfeiffer here. I have my father to thank for my love of the sea. I am now 53 and have been in the sportfishing industry for over 30 years last running the Cisco Kid.
I have tried to pass it on all my life and will continue to help kids learn about the experience we both enjoy. I am a fan of yours and I champion the many stances you take on sportfishing and hunting. Like you I cut my teeth on the great Northeast inshore and Canyon fishing. It is very hard for me to see the decline in our offshore fishery as I reflect, as I am sure you do, on the past. I never thought I would start my war stories beginning "Back in the old days" but I now do.
I want to thank you for joining this forum and hope to meet you some day other than on here or the VHF.
Maybe I'll see you at the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show.
Thanks,
Capt. John Pfeiffer

Dear Captain John,

Thanks for your kind words. I don't know what the average age of participants on Sportfishermen.com is. But many of us start our sentences with, "the good 'ol days". But a note for all us to remember is this, when our children and newcomers to the sport fish with us, the "good 'ol days" mean nothing to them. Their "good 'ol days" are started in the present with us. Perhaps a 30lb. Albacore and a 40lb White Marlin, will be the bricks and mortar of their journey through life. All of us need to learn not to be jaded by our past experiences. But to experience and celebrate the same type of enthusiasm we displayed when we threw the gaff into a mighty blue fin tuna weighing 900 lbs off Montauk in the early 70's.

Thanks for your comment.

Till Next Tide,

Captain Tred Barta

[Captain Tred Barta]

I agree 100% with your stance on taking kids fishing. I have two girls ages 12 and 14. My 14 year old has been fishing offshore with me since she was 7. I continue to challenge her and every trip i make sure she participates. She has become an integral part of the crew. At first it started by just bringing the clips down when a line popped. Little things to keep them engaged. I had her put lines out to get the "feel" of a line running off the spool at trolling speed vs. line being stripped from the spool by a fish. To feel the excelleration after a bite (a key to success in my opinion). Slowly but surely she has become a fantastic light tackle angler. She can whip a 50# YFT on 30# line on a TLD 25 faster than most men on a 50 international because she has come to understand the concept of the harder you pull the harder they fight. Last year her hard work paid off as she won Top Lady Angler and Top Jr angler in the Cape May Marlin and Tuna club. This was the first time in the clubs history that any angler won both awards. She loves Spanish and is studying it in school so last year i took her to Isla Muerjes sailfishing. I new she would get multiple opportunities to practice her circle hook technique and she took full advantage of the trip. Not only did she hook plenty of fish she acted as an interpreter for my Father and I. All in all she is realizing the joys of fishing and we spend some great quality time together. Fishing 70 plus miles offshore is a great place to tell secrets. We communicate on levels offshore that aren't possible in every day home life. She knows she can come to me with any problem. What goes on offshore stays offshore is how we put it. Heres a picture taken is Isla when we had to go after a fish that was strung out and was in danger of getting cut off by another boat fishing the bait ball. Like I said she's a gamer but she is all lady. The other was taken by a friend while the two of us enjoy life on the rip together.

Hey Hucklebuck,

Wow, what a great post. And the only way I can answer it is to sound a touch self-righteous, so I will. There is no greater love, nor greater excitement than what you share with your kids offshore. Don't know why that is in my life, but it's a fact. Congradulations to both of you.

Let's take your post just one step further. Both of you share your excitement with others. It is encumbant upon your daughter, in my opinion, to give another person the same excitement that her father has given her. Your daughter is priveliged to have a father like you. That privelige is now on her shoulders to give to someone else.

Familys that Hunt and Fish together, Stay Together.

Till Next Tide,

Captain Tred Barta

[Captain Tred Barta]

Captain Tred,

I want to thank you for all you do for the outdoor sports.
I am a father of 3 and my oldest is 7 this year. I have a 24ft. CC and love to take the family fishing and crusing. My son and I have caught everything from small brim to 40in. red drum.

I took him out about 10 miles this past summer and he didnt get sick but he was a littel scared.

How should I handel him beign a little scared when we get out of sight of land? I try to destract him the best I can with snacks or odd jobs like cutting bait or something.

When should I expect him to get comfortable with being off shore?

We are also going to try to get our fist white tail together this year.

Lin

Great post and great question. And I don't know the answer because every parent is different and every kid is different. I have made some terrible mistakes with my kids as all of us have. However, in the case of my son hunter, who is a hunting and fishing fool, proudly said, having over 75 canyon trips under his belt, this issue never came up. We went 100 miles offshore, stayed there 3 days, and came home.

In your case, I bet your son doesn't think about anything when you're hooked up to fish. Get him out of sight of land as soon as you can, keep him hooked up all day, and I'll bet your bottom dollar, the problem will be solved.

Please post for all of us, your sons first whitetail deer. And, if your son would like to send me a post directly, I would answer it mono-a-mono.

My dad used to tell me that when I was at the sea-bouy at Shinecock, my feet couldn't touch the bottom, at a depth of 90 feet. My dad used to tell me my feet wouldn't touch the bottom in 3,000 feet. So what's the difference.

Till Next Tide,

Captain Tred Barta

[Captain Tred Barta]

I'm 17 and haven't really thought about this(kids not getting the opportunities that they deserve) until I started fishing on some other boats. I rode out on some charter boats and i know that most of the people that charter the boat usually don't fish much not saying that people who know a whole bunch about fishing don't charter boats too. But whenever a fish was hooked one of the grown ups would jump on the rod. So i guess i am trying to say that I want to thank my dad and his mate for really showing me how to rig baits and tie different knots as well as let me pull some fish in. My friends dad as well for letting me mate for them. This has helped me so much in learning about fishing. The first time i went out with him without my friend and a few of his friends we hooked up on a nice dorado about 35 pounds and i looked at him like you can gaff this because i hadn't gaffed a fish like that before, but i stuck him right in the head after a miss or two. I also got to leader my first billfish this summer on his boat which was the most exciting thing i had ever done in my fishing history.

Hey Baydivot.

Facts talk with a loud, clear voice. You are not the first person in this world who took his first two swings at a dolphin and missed. Welcome to the club. You state that leadering your first billfish was one of the greatest things that happened in your fishing career. I have one thing to say to you, Congradulations, but before I finish this sentence, pass it on. Don't ever miss an opportunity to get someone new in the sport. And do not ever forget what it was like when the grownups took the rod and you didn't get it. On your next hook-up, pass the rod on to someone else.

Till Next Tide,

Captain Tred Barta

[don'thaveaboat]

You got it I know I am 12 I pier and surf fish. I shark fish you are right about light tackle I have seen this with sharks that is what I do and it is better on the fish and kids can handle a big fish on not my dad but most kid could I '5"4 and use a 9/0 r 12/0 but that is another story. You know there is a local place here in richmond where I live and it is where all the best fisherman around have bin coming for 56 years and I almost never see anyone yunger then 45 in there I am a out lier there it is sad.

[Jthib]

I think every father will know when its time to take there kids offshore. With me it was my sons first trip this summer. A flat calm day and a crew that was 100% focused on him. He had 2 captains and 2 mates to make sure his day was perfect. Unfortunately my soon to be ex wife is trying to use this against me. The pictures speak for themselves.