Kayak Fishing is such an amazing experience, that as a father I want nothing more than to share this lifestyle with my children. Knowing that they have the skills to feed themselves would make me feel like I have successfully done my job of raising my children.
So if you’re asking yourself, “Can I take my kid Kayak Fishing?” The answer is a resounding YES! Kids are perfectly suited for Kayak Fishing.
The first time I took my son Kayak Fishing was when he was 2. With our gear stowed safely and my 2 year old child (equipped with PFD) in my lap and a couple of other kayak buddies for company, we traveled 4 miles down the Kona Coast in Hawai’i to a secluded beach where we camped and fished the whole time.
He slept most of the way down, but once we made camp we were on the water having a blast catching tiny little baitfish.
My son is 5 now and we still get out on the water and have loads of fun. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks to make Kayak Fishing an experience they’ll want to relive over and over again.
Make the idea of Kayak Fishing an adventure!
Like any activity you do with children, you have to build the hype. Get overly excited and share with them stories of all the amazing things you will do. This will build the inner passion into your child and soon you’ll have them begging to take you.
Share with them pictures, maps anything you might have from past fishing trips. Build the tradition that comes with following in your footsteps. Let them know the honor that comes with catching your own meal.
OTHER TIPS:
- Research Your Trip Together – Get maps, field guides on local fish, tide charts, etc. Starting with this at home can build their knowledge and curiosity. Turn it into a story by plotting your route together as you hunt for the “elusive” mackeral.
- Involve Them in Packing – Let them help you decide what clothes to wear or knife to bring. Let them help you rig the lines. Involving them in the process will not only teach them, but give them a sense of importance as well.
- Bring a Friend – If you can have them bring a friend, your chance for a successful outing will almost be assured. Just make sure they don’t get too focused on playing. Having fun WHILE fishing is what we want to accomplish, but don’t push too hard either.
Gearing Up for an Amazing Experience
When gearing up to go Kayak Fishing with a child, bring less than you normally would when fishing alone. In fact, all you really need is your kayak, PFD’s, fishing poles and bait.
But it’s never that simple. Even when you’re just going out to the park or beach, there’s always tons of gear to bring for the kids.
If your kids are old enough, involve them in the process so that they will build the knowledge and responsibility to learn how to do this on their own over time. Once again, the more you put story into it, the more of an adventure it will be for the kids.
Safety
First thing to consider with children is safety. Having a Personal Floatation Device, or PFD, is a must. It is actually the law for all people operating a small craft to wear a PFD. Make sure you find one that is appropriate for your child’s age.
To really encourage them to wear one, find one with a cool design like a spiderman or shark. If you are wearing a PFD, they are more likely to wear one as well. You can also try putting surprises in the pockets of the PFD that they can olny access if they put it on.
Your kayak should also be equipped with a whistle, air horn and a float to help rescue an overboard child.
Safety also starts with you. Don’t take your child out in questionable conditions even though you handle them on your own no problem. Kids are a wild card. No need throwing another one into the mix.
Clothing
The right clothes will help us on our path to catch a fish. A fish can get spooked if you’re not wearing a hat. Breathable, water resistant materials can help us bring in a big fish easier. Fish love the smell of sunscreen. These glasses will help you see through the water (polarized of course).
Get your child to want to wear the right gear by giving them a good reason to. Once again, let them help pick out what they want to wear. We are trying to build valuable skills in our children every step of the way.
Food and Drinks
Life on the water can be brutal. Alone out on the water we need to be sure that we are well fed and have enough to drink. Otherwise, it could spell certain doom. Be sure to pack the needed reserves so that we can fill our bellies. We don’t want to get stranded on a deserted island without any food.
At least that’s a story we can share with the kids.
Let your child pick out what they want to eat. Bring some special treats to perk them up when morale is low. Good food to bring would include trail mix with chocolate, hard boiled eggs, apples, granola bars, etc.
Also, make sure you bring plenty of water or some juice along with you as well. Share with them the importance of hydration while out on the water. If you’re fishing on freshwater, you could even bring a backpacking water filter and teach them how to filter their own water.
We like to carry our water in the hull inside a water bladder connected by a long tube that you can drink from.
Other Gear to Bring
- Kayak and Fishing Gear (of Course)
- Binoculars for kids to play with
- Journal and pens for drawing
- Emergency Safety Kit and First Aid
- Ropes
- Games and Jokes (I Spy, 20 Questions, etc)
- Cushions, seats for your child to sit on while in the kayak
Planning for the Trip
Trip planning could be a great activity to share with your child. The more by-in to the whole experience the more successful it’ll be. Go over with them who will go, where you will go and for how long.
Who’s Going?
As a rule of thumb, there should only be 1 child per experienced adult. If your child wants to invite a friend along, another experienced adult and a whole other set of fishing gear need to come along as well. Of course, they could still come and they could take turns, but where’s the fun in that.
Where To?
Break out the maps and plot out where you want to go and why. Which cove is protected from the winds? Where is the best fishing? Children love to discover the world around them through maps.
What to look for:
- Keep an eye out for protected coves and bays that are sheltered from winds and currents. If the water looks like glass, then the conditions are perfect.
- Easy launch access is a plus. While it may be fun breaking through the surf with your little one, wiping out would not be. Make it easy on everyone and launch where there are no waves.
- Bathrooms can come in handy with kids. They always seem to need a place to change or go pee for the 3rd time.
When and How Long?
Figuring out together on when to go can be done by checking the weather and tides to see what to expect. Show them the importance of planning. Teach them about weather patterns and tides just by showing them that they exist.
A warm sunny day is always best, but a cloudy day can be just as nice. The sun is not as intense and the fish seem to be even more active!
You can plan for an overnight campout, but most often I hit my local spot which has a nice shoreline for the kids to play on and we go out for 30 minute at a time. When we’re catching fish, we could be out there for a couple of hours.
Like I mentioned earlier, the first trip out with my son when he was 2, we went 4 miles down the Kona coast to camp and fish on this amazing shoreline. We fished for a little on the way there, but he actually fell asleep in my lap while I paddled the 2hrs to our destination, both ways! Now, 30 minutes seems to be a good number to strive for.
What Type of Kayak Should You Use
The type of kayak you use while fishing with your child is really only a matter of age and preference.
When my kids were 2-4 years old, they were able to sit in the storage compartment of the hull of my sit on top Malibu Kayak.
From 4-6 years of age, I just leave my fishing crate on shore, bring only the essentials and have my child sit in the rear compartment behind my seat. They fit in there perfectly and it’s an easy spot to fish from. I usually put them in charge of trolling.
When your kids reach 7-8 years old, a tandem kayak would be best. They simply outgrow a one man kayak.
It can be done, I’ve had my 8 year old daughter on the back of my one man kayak after filling the rear storage hull with padding that raises the height a bit more so she can fit better. It does really slow us down though.
At 9 years old and above, your child can begin to manage their own kayaks. There are manufacturers that make kayaks for children, Jackson Kayaks has even come out with a child’s fishing kayak!
Teach them how to manage their boat. How to right themselves in the event of a capsize. Proper paddle techniques. On shore, you can teach them how to fish, how to tie knots, how to bait hooks, so they can be self-sufficient out on the water.
It’s Launch Time!!
On arrival to your launch point, try engaging your child in the setup. My kids love to put the paddle together, put all the poles in the holders and wheel the kayak to shore.
Observe Conditions – While setting up, begin to observe the conditions and begin discussing them with your child. Before you actually launch, sit there for a moment and give it a closer look. Is there a strong current? Are there waves today? Can we see any good spots that look good for fishing? The skill of awareness is an important skill for a child to learn.
Go Over Safety Protocols – Discuss safety protocols with your child ahead of time on what to do in the event of an emergency, such as going overboard, capsizing, or a hook in the hand.
Launch the Kayak – I have my child get in the boat first and then I launch us out into the water. I like to start off slow first, pointing out what to look for, talk a little about kayak safety and just get them used to being out in the water.
Teach – take a pause and talk a bit about fishing. How to cast, bait the hook, etc. Usually, I’ll do the first couple casts and let them reel it in until they think that they’d like to try casting themselves. Most kids love the chance to cast a fishing pole at some point.
Rig the Game – Kids come out to catch fish like any of us. It’s especially important that they taste success. It will keep them wanting to come back. To do this you can try chumming the water with corn or bread crumbs to encourage more fish activity. Use light tackle and go for the little guys.
Catching anything is an awesome experience for a child. Remember, it’s all about them on this trip.
Breaktime – Make sure you take breaks. Drink some water. Eat some snacks. This will keep your kids motivation level high. While you’re out there, try sharing stories of past fishing trips or pointing out awesome features on the shore. The more we engage them, the longer you can stay out.
Oh, Oh, Things Aren’t Going As Planned
This will happen almost every time. I usually forget something very important for our trip. Luckily for me, the store is on my way to the beach. I just don’t need any more leader line.
That’s pretty minor, but sometimes it could be more dramatic. The weather can turn or your boat capsize. By staying aware and practicing for these events beforehand you can be more prepared.
I have taken my kids out on the kayak plenty of times without fishing. They’re used to jumping off and climbing back in. If it happens while fishing, I’m sure they’ll know what to do.
Other times, your kids are just plain old bored or in a sour mood. Try to keep your energy high and stoke their energy by playing games or singing songs. Having a cool reward to look forward to also keeps spirits high.
Usually when we head back to our launch spot, the kids are already way over fishing and just want to get back to shore. This is where the whining comes in. Keeping their mind focused on the ice cream you’re going to take them out for or dinner you promised them will usually do the trick.
Just remember, things won’t go as planned. The better you roll with it, the better your kids will learn to adapt as well.