Corpusfishing.com

[double_a_ron]

What age should a child take their first fishing trip?

Where would be a good place to take them?

My nephew just turned 2 in march and my brother(hid dad) wants to take him fishing but not sure on the place yet. I am suggesting either sunset lake in Portland or the T-heads. I just want to get him to catch some perch, croaker or sand trout. My brother wants to take him to Indian Point pier, but I am thinking that would be too dangerous for a 2 year old since its so high up. I want him to have a good first experience.

Is 2 still too young? I remember catching my first fish at Copano Bay Pier, so I am thinking I was at least 4 or 5.

Just looking for some feedback/suggestions.

[flounder daddy]

2 is a little young IMO. I would try a small lake or pond around town. Indian point is out of the question for a 2yr old. Its just too high and risky for the youngster. I think I started around 4-5ish. I would honestly wait till around 3yrs old.

[fnG]

i started taking my son when he was 3. he learned how to cast really quick. i quickly learned that he had absolutely no patience to let a bait sit in the water so i tied a rattle trap (that he called his shark) to the line... with both treble hooks removed.

worked out great. he learned to cast and i didnt have to worry about him hooking himself or anybody else


now he's six and i take him fishing all the time.. finally moved him up to spinning reels. the forward storage compartment on my kayak is an excellent place for him to sit.

[SharkBait]

i started my daughter as soon as she could hold a pole

we would go fish in fresh water and she would fight the fish in her stroller


start em young, she landed a 27inch red last year at packery...
this is her at salado creek in SA at less than two years old
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[SharkBait]

the packery park would be a good place to start

shallow water for kids to play, with enough fish in casting range, been taking my kid over there for a long time without having any issues...

stay away from the jetties for a while, trust me... i got barbed(by a treble) carrying my kid out on port a jetties
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[ironmanstan]

A really good place to start would be in any harbour such as the Rockport Harbour. There are lots of piers with pilings and lots of piggy and pin perch
all around them. A small pole a small hook and a small piece of shrimp and you are catching fish...guaranteed. Plus the piers are close enough to the water to minimize reeling in. It's a great first experience and if dad wants he can save the perch for fishing later, for himself. Not only are the boat slips in the marina clean and free of debris it's alot of fun checking out all the boats Thats where my son Zach caught his first fish. My daughter caught her first wading with dear ol dad off of Sulphur RD.
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I LIKE MINE FRIED.

[Gib]

Take the boy and have a blast.

2 years is not too young, but do be mindful of location.

He who shall not be mentioned had some excellent ideas, and the picture of his little girl is priceless.

You mentioned the T-heads. I have made more than one trip with my little ones to an empty boat slot with a perch set-up, and I will never forget the memories made.

Pinch off a little trip, put on a perch hook, and drop over the side.

As flounder daddy said, Indian Point is out of the question for a two year old to fish there. I believe he would be okay to run around on it but not to fish.

Also, as fnG gave a good idea, if the rascal just wants to cast, take the hooks off a lure, and let him have at it.

You will be glad you did any of these things.

[SharkBait]

pier railings can be kinda difficult for kids
also the large amounts of sharp things(hooks,knives, wire clippings,sabikis) on piers kept me from bringing my daughter to fish them for longer


packery park or whatever its named....is a great place to let a kid get wet and reel on some fish

we cast DOA shrimp together in the canal, sometimes she asks what the next step is to cast the spinning reel but she can do it by herself and land them too..
give em a pole and let them at it, they cant learn till they mess up many many times lol(a single circle hook will keep anyone from getting hooked)
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[ironmanstan]

SB is right he has a little girl. Me have boy. Raise like boy. Now man big man. Me have girl too, fish like boy, now big girl, fish like big girl, never get hurt, taught by Ironmanstan, grunt, grunt.
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I LIKE MINE FRIED.

[Ol Sanch]

I took my kid fishing for the first time this last weekend. He lasted about 15 minutes, but 3 years olds are like that. I was going to take him to the beach so he could play until I actually caught a fish. Instead we fished off our dock in the canals on the island. He was interested in the shrimp and, initally, he was interested in the process. He sat on my lap and reeled the reel slowly back in. After a couple of times of that he lost interest. Then I caught a fish. He couldn't hold the rod at all so he just reeled, which was kinda tough for him to do. He wasn't too excited about all that. Then I got the fish to the dock and it was super interesting and fishing was cool again. He wanted to touch the fish. Then we let it go. The next one he didn't want to let go.
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Do you even fish, Bro?

[double_a_ron]

Thanks for all the input, I got some pretty good ideas.