Youth fishing in Florida

Young children and young adults need encouragement and an alternative to many of the influences they encounter in their busy lives. A single fishing trip could be the turning point in a young life and the rewards are endless. Florida offers many opportunities for kids to fish and experience the thrill of catching even a small fish. The secret to making a fishing trip a success for youth is to plan the entire trip around their interest level. If they get hooked on catching, they will grow to enjoy the fishing experience. Keep the scheduled trip simple, and have a plan. Begin by fishing for pan fish or catfish. The trip doesn't need to be long, make it a reasonably short trip, maybe two hours. Share a lunch by taking a picnic prepared ahead, and make it a part of the experience. Use simple tackle at first, and focus on praise of their participation rather than their catching a big fish. Share the beauty of the outdoors with them and be ready to end the experience if they are tired, but if they wish to stay a little longer, be ready to extend the time. Adapt to their wishes, and you will be a winner. One thing to remember, teach them "Catch and Release" when appropriate. Not all kids are destined to become fishermen, be satisfied that you have presented them with the opportunity to fish and see if they enjoy it. Happy fishing in Florida.