Celebrating Día del Niño and Getting Kids Involved in Fishing

It’s time to put down the cell phones and get the kids out fishing

By FECOP Staff

Today is Día del Niño in Costa Rica – or Day of the Child in English and families everywhere are celebrating their children. This day is much more than another Hallmark holiday and should be celebrated far and wide…because as everyone knows, children are the future. Teaching kids to fish at a young age opens up the flood gates to questions and experiences that lead to sustainable thinking and behavior.

Seemingly simple questions arise when you are fishing with your child that lead to sustainable thinking and responsible fishing

Why is it important to release fish?
Where does the fish on my plate come from?
What is the food chain and how does it work?
Why can’t I bring the big sailfish or marlin on the boat for a photo?
What are circle hooks? Why do we use them on all live bait?

These questions lead to having an “aware” frame of mind while instilling the importance of maintaining balance in the ocean if it is to continue to provide for us. The fact that catching fish is fun and exciting for kids and adults is just the spark that will lead to an education in the importance of ocean conservation.

king salmon michigan — Lake Michigan 1982

My first major fishing experience as a kid was catching a 36″ -19lb King Salmon in Michigan at the age of 10 with my Uncle out of Grand Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. There was nothing like it. That Salmon had a major affect on me which turned fishing into a passion and lead to several annual fishing trips in and around Michigan through the course of my young life. Fishing meant a time outdoors, a time with family, and a source of excitement over and above idle time watching TV or in this day and age, on Facebook or SnapChat. My fishing experiences would continue with my grandparents in Pompano Beach Florida drift fishing and fishing off the Pompano Beach Pier. With each cast my passion grew.

Pompano Beach Pier Florida — Pompano Beach Pier, Florida 1978

My knowledge of saltwater fish kicked up a notch in my teenage years after a blunder when I had my first job waiting tables in a seafood restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan called “The Cracked Crab”. I’ll never forget writing down the daily specials that day and seeing “Dolphin” on the fresh catch list. After my ninth table stormed out of the restaurant with outraged looks on their faces my boss said “Hey! Why do your tables keep leaving?” I said I didn’t know. “Every time I told them dolphin was being served they got mad and left”. I was inadvertently (and of course falsely) telling them we were serving dolphin meat and people were not to happy about the prospect of eating Flipper!!! This is what happens when you grow up in Michigan. My boss shook his head and quickly informed me that dolphin or dolphin fish is Mahi Mahi also known as Dorado. That story seems unbelievable to me now as I have caught and written more blogs about dolphinfish than I can even remember. Little did I know that 8 years later I would permanently move to one of the salt water fishing capitals of the world.

In addition to conservation, fishing teaches the young and old alike how to be organized and use common sense. Kids also learn how to tie knots, identify species, recognize favorable ocean conditions etc. My fascination with fishing that I developed as a child took me to Costa Rica where I’ve spent the past 20 years working in and around fishing, so you never know where your child’s passion will take take them. Fishing also creates lots of networking opportunities and the chance to meet and develop friendships with like minded people. (Pictured above Tosh Tolbot with a Roosterfish see Osa’s Little Big Angler)

Kick the social media and pick up a fishing rod

Getting kids to drop the TickTock and Instagram for awhile and get in touch with nature is just as important for their development as socializing. When kids are out on the water little by little they notice things, the fresh air, the smell of the saltwater the waves crashing, jumping dolphins and breaching whales the pull and ebb of the tide – and unfortunately lots of plastics and discarded items floating in the water! Mankind’s fascination and connection to the ocean is ancient and it runs deep. In this day and age we seem to have forgotten the importance of the ocean and it’s role as a food and oxygen source as well as a filter for dangerous gasses – without it we couldn’t survive. The Ocean absorbs 6 billion metric tons (petagrams) of carbon from human activities annually! SO the next time you are looking for a safe and fun hobby for your child to take up, think sport fishing. One day he or she will thank you and so will the planet.

by FECOP Staff