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Suggested rigs for boat fishing with the children

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Newbies Corner
Forum Description: If you're new to fishing this is the place to ask any questions about getting started ...
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=127749
Printed Date: 03 Feb 2026 at 2:25pm


Topic: Suggested rigs for boat fishing with the children
Posted By: Gavman
Subject: Suggested rigs for boat fishing with the children
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2018 at 9:25pm
Hi learned fishing type community - My mate has just purchased a lovely new boat (6m osprey) - and is after my help to take his very eager kids fishing.

Be out around army bay - flat rock etc (20mtr-40mtr mark  ish)

 thinking to eventually get them on softbaiting rigs (fish where the fish are - less time baiting rods - active type of fishing - keep kids interested and if their not biting, rods up and off to nearest island for a swim)

Mean time I have several spinning rods available for them - I was going to set them up with simple 2 hook ledger rigs for smelly bait fishing?

- any other ideas that may be good for young fishers to be?


Sorry for long winded explanation- I felt to flesh out where I'm coming from

all opinions welcome.
Gav.


Replies:
Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2018 at 9:35pm
I've thought about this a bit as my boy is getting older. I'm biased because slow jigging of one kind or another makes up 90% of my fishing, but a slow jig would be a good option. They catch fish with the rod sat in the rod holder, so why not in the hands of a young child? Even the constant reel winding that kids seem to want to do wouldn't be totally counterproductive and would pick up kahawai even if the the snapper weren't mid-water. A slightly heavier inchiku than you would otherwise select would be my choice. Conditions and drift would have to be right for this to be relatively trouble free and successful.

Posted By: KikBac
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2018 at 10:11pm
Keep it simple with kids. 2 x hook ledger rig with 5/0 circles (fish hook themselves) and a variety of baits - skipjack, pilchards and squid (everything eats squid!!!) Good luck.

Posted By: pjc
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2018 at 6:42am
Depending on the age of children,have they been boat fishing before or on a boat??I probably wouldnt venture to far out,nothing worst than sea sick children.
simple ledger rig with bait or find ky school and have a troll with spinners,ky put up a good fight and most children like a fight.


-------------
Sex at 58.Lucky I live at 56

Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2018 at 8:33am
We take the grand children out..3 to 10yrs.
 Secret is keep them busy...and anchor up is await and see game..So drift.. 3 to 20m  (1/2  to 4oz sinkers)
 They use the light weight 6 to 10kg 6'6" rod with something like  a shamano 4000.. bait runner again makes things simple.
  Stray line, 4/0 keeper 5 or 6/0 suicide at the bottom Must be sharp
 about 1m 30lb fluro trace small surgeons at the top.
 Swivel and clip on the end of the main line.. braid. Braid they feel everything.. keeps interest.
 Makes changing sinker weights easy.. reef sinkers on the swivel clip... againj light sinker keeps them busy..

Stray line with strip baits.. pre scaled mullet/ trev cut styrips

 Down side.. baits must be tidy otherwise the trace spins up.
 And top it off, burley.. even on the drift, about 1 to 2m above the bottom.

Drag set to 1kg direct off the end of the rod.. When they hook up a good fish 40 cm plus
1/ 1st instruction... " take your time, enjoy, keep the curve in the rod.. watch the end of the rod not the water.. nothing to see in the water.."
2/  Help is Simply "that Grand Dads good rod, dont drop it over board"
3/ you may increase drag 1/6 to 1/8 of a turn increments 2 to 3 times... 
4/explain dont reel in when the fish runs
5/ And dont lift the fish in with the rod.

just watch for very young children, (3yrs 45cm snapper)  the will lay the rod on the gunnels with a good fish on.. note where the rod eyes are on the gunnel.

Other than the above, they are on their own except for drag and lifting fish in...Dont underestimate the children and spoil the end thrill for them
 The reward is their face when they know they did it.. by themselves.  AND Grandads rod is still on the boat. 


 

Posted By: Tagit
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2018 at 9:51am
I am with KikBac above. Anchor up to make the boat motion easier. 2 hook ledger with 5/0 circles and an 8oz sinker or even more if the line doesn't go straight down. Teach them to stop letting out line the moment the sinker hits bottom (so they can feel the bites) and to wait for the rod to load up before striking. They will catch fish even if they struggle to stay concentrated. Hardest thing usually is to get them to not strike until the rod loads up. Get that right and this simple rig is really good for novices.

Posted By: Gavman
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2018 at 1:49pm
thanks guys. great help.

pretty much confirmed what i was thinking with some added points i hadnt thought of.


thanks again to all who took the time to reply

Posted By: Hookedline&sinker
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2018 at 9:11pm
I like to stray line so ledger rig the kids. If it's slow I will give them a sabiki since a livey can be used for a dory style rig to replace ledger.


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