Family Fishing

Australian Olympic champion and mum of three boys

Watching a child’s excitement when they catch a fish is enough to make you wonder why you waste money on toys when a simple fishing trip provides more pleasure. As today’s society becomes increasingly centred on computers and indoor activities, one great thing we can do is teach our kids to love the outdoors and what better way than to take them fishing.

For kids, fishing is all about catching something and a small yellowtail can be just as exciting to them as a big barramundi would be for the ‘grown ups’. Fun is the aim of the day so patience is required to make each trip a success. Tangles are inevitable, so are snags and the occasional loss of gear, so don’t entrust a child with your expensive tackle. It’s better to buy them their own rod and reel and even set them up with a little tackle box (minus the sharp hooks for younger children).

Kids are easily distracted so be realistic about for how long you want to fish. Be flexible and be armed with a sense of fun and adventure. Once you have a great time, your kids will want to go again and what better way to invest in your own fishing future than to encourage the next generation.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Top 10 tips for fishing with kids

Fun – It’s not about how many fish you bring home but the experience. If children become bored, play a game or go for a swim, remembering they have a limited attention span.
Safety – Kids are extremely vulnerable around water so always keep an eye on what they are doing (see safety fact box).
Adventure – Planning the fishing trip can be half the fun. Talk about where you are going, what fish you might catch and read fishing books with your kids. Even a two-year-old can enjoy looking at pictures in fish identification books.
Praise and patience – The art of casting, winding and catching fish can be a little frustrating for juniors. Keep their confidence up and let them know how well they are doing. Don’t lose your cool, no matter how many mishaps you need to fix.
Easy catch – Do your homework and pinpoint where the fish are prior to your trip. Children don’t care what type or how big a fish is they just want to catch something.
Catch and release – Teach you kids to respect fish. If you are not going to eat it, release the fish and let you kids watch it swim “home”. Bring a cooler with ice if you are planning to catch dinner.
Simplicity – The easier things are the better it can be. Try to keep everything simple, don’t haul too much gear, and use basic rigs and good equipment.
Be understanding – If your child is frightened of a fish or a particular situation, listen to what they are telling you. Don’t push them to touch a fish or do something they don’t want. Kids can be sensitive, especially in a new environment.
Practice – Attach an old lure minus the hooks on a small rod and reel. Let kids practise their casting and winding in the back yard or park. When they improve, give them targets to cast at.
Camera – Take a photo of them with their fish or by the water. Kids can brag about their fishing trip and it’s a great reminder of how much fun it can be.

Where to fish

Piers and jetties

These are ideal places to start fishing with kids. Jetties are easy to get to, there is a distinguishable area between you and the water, plus you can often catch numerous species. Fish are attracted to structures like jetties and pylons, which provide both food and shelter. You can catch a mixture of surface feeders such as garfish and herring or bottom dwellers like flathead and leatherjackets. Young children can easily drop their bait to the bottom without casting. The water is generally calm so it is easy to feel a bite. Berley—a mix of bread and fish scraps used to attract fish—works well and as with most fishing, change of tide is a good time to fish.

Species: Bream, trevally, whiting, flathead, tailor, garfish, leatherjacket, squid, yellowtail
Rigs: Running sinker, paternoster, casting rig, floating single hook, squid jigs
Bait: Prawns, squid, pilchards, worms

Lakes, dams & creeks

If you don’t live close to the ocean there are plenty of freshwater options for taking kids fishing. Even small dams can house redfin, which are fun to catch and are great for dinner. Despite the fact that carp is a noxious species, kids can still enjoy winding in these fish, which can put up a good fight on light gear. If it is a bit of a trip to a river, you could always incorporate a camping trip and target trout, Murray cod or bass. You may need a fishing licence, so check your State’s regulations.

Species: Trout, red fin, yellowbelly, Murray cod, Australian bass, golden & silver perch, carp (do not return to the water as it is a noxious species)
Rigs: Running sinker, float rigs, lures
Bait: Worms, grasshoppers, mudeyes, yabbies, woodgrubs, bardi grubs

Beach fishing

Watch the beach carefully and try to fish in a calm area with a channel, or adjacent to some structure. An offshore breeze can be beneficial for casting. If you have smaller children, you can always cast the rod and they can be responsible for winding in the fish and checking the bait.

The beach is an easy place for kids to learn how to cast and retrieve. A floating popper—a type of lure—is ideal for learners; they don’t sink and can be retrieved at very slow speeds. A sandy beach is great for playing games, making sand castles and swimming. Remember to keep an eye on the kids at all times and if they want to swim, wind in your line—the last thing you want is for them to become tangled.

Species: Salmon, whiting, bream, garfish, trevally, tailor, herring, flathead, mullet
Rigs: Running sinker, paternoster rig, casting rig, small metal lures or poppers
Bait: Pilchards, pipis, bluebait, whitebait, squid, prawns, fish pieces, worms

Bays and estuaries

These are also excellent places for children to learn how to fish. Bays and estuaries provide relatively calm water that is usually well stocked with plenty of small easy-to-handle fish. Estuaries are fish nurseries and provide many species with a good mix of food and shelter.

Species: Whiting, bream, flathead, tailor, snapper, salmon, mullet
Rigs: Running sinker, paternoster rig, casting rig
Bait: Prawns, pipis, worms; also try lures and soft plastics

Boat fishing

Kids not prone to seasickness usually love the adventure of going on a boat—and catching a fish is an added bonus. Safety is of utmost importance when boating; check the forecast and never put children at risk. Ensure all children wear lifejackets at all times and stay seated during transit. Plan short trips initially as a big day trip may be too exhausting for young kids.

Try to fish in calm areas and remember to berley. If you are not catching anything, move the boat to another location or try trolling. It’s about having fun, so if the kids get board, go for a tour or explore the surroundings.

Species: Herring, whiting, snapper, flathead, kingfish, salmon, tailor, cod, snook, mackerel, wrasse, mullet
Rigs: Running sinker, paternoster rig, bottom rig, floaters, lures, spinners, soft plastics
Bait: Pilchard, squid, fresh fish, live baits, pipis

FACT BOXES

Safety

Always watch your kids.
Be vigilant when children are around water and dress them in bright coloured clothing.
Toddlers aged between one and three years are most at risk of drowning because they are mobile and curious but don’t understand the dangers of water.
Fish during daylight hours.
Check the weather forecast and if it is unfavourable, go another day.
Be sensible and flexible. Don’t take kids rock fishing or put them in dangerous situations. If the water looks unsafe, choose a more sheltered location.
Be sun smart. Apply sunscreen before going outside, ensure kids are dressed appropriately and wearing hats.
Use barbless hooks and trebles. They are far easier to remove if there is an accident and they are kinder on fish.
Bring a first aid kit as invariably there may be a few falls, bites, cuts etc which may need attention.
Teach your kids to act sensibly around water and to understand all potential dangers.
Keep kids from wrapping fishing line around their fingers or hand. If by chance they hook a huge fish the line could cut them quite severely.
Ensure children are a safe distance when landing big fish and toothy species such as mackerels and sharks.
When boating, kids should wear PFDs at all times.

Boating babies

If you own a boat you may be wondering what age your child should be before you can take them with you. Most one-year-olds can wear an X-Small PFD, which are designed for children 10-15kg. You can purchase jackets for babies 3kg plus, which I used when my boys were small. I even tested it with our 4-week-old in our pool and he floated beautifully with no water on his face.
In most states, the wearing of PFDs is mandatory; therefore young babies should not be taken on any vessel without a PFD appropriate for their size and weight.
You should check your state’s/territory’s boating regulations prior to taking your baby with you. If you do have kids onboard, there are also a number of precautions you should be familiar with.
Commonsense is of utmost importance as the aim of a family boating trip is about enjoying the experience.
It is imperative you check where you are going and the conditions of the day. If there are any concerns, do not put your child at risk and leave them at home.
Ensure your boat is suitable for children. Important things to consider are high sides to stop kids falling out, shade, regular servicing and plenty of freshwater on board.
You will need a willing partner to assist you on the boat. They can hold the child during transit or watch them as they sit on the floor—you can’t drive a boat and hold/supervise at the same time.
Make the safety briefing part of the fun onboard and ensure kids know what to do in an emergency. A good safeguard is for them to practice jumping into the water from the boat wearing their PFD. It is important kids are familiar with floating in their PFD in case there is an emergency.
If they are still sleeping during the day, provide an area where they can have a nap such as a portacot or an area in the front cabin. Many kids love the rocking motion of a boat and may even sleep better than at home. This is a great opportunity for some uninterrupted fishing.
Entertainment is very important so take a swing to hang from the rocket launcher, a few toys, or a bean bag for them to sit on while travelling.
Kids are very adaptable and even though they may not be old enough to fish at least you can and the more they experience boating, the easier it becomes.

Gear

Handline or threadline rod and reel small enough for little hands.
Bait, lures, poppers, soft plastics—depending on age of angler.
Bring berley—tuna oil, breadcrumbs, chicken pellets, a tin of cat food or specialty mix.
A float—kids like to watch it bobbing up and down on the water and it shows them where their line is.
Use barbless hooks /trebles.

What to bring

Sunscreen / hat / sunglasses
Drinks and food
Ice box
Change of clothes / bathers and towel
Insect repellent
Toys / games
Camera
Small bucket and scoop net—if the fishing is slow kids can entertain themselves by collecting things from the water’s edge.