Tips for fishing with kids

Of all our great pastimes, fishing is one that’s very family oriented. Most of us were taught to fish as youngsters by a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle and it’s the start of many fond memories and close bonds.

I can still vividly remember catching my very first fish. I was in Port Phillip, Victoria, with my dad and brother, when suddenly the handline jumped to life. It was just a little sand flathead but I thought I was connected to the biggest sea monster ever seen.

Having now ticked over into the next half-century of my life, I continue the tradition with my own boys. Most importantly, I have passed on that same deep respect for nature by taking only what we need to feed the family. 

A lot of households find themselves struggling these days as living costs skyrocket and parents work longer hours. The good news is that fishing with kids isn’t all that difficult if you follow a few simple steps.

Kids have short attention spans, so don’t overcomplicate things. While casting a $50 lure on a fancy baitcaster may be what the social media influencers are doing, the reality is that fun can be cheap and simple too.

Handlines seem to get snubbed a bit, but I often use one to catch bait and I still get a kick out of fighting a fish on a handline. When you buy a rod and reel, start with a combo outfit. You can get them for every application and a basic spin outfit is affordable and easy to operate. 

Australia is still the lucky country when it comes to waterway access and many of our waters are open to anglers. You’ve still got a reasonable chance of catching something in iconic spots like Sydney Harbour or on the Yarra River.

Right around the country there are countless locations worth casting a line, from stocked impoundments to rocky headlands. Local tackle shops and fishing clubs can advise on good places to fish with kids. 

Kids are happy catching literally anything. They don’t care about size, they just want the thrill. The trick is to give them constant action and also to do things themselves, which includes baiting their own hook.

Burley is essential – try bread and tuna oil – to attract a wide variety of fish such as yakkas, slimy mackerel, mullet, garfish or herring. All of these species are easily caught on a small, long-shank hook (size eight to 12), either flat-lined or weighted with a split shot or under a float.

Kids also love pumping nippers on sand flats, or throwing yabby nets out. Beach worming can be challenging but great fun, and up north, where it’s legal to use a cast net for mullet, take the time to teach your kids how to cast.

If you’re not keen on dealing with smelly bait, and you have a boat, you can try trolling a few lures around inshore reefs and headlands where you might hook anything from mackerel to salmon.

Trolling isn’t reserved for open waters – you can troll deep-diving lures in estuaries for flathead, or try for trevally if you live in the Tropics. And don’t forget about freshwater trolling for trout. 

Conditions are everything. Don’t take the kids out in wild, rainy, cold conditions without expecting them to lose interest very quickly.

Sure, you need to consider the best bite, but always factor in good conditions to make the day as comfortable as possible for everyone aboard.