Captain Tred Barta - FISHING: Kids and Billfishing

[Captain Tred Barta]

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Often times the sport of billfishing is dominated by heavy tackle, big money tournaments and situations where kids are left out. Captain Tred Barta discusses the right ways to help get children into the sport and enjoying their time while chasing bills. From lightening up the tackle while ensuring successful releases to making sure that children are a focal point of the fishing experience, take a few notes from Tred's experience and join the discussion to help keep the kids on your boat in the chair and away from the salon television.

[MoneyBiscuits]

very well said Mr.Barta

i wish we could just put both together for excitement and family fun but unfortunately it doesnt go too well.. why is it that when Carl (your dads friend) looses a fish its more like "aw man" but when little Jr over here looses a fish you have a look of disgust in your face?

i dont know. i have learned soo much from my neighbors from them giving me chances.. to rig baits, to put out lines, to reel in fish. so next time you see a young child ask if he wants to help you rig baits or wants to help set drags or something.. just my opinion from a 16 year olds head

[Tenacious]

Nice work Tred. I for one love the ocean b/c of my father. He has always encouraged me to follow my passion of fishing. Let's not forget that regardless of offshore, inshore, or pond fishing it will always bring a smile to a young ones face. I know it sure did for me.

[Parapapam]

My kids have fished offshore (I mean 30 to 70 mile runs offshore) about 5 to 8 times a year since they were 4 years old. They are now 12, 10 and 9. They can deploy a simple spread. They are masters at clearing weed from bars.

Up here bluefish are the bain of a tuna fishermans existence some days.... not to my kids. They "catch" the bluefish that I would have had to "clear."

They have better eyes than I do. They spot bait (and can usually identify the type faster than I can). They spot slicks and rips at great distances. They have better eyes for whales (and other marine life) than Ahab.

When the strike comes, they clear and stow the spread. During the end game they pass me the gaff.

So lets see.... they deploy the spread, manage the spread, spot the fishy signs, clear the spread, and hand me the end game tools. Did the adult catch the fish just because they reeled in the fish? My kids and I think the kids caught the fish!!!

Mike

[DRIFTWOOD]

TRED - I HAVE A 5 YEAR OLD WHO LOVES FISH, FISHIN AND CATCHIN BAIT. MOMMY SAYS " HE CANT GO TO BIG EYE CANYON TIL HE IS 11" SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT INSHORE BLUEFIN THOUGH. WE WATCH YOUR SHOW TOGETHER AND HE CALLS YOU " THE BOSS OF THE BIG EYE".
HE HAS 8 SPECIES OF FISH UNDER HIS BELT ALREADY AND WANTS MORE. HOW ABOUT HOSTIN THE BARTA TOURNAMENT ON LONG ISLAND. I WOOD LOVE TO SEE LONG ISLAND AS A BIGGER FISHIN DESTINATION. WE DONT REALY HAVE THE BIG TOURNAMENTS THAT JERSEY DOES. AFTER ALL LONG ISLAND NEW YORK IS THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD WHERE 5 SPECIES OF FISH HAVE BEEN CAUGHT OVER 1000 LBS. BLUE FIN, BLUE MARLIN, MAKO, TIGER SHARK, GREAT WHITE. NO OTHER PLACE IN THE WORLD.HERE HE IS AT 2 YEARS OLD WITH A DOUBLE HEADER.

[floridadeckie]

I grew up fishing with my dad. as many headaches as he gives me now, I still have him to thank for introducing me into the world of fishing. for me, it all started simple: a snoopy zebco reel with a chicken rig baited with a frozen shrimp landed my first saltwater fish: a 3 ft bonnethead. suffice to say I was hooked ever since. my dad started me fishing offshore when we got our first big boat ( 30' Bertram, still fish her today) and I learned by watching him rig what I now consider sub-par hoos and spending time with captains around the docks. the beauty of learning how to fish as a kid is that captains are much more likely to let you watch and tell you their little secrets. my experience advanced when we hired a mate, Mike Thomas of Stuart FL, to help us out while our boat was down there. I learned everything I know from him and continue to build on that knowledge to this day, still using rigs and setups that he taught me when I was 10. a couple of years late we went on to CLEAN UP at the IGFA/Barta Blue Marlin Classic at Walker's Cay. By watching Mike rig for a day, I rigged my own cooler and proceeded to take 3rd place in the Bait Box competition, against professional crews. I also caught my first blue marlin on 30 lb, a rat of about 250#, in about 30 minutes. later in the tourney my sis, a guest, and myself all caught nice YFTs that we spotted, mine being 53# and taking largest YFT of day three. at the awards ceremony, we took 1st Junior Angler Billfish, 1st place Junior Angler Overall, largest tuna day 3, 3rd largest tuna overall, 3rd place baitbox, and 1st place captain/mate. all because my dad took me fishing out of homasassa and put me on a bonnethead. he also took me hunting many times, and to this day I still spot all his deer and have a 175# 13 pt NE florida buck to my credit.

the barta tourney that we did so well in was the 1999 tournament, I was 13. my blue was on standup, not a chair.
to answer tred's question, I say a resounding YES! we should get kids fishing as much as possible, anything to get them outdoors and away from the computer screen (ironic, huh?) to this day I still prefer light tackle over heavy and dead bait over lures. overall, it requires more skill. the more we get our kids into the outdoors and back to how things used to be, the better off we will be

[Captain Tred Barta]

Originally Posted by MoneyBiscuits

very well said Mr.Barta

i wish we could just put both together for excitement and family fun but unfortunately it doesnt go too well.. why is it that when Carl (your dads friend) looses a fish its more like "aw man" but when little Jr over here looses a fish you have a look of disgust in your face?

i dont know. i have learned soo much from my neighbors from them giving me chances.. to rig baits, to put out lines, to reel in fish. so next time you see a young child ask if he wants to help you rig baits or wants to help set drags or something.. just my opinion from a 16 year olds head

Dear 16 year old angler,

One of the great faults of grownups, is that we want our kids to do grownup things with us. As we teach them the ropes and excel, we treat them like children, not grownups. Your comments are very accurate and I have been guilty of exactly what you're saying. I congradulate you for being direct and making a very mature point here.

The great outdoors, expecially on the water, teaches us two of the most valuable lessons in life. The first is reliance on each other. The second, the word "Trust". When I wire an 800lb blue marlin, I know if I go overboard, you'll be right behind me with a knife to help. Thank you for being you, buddy. See you on the rip.

Till Next Tide,

Captain Tred Barta

[Captain Tred Barta]

Originally Posted by Parapapam

My kids have fished offshore (I mean 30 to 70 mile runs offshore) about 5 to 8 times a year since they were 4 years old. They are now 12, 10 and 9. They can deploy a simple spread. They are masters at clearing weed from bars.

Up here bluefish are the bain of a tuna fishermans existence some days.... not to my kids. They "catch" the bluefish that I would have had to "clear."

They have better eyes than I do. They spot bait (and can usually identify the type faster than I can). They spot slicks and rips at great distances. They have better eyes for whales (and other marine life) than Ahab.

When the strike comes, they clear and stow the spread. During the end game they pass me the gaff.

So lets see.... they deploy the spread, manage the spread, spot the fishy signs, clear the spread, and hand me the end game tools. Did the adult catch the fish just because they reeled in the fish? My kids and I think the kids caught the fish!!!

Mike

Hey Mike, De Ja Vu. Sounds like my daughter Lauren and my son, Hunter. What an incredible experience it is when your back is turned from the action, or you're down below making a sandwich, and your son or daughter yells, "Right Rigger, Right Rigger, Dad! He's hooked up." As line screams off the reel, your daughter yells, "Left Flat Line. Wow, left rigger. Hooked up, Dad we got 4 on!" As you enter the cockpit, the realization that your children are not only in control, but are clearing lines and piloting the boat at the same time. I better stop rambling because there is a small tear in my left eye. Is there any greater feeling of self fufillment or success that a parent can have?

Mike, you are a rich man. What you are experiencing is far more valuable than money.

Best Wishes,

Captain Tred Barta

[Captain Tred Barta]

Originally Posted by DRIFTWOOD

TRED - I HAVE A 5 YEAR OLD WHO LOVES FISH, FISHIN AND CATCHIN BAIT. MOMMY SAYS " HE CANT GO TO BIG EYE CANYON TIL HE IS 11" SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT INSHORE BLUEFIN THOUGH. WE WATCH YOUR SHOW TOGETHER AND HE CALLS YOU " THE BOSS OF THE BIG EYE".
HE HAS 8 SPECIES OF FISH UNDER HIS BELT ALREADY AND WANTS MORE. HOW ABOUT HOSTIN THE BARTA TOURNAMENT ON LONG ISLAND. I WOOD LOVE TO SEE LONG ISLAND AS A BIGGER FISHIN DESTINATION. WE DONT REALY HAVE THE BIG TOURNAMENTS THAT JERSEY DOES. AFTER ALL LONG ISLAND NEW YORK IS THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD WHERE 5 SPECIES OF FISH HAVE BEEN CAUGHT OVER 1000 LBS. BLUE FIN, BLUE MARLIN, MAKO, TIGER SHARK, GREAT WHITE. NO OTHER PLACE IN THE WORLD.HERE HE IS AT 2 YEARS OLD WITH A DOUBLE HEADER.

Dear Driftwood,

Send me a short private message with an address and it would be my privelege to send your son a personalized message. I have been working on a large tournament for Long Island and have a lot of support. However, it must be a non-Calcutta, non-betting, donation based charity tournament. And to be quite honest, this particular format, so far, has not been received on Long Island with open arms.

Send me a note when your son makes his first pass over Big Eye Mountain or when he takes the Big Eye Highway down to Atlantis. Keep up the good work.

Boss of the Big Eye, I like it.

Captain Tred Barta

[Captain Tred Barta]

Originally Posted by floridadeckie

I grew up fishing with my dad. as many headaches as he gives me now, I still have him to thank for introducing me into the world of fishing. for me, it all started simple: a snoopy zebco reel with a chicken rig baited with a frozen shrimp landed my first saltwater fish: a 3 ft bonnethead. suffice to say I was hooked ever since. my dad started me fishing offshore when we got our first big boat ( 30' Bertram, still fish her today) and I learned by watching him rig what I now consider sub-par hoos and spending time with captains around the docks. the beauty of learning how to fish as a kid is that captains are much more likely to let you watch and tell you their little secrets. my experience advanced when we hired a mate, Mike Thomas of Stuart FL, to help us out while our boat was down there. I learned everything I know from him and continue to build on that knowledge to this day, still using rigs and setups that he taught me when I was 10. a couple of years late we went on to CLEAN UP at the IGFA/Barta Blue Marlin Classic at Walker's Cay. By watching Mike rig for a day, I rigged my own cooler and proceeded to take 3rd place in the Bait Box competition, against professional crews. I also caught my first blue marlin on 30 lb, a rat of about 250#, in about 30 minutes. later in the tourney my sis, a guest, and myself all caught nice YFTs that we spotted, mine being 53# and taking largest YFT of day three. at the awards ceremony, we took 1st Junior Angler Billfish, 1st place Junior Angler Overall, largest tuna day 3, 3rd largest tuna overall, 3rd place baitbox, and 1st place captain/mate. all because my dad took me fishing out of homasassa and put me on a bonnethead. he also took me hunting many times, and to this day I still spot all his deer and have a 175# 13 pt NE florida buck to my credit.

the barta tourney that we did so well in was the 1999 tournament, I was 13. my blue was on standup, not a chair.
to answer tred's question, I say a resounding YES! we should get kids fishing as much as possible, anything to get them outdoors and away from the computer screen (ironic, huh?) to this day I still prefer light tackle over heavy and dead bait over lures. overall, it requires more skill. the more we get our kids into the outdoors and back to how things used to be, the better off we will be

Hey Floridadeckie,

I don't understand why anyone would vote for John McCain or Barack Obama when there's a guy like you around. If you were running for president you would have my vote. I'm not too familiar with the internet, but since I'm the guy that has handed you your awards, I would love to know who you are; I'm sure I remember you. Look what an impact your father had on your life. Is this not what fishing and the great outdoors is about? There is a special bond which is developed offshore with friends and with family; it comes out very clearly in your message. It's quite simple. Let's get this guy to run for president.

Best Regards,

Captain Tred Barta