Fishing Locations for Young Kids - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Mr. NiceGuy · 07-14-2017, 12:08 PM

I would suggest anywhere you catch a lot of fish yourself. Otherwise, you will be wandering around, increasing the risk of catching nothing when the important moment arrives. Doing your homework (meaning on the water) in advance will increase odds for your daughter. Find your own hot spots first. Except for rare occasions, fishing is no longer as easy as simply dropping a hook in the water.

Technique and personal experience takes precedence over a random list of locations, which can be almost anywhere. Also, if such a predictable fishing gold mine existed, then there would be so many boats fishing there that the supply of fish would be quickly exhausted in favor of other less known places.

What about taking her to pump ghost shrimp in Mariner's Basin at low tide? That can be fun and predictable.

Or find someone who YOU KNOW catches fish every time they go out to accompany you as a guide? The guide can set you up with the right gear for the right place and put you on the fish, then you can focus on helping your daughter. Is she ready to cast and retrieve, or do you simply want to drop a baited hook and wait?

During the cooler winter months, trout fishing can be fun for a 5 year old at a place they fill with Whitewater and DFG farm fish on a regular basis. Cast PowerBait out on a 2# test line Carolina rig and wait for the action. Baked trout mixed with mayonnaise and sweet pickle relish makes great "tunafish" sandwiches.

Santee Lakes has pumped a lot of fish. Lake Murray has been good in the past, but it depends on how much the lake managers want to spend on fish plants. Both places are beautiful, fun, safe for children and nice picnic areas.

Druko · 07-14-2017, 12:32 PM

I would also bring Berkley gulp grubs in red, glow or nuclear chicken.

Sheephead · 07-14-2017, 05:49 PM

Wait for the middle of a moon phase.

Buy 3 bags of salted anchovies.

Go to the bait barge in SD bay or Mission bay (SD bay is better).

Anchor near / tie onto the barge and start chumming kid pinky size chunks. you want to throw out 2 anchovies worth every 30 seconds at first then decrease to 1 every minute (especially important once you start catching them)

Get a carolina rig with 1/4-1/2oz weight and catch infinite mackerel. Use a de-hooker tool to speed up the releases and keep them in the non-stop action.

Put a 2nd line down with cut mackerel or whole chovies to get that variety to spice it up and keep it exciting.

Put cut mackerel strips on asap so you don't have to re-bait their hook every 3 sec.

PapaDave · 07-17-2017, 07:44 AM

If you were near to Dana Point and wanted to catch a bunch of fish, go behind the bait receivers, cut up some dead anchovies or sardines and toss some for chum. Tie a small hook on with a split shot, bait it with a piece of the chum and toss it out.

Species to expect would be queen fish, croaker, mackerel, small barracuda and an occasional small WSB.

Took my grandson out on the boat, didn't even get a bite outside. anchored up behind the receiver and he caught a LOT of fish. Had a blast.

jlabs63 · 07-17-2017, 10:34 AM

Thanks fellas; I really appreciate the suggestions. I get it about time on the water, but I can only get out a few times a month and I always fish La Jolla and have never really fished the bay.

Where is the best place to launch in San Diego Bay (i.e. closest to the bait barge?

07-14-2017, 12:08 PM	#1
Mr. NiceGuy Manic for Life Join Date: May 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 839	I would suggest anywhere you catch a lot of fish yourself. Otherwise, you will be wandering around, increasing the risk of catching nothing when the important moment arrives. Doing your homework (meaning on the water) in advance will increase odds for your daughter. Find your own hot spots first. Except for rare occasions, fishing is no longer as easy as simply dropping a hook in the water. Technique and personal experience takes precedence over a random list of locations, which can be almost anywhere. Also, if such a predictable fishing gold mine existed, then there would be so many boats fishing there that the supply of fish would be quickly exhausted in favor of other less known places. What about taking her to pump ghost shrimp in Mariner's Basin at low tide? That can be fun and predictable. Or find someone who YOU KNOW catches fish every time they go out to accompany you as a guide? The guide can set you up with the right gear for the right place and put you on the fish, then you can focus on helping your daughter. Is she ready to cast and retrieve, or do you simply want to drop a baited hook and wait? During the cooler winter months, trout fishing can be fun for a 5 year old at a place they fill with Whitewater and DFG farm fish on a regular basis. Cast PowerBait out on a 2# test line Carolina rig and wait for the action. Baked trout mixed with mayonnaise and sweet pickle relish makes great "tunafish" sandwiches. Santee Lakes has pumped a lot of fish. Lake Murray has been good in the past, but it depends on how much the lake managers want to spend on fish plants. Both places are beautiful, fun, safe for children and nice picnic areas. __________________ Another ho-hum day in Paradise Last edited by Mr. NiceGuy; 07-14-2017 at 12:47 PM.

07-14-2017, 12:32 PM	#2
Druko Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 205	I would also bring Berkley gulp grubs in red, glow or nuclear chicken. __________________ "It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live" Marcus Aurelius

07-17-2017, 07:44 AM	#4
PapaDave Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 1,475	If you were near to Dana Point and wanted to catch a bunch of fish, go behind the bait receivers, cut up some dead anchovies or sardines and toss some for chum. Tie a small hook on with a split shot, bait it with a piece of the chum and toss it out. Species to expect would be queen fish, croaker, mackerel, small barracuda and an occasional small WSB. Took my grandson out on the boat, didn't even get a bite outside. anchored up behind the receiver and he caught a LOT of fish. Had a blast. __________________ So long and thanks for all the fish...

07-14-2017, 05:49 PM	#3
Sheephead Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 115	Wait for the middle of a moon phase. Buy 3 bags of salted anchovies. Go to the bait barge in SD bay or Mission bay (SD bay is better). Anchor near / tie onto the barge and start chumming kid pinky size chunks. you want to throw out 2 anchovies worth every 30 seconds at first then decrease to 1 every minute (especially important once you start catching them) Get a carolina rig with 1/4-1/2oz weight and catch infinite mackerel. Use a de-hooker tool to speed up the releases and keep them in the non-stop action. Put a 2nd line down with cut mackerel or whole chovies to get that variety to spice it up and keep it exciting. Put cut mackerel strips on asap so you don't have to re-bait their hook every 3 sec.

07-17-2017, 10:34 AM	#5
jlabs63 Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: SD - Carmel Valley Posts: 78	Thanks fellas; I really appreciate the suggestions. I get it about time on the water, but I can only get out a few times a month and I always fish La Jolla and have never really fished the bay. Where is the best place to launch in San Diego Bay (i.e. closest to the bait barge?