Contributing Writer Capt. Gregg Mckee
Wildfly Fishing Charters
Every summer I run a version of my “Fishing with kids” article to give you a few pointers about keeping the youngsters happy on the water. Since this is the time of year when a lot of families come down to visit the grandparents, these are some of the things I've done to make sure my own two kids stay entertained out there.
I’ve always let my customers bring younger children along on a charter as long as they're old enough to get on and off the boat by themselves and can wear the mandatory life jackets. Since most of my fishing is done in less than three feet of water, I feel totally comfortable doing this and I love being able to introduce them to some of the amazing things that we see out on the flats.
At the same time, kids can be tricky and restless on a small boat like my 18-foot Beavertail, so it’s important that they enjoy the experience right off the bat. The most important thing is a no-brainer: catch them some fish and do it quickly.
Kids need bent rods and it really doesn’t matter to them what species is doing the bending. A pinfish is as impressive to a five-year old as a blue marlin if it’s the first thing they’ve ever caught. Even the bait stealing blowfish that we adults hate make kids go crazy when they puff up on the deck. In other words, don’t waste your time looking for hundred-pound tarpon on the flats when a bunch of snappers are swimming right off your dock.
Here in the waters around Pine Island, a big school of ladyfish is ideal when I have younger children on the boat. I actually think these are the perfect species for kids because they do just about everything you want from a fish. Ladyfish jump, run, and pull really hard. They even poop all over the deck, which most boys like my son seem to find hilarious. On top of all that, since we don’t eat ladyfish, you get a chance to teach them about catch and release.
Of course, if you really want to give kids a thrill, just chop up a one of those ladyfish (again, something that boys especially love to watch) and toss a hunk out for sharks. When I was guiding in the Keys and had a kid on board, we were usually sharking. Kids love everything about it, especially seeing that unmistakable shape circling the boat.
The species of shark doesn’t matter. The sluggish nurse sharks were as much fun as anything when the drag is cranked down and they’re thrashing at the surface. Nurse sharks are also a lot safer to let kids touch when you leader them next to the boat. Here around Pine Island our most common sharks are the much more dangerous bull and blacktips, so that’s an added thrill but not something I ever let anyone try to handle.
If the bite slows down and my younger passengers start to get restless, there are a few other tactics I use in order to channel that energy. A full baitwell is like a mini touch-tank at the zoo. Kids love to play in the baitwell and mine has a clear lid that can’t accidentally slam shut. I always keep several dozen live shrimp in there and I also like to toss in a couple of pinfish and declawed blue crabs to let them chase around with the dip net. The crabs are always a big hit and my daughter used to give them all names by the end of the trip.
Kids also like to play in the tackle box if they get bored but you obviously don’t want them handling anything with sharp hooks. I keep that gear safely stowed but I do leave out a clear Plano box full of dozens of different soft plastic baits.
I let the kids pick out their favorite color if we’re jig fishing and the realistic shrimp lures from DOA are especially fun for them to play with. Even after they spend an hour getting everything mixed up in there, they always seem to enjoy putting the baits back in order for me if I ask them to. Who knew tackle could be so much fun and such a great distraction?
My kids (who are now teenagers) also seem to get incredibly hungry the moment they step on the boat. It doesn’t matter if they had breakfast 20 minutes earlier; they immediately start looking for snacks. This is where I used to give in with the junk food when they were younger. Letting them have Oreos for breakfast on the boat didn't win me Father of the Year but it kept them happy and the sugar crash a few hours later made for a peaceful ride home.
Most importantly, when the kids are ready to quit, we quit. Some kids can easily handle a full day’s fishing trip but most can’t. Forcing them to sit through even an extra half hour on the boat when they’re already hot and restless will only make them forget all the fun they had at the beginning of the day. A three-to-four-hour trip seems to work best and that’s also more than enough sun for most kids.
The idea is to send them home tired but not exhausted. And most importantly, you should send them home wanting to come back for more.
If you do that, you’ve got an angler for life. Hope this helps and best of luck out there.
Capt. Gregg Mckee
Wildfly Fishing Charters
Matlacha, Florida
