Fishing trips can be a fun and educational experience for kids, but sometimes it takes a little extra creativity to keep them engaged.
By turning a simple trip to the beach, ship channel, or pier into a quest with specific goals, you can create a memorable adventure that will keep them hooked from start to finish.
A great way to do this is to create “slams” or fishing quests for that trip.
The “Flats Slam” is the permit, bonefish and tarpon. On our coast, the “Texas Slam” is achieved by catching trout, redfish and trout on a single trip. You can make something just as fun for kids at the beach or ship channel.
Surf Slam
Goal: Catch a gafftop catfish, a sand trout and a whiting.
Reward: Photo posted on social media and a stop to get ice cream on the way home.
Channel Slam
Goal: Catch a croaker, a black drum, and a sheepshead.
Reward: Photo posted on social media and maybe printed out to pin up at the pier. Ice cream on the way home is always a good idea.
Trash Can Slam
Goal: Catch a ladyfish, hardhead and a pinfish The reward is you get to use the ladyfish or pinfish for bait for bigger fish!
Don’t get too serious with it but be consistent and makes sure and make over every catch. Kids like to stay moving both physically and mentally and this is a good way to do that.
Let’s face it-a lot of trips won’t produce bull refish or big specks, but by using creativity you can make any coastal fishing trip an adventure for kids.