“I like fishing the best,” said my step grandson Mykah Ogilvie (seven years old) when we approached the dock after his first fishing trip last week. This is just the comment you want to hear when taking a youngster out on their first fishing trip. Mykah fished with his stepdad (my son) Geoffrey Monti for 90 minutes and caught a scup, black sea bass, summer flounder (fluke) and a sand shark.

Here are some tips for taking children fishing.

First, the trip should be planned for the children and not the adults taking them. Everyone’s energy on the vessel is geared toward the children to have them catch fish. This means kids only are fishing until they are successful. It’s all about the children.  

And, keep the trip short, I have found that a couple of hours is usually more than enough time, try to leave on a high note rather than search unsuccessfully for more or larger fish.  

Where you fish is important, targeting ground fish that are easy to catch like scup and sea bass is important. Most children have the reflexes it takes for a quick hook set to catch scup and sea bass (faster reflexes than most adults I know).  Scup tend to be where there is water movement, structure and bait so anchoring up or drifting on a ledge, near a bridge, jetty or some other structure where you have caught fish before is a good idea.

You should also gear down. Use light weight rods that children can handle. I often use the lightest tackle I have (light weight spinning rods, rated for 8 to 17 pound test line) or small conventional reels and rods for children that have difficulty handling spinning reels.

I also keep the fishing rig simple. Traditional scup (porgy) or sea bass rigs work well. Two small hooks and a sinker works fine. The bait is simple too, a small piece of squid. 

Keep things light, I once had a youngster eating cheese and crackers and he asked, “Do you think my cheese will work for bait.” 

We gave it a try. The decision to use the cheese kept his interest and it worked.

Demonstrating how the rods and reels work is very important. I often do a general introduction at the dock and a second time when we arrive at the first fishing spot. Then it’s one on one with an adult working with each child most of the trip. 

And lastly, teach children how to be responsible anglers. Obey fishing laws, practice catch and release when appropriate and teach them how to be good stewards of the environment.

Still time to register for 

the RI Tog Classic

Get your tickets today for the 2025 Rhode Island Tog Classic being held Sunday, October 12 from sunrise to 2 p.m. with a weigh-in from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Portuguese American Club, 35 Power Street, Portsmouth, RI.  AnglerCatch, the smartphone software application to record catch and effort, is the lead sponsor of the Tog Classic.

$50,00 in raffle prices and $25,000 in cast prices with boat, kayak, shore and youth (12 and under) divisions.  Join the party after from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with live music and great Portuguese food.

To register visit Home | Rhode Island Tog Classic.

Where’s the bite?

Freshwater fishing for largemouth has been good with the trout bite good in waterways that have been stocked for the fall. At press time in Massachusetts about half of the fall trout stocking program was complete with Whiting and Falls Ponds in North Attleborough already stocked along with all waterways in the program on Cape Cod. 

Tyler Holman of the Tackle Box, Warwick, said, “Freshwater customers are still catching largemouth bass and anglers are now waiting for trout to be stocked in their favorite ponds.”  

“The largemouth bite is still strong with hollow frogs and half once spinner baits working well. We are waiting for the white perch bite to pick up around Halloween,” said Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren. For license and trout stocking information in Rhode Island visit www.dem.ri.gov/fishing and in Massachusetts visit www.mass.gov/service-details/trout-stocking-report .

Striped bass, bluefish, bonito, and false albacore. “The bonito and false albacore bite is still very good out in front of Newport and along the coast with a good striped bass bite from shore. There is a smorgasbord of bait in the water now… silversides, squid, sea herring, and peanut bunker so the striper fishing is good. The bluefish bite has been slow with smaller fish mixed in with bonito and false albacore blitzes,” said Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren.  

East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author, said, “Silversides are, as Jethro Tull might say, thick as a brick! A headlamp beam aimed in the water causes an immediate response with hundreds of small silver-colored airborne torpedoes sailing 2 inches over the water. I matched the hatch with a 3-ounce Hopkins which fooled a 25-inch bluefish that fought like an 18-pound striper!”  

Declan O’Donell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “Daytime bass fishing has gotten a little tricky lately, thanks to a heavy influx of rain bait. ‘Matching the hatch’ isn’t always easy, but tossing in a teaser rig can make a big difference. The Breachways have been productive at night, both on the point and further inside.”

Tautog fishing remains fairly strong for anglers in our Bays and along the coastal shore. 

Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle, said, “The tautog bite out in front of Newport is on with nice fish being taken in 40 to 45 feet of water.  Jigs seem to be working best.” 

O’Donnell of Breachway Bait said, “Reports of larger fish are increasing, though bait-stealers are still hanging thick in spots. 25–35 feet of water has been the most productive range lately.” 

“Most customers are focusing on tautog with success in Narragansett Bay,” said Tyler Holman of the Tackle Box.  

Dave Monti holds a captain’s master license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business focusing on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy, and fisheries related issues. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net, visit www.noflukefishing.blogspot.com