Larry Brown Notes
Getting New Anglers Started
Larry Brown
The future of our sport and industry, including the profitability of sport fishing boats, tackle manufacturers and retailers and the course of future political decisions affecting fisheries regulations and access will likely be determined on recruiting future anglers to replace those who are retiring from the sport. There are many youth fishing programs that introduce angling to young people and kids from at risk environments and there is a growing interest by ladies and
women’s angling clubs promoting the sport for women. This article addresses the best ways to introduce new comers to the sport, young and old and boy and girl.
There are very few “don’ts,” but please don’t introduce new anglers to the sport by taking them on an overnight albacore or yellowtail trip. The long periods of locating fish, the possibility of rough seas, the chaos of a wide open bite, with overnight anglers aggressively grabbing baits and employing aggressive and rude rail etiquette are a turn off for so many anglers, especially youngsters and ladies.
There are better ways to introduce new anglers to our sport. One of the best ways to introduce new bees is a short half day or ¾ day trip for bottom fish. No casting. no back lashes, no finesse, few tangles, no stress and it’s very relaxing and there’s nothing better than bringing up several fish at a time, like a wind chime of sand dabs or a variety of rock fish and there’s nothing better tasting. A half day trip during the sand bass spawn is also a perfect venue. It’s a great venue for kids, as depth and weight are the great equalizer. Most importantly, it’s a good test for the new angler’s propensity for sea sickness. Just make sure you tell the crew and captain it’s your buddy’s first time and any extra help would be greatly appreciated. Most crew members love to take a new comer under their wings and have them out perform some of the veterans.
Taking a 6-Pack is also a smart way to introduce new anglers to the joy of fishing. You control the boat. You can tell the captain you want easy fishing where size doesn’t matter; trophy fishing is not as important as numbers today; the protection of the lee side of an island to escape a heavy sea is your option; and an early return home is you sense boredom or if your guest becomes sick are all within your control. There are scores of quality 6-Pack operations with whom you can discuss your game plan and decide if this option fits your situation. There are high end, deluxe 6-packs where you never need touch a bait and where the meals are 5-Star, and there are more budget minded, blue collar operations where you may bring your own food and beverages and bait your own hooks. But they all catch fish and they all carry a maximum of six anglers, so your new anglers will not be elbowed and intimidated at the rail by the one or two possibly rude, discourteous anglers who occasionally ride the regular over night boats.
After a ton of experience and a ton of thought I’ll step out on a limb and tell you the very best way to introduce new anglers to fishing. Take them on a 5-day long range boat. Taking the necessary precautions about sea sickness, including investing in the miracle battery powered Relief Band by Explorer, this will hook them for life. With obvious exceptions, anglers on 5-day long range trips catch a ton of fish. You will find a more relaxed, lay back group on board. Everybody knows they have to co-exist for 5 days so there is an obvious incentive to be cordial and polite at the rail and throughout the trip. There is plenty of time for teaching and learning, the crews on the long range boats tend to be a lot more experienced and professional and the service tends to be extremely first rate. The quality and variety of fish we expect to catch in the range of these longer trips is also exciting with albacore, yellowtail, bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna and dorado all possible, sometimes even on the same trip. I am the charter master for a parent/kid trip in June, and frequently first timer kids are out fishing their parents by the second day, because they arrive with no bad habits and learn what the crew members drill into them. The youngest kids we’ve had on these trips are 8 years old, but they were catching tuna and yellowtail, and sometimes better than good ole dad. It is really cool.
Other venues that are outstanding for new anglers are vacations to the famous fishing resorts in Mexico and Alaska and the mother ship vacations out of San Filipe and La Paz, Mexico. Plenty of fish is nearly guaranteed, other non fishing activities are available at the land based resorts, and land is just an hour or less away if your guest becomes bored or sick.
Clubs
Youth Fishing Programs
Photos:
Kids on Father/son/daughter trip
Kid from MDRA fishing trip
Kid with a string of sand dabs or rock fish
Father and son photo
Relief Band by Explorer