Question - stand up gear for kids

[iguana1]

Last summer I took my 7 year old son for a shark trip where we got covered up in smaller blues and a couple mahi. He had a blast fighting the sharks on 30s from rod holders and can't wait to go again. So I am wondering if I can rig up some lightweight standup tackle with a lighter jigging reel and short, light rod and find a smaller stand-up harness that he could fight with 5-7 lbs of drag. He is 60 lbs now so figuring 65 next summer and very strong legs (ski racer).

Would appreciate any suggestions from those who have tried it before me for rod, reel and harness. If we work this out there might have to be a shakedown trip to Costa Rica in April for testing purposes. Thanks in advance for the help.

[marlin magnet]

Done it with my kids. A Shimano Talica conventional reel and a matching shimano rod 80# works reel nice. Small, light weight, yet able to put the screws to any fish in the ocean as the reel can support 80 lbs of drag. I set mine up with 80 lb color coded braid. No need for a harness and I would strongly advise against putting a kid in a harness as bad things can happen, but get a kids size Play Action gimble belt. This set up will make it easy for the kids, but strong enough for any adult and can be used for just about any style of fishing, Jigging, trolling, and drifting for sharks.