One way my Dad got me hooked on fishing was by taking me to the Cape Cod Canal on Sunday evenings when I was between the ages of 6 and 10 years old.
No we did not jig or plug for big stripers, but we did catch a ton of small bottom fish that kept me occupied and very engaged, despite my young age.
In this post I want to share with you 8 steps for fishing the Canal with young children.
However be careful, because you just may get the kid in your life hopelessly addicted to fishing – which is exactly what happened to me!
1) Rig Up with Light Tackle
Several years ago I went fishing with my cousin Kyle, who at the time was an up and coming 9 year old fisherman.
The first thing I did with Kyle was rig him up with a light tackle spinning setup that would be perfect for catching schoolie stripers and other small Canal-dwelling fish.
Here Kyle is spooling up his new spinning reel with 10lb test mono.
You don’t need anything fancy, just a 6 or 7 foot long light spinning rod and reel spooled with 10-15 pound test monofilament line will do the trick.
Basically your typical freshwater rod and reel will work just fine.
2) Tie on a Sabiki Rig
Once you have a light rod and reel ready to go, the next step is to tie on a sabiki rig.
Sabiki rigs have many small hooks so just be careful. Using sabiki’s is probably the most efficient way to catch the small fish that inhabit the Canal’s rocky bottom.
Sabiki rigs work well for catching the many small fish that inhabit the Canal.
Add a weight to the bottom of the sabiki rig. Depending on the current anywhere from 1-4 ounces will work.
3) Bait Up with Small Pieces of Mackerel or Squid
When I was growing up, I would always use small pieces of the belly section of mackerel. These small mackerel pieces work very well when added to each hook on the sabiki rig.
The skin of the mackerel's belly is the best section to use as bait, because it's tough and will stay on the hook. Small pieces of squid, clams, and seaworms will also work.
I would imagine small pieces of squid would also work well, perhaps even better, because squid is tougher and stays on the hook better than mackerel.
Remember that you will be targeting small fish like the cunners, perch and other “bait stealers” that drive most fishermen crazy but are super fun for young kids to catch.
4) Go to the Scusset Fish Pier or the Sandwich Marina Bulkhead
There’s a really nice fish pier at Scusset Beach State Park that is perfect for this type of fishing. Another place to try is the bulkhead area at the Sandwich Marina.
Kyle and I dropping baits to the bottom off the Scusset fish pier.
In these spots you can just drop a line straight down and catch a fish. There’s no need to cast which is good because casting is often the most difficult thing for a young or novice fisherman to do.
5) Time Your Trip for Slack Tide
The Canal’s current can be very strong so you want to time your trip so you are fishing during slack tide. Slack tide is when the current will be the weakest.
I would recommend fishing 1/2 hour before until 1/2 hour after slack tide.
You can see what time slack tide occurs by viewing this Cape Cod Canal Current Table. My favorite time to fish this way is during the low slack, when the tide is beginning to flood.
You can use the tips in this article to catch fish anytime in the canal late May-November. However, for your best chances, try fishing at dead low tide when the current is not moving.
6) Take Advantage of this Opportunity to Teach the Basics of Fishing (and have the kid do all the dirty work!)
This is simple fishing. All there is to do is cut small pieces of bait, thread them onto each sabiki hook, drop the rig to the bottom, wait for a bite and then set the hook.
I feel this is a great opportunity to show the basics of fishing to the young fisher and by the end of the trip, have them doing all the dirty work like baiting hooks and unhooking fish.
You will be getting lots of bites and will need to re-bait quite often so take it from me you will want the kid doing most of the work.
Kyle’s grandpa (and my uncle) Dennis, relaxing as Kyle baits all the hooks by himself.
My Dad did this for me and now when we go striper fishing on my boat he sleeps in the cabin the entire time and I wake him up when we start hitting fish.
Not a bad deal for my Dad if you asked me!
7) Start Catching Fish!
The most common fish you’ll catch using these methods is a common perch. These fish are also called cunners of bait stealers.
Perch (also called cunners) can be found all throughout the Canal and are easy to catch.
Perch may be small but they are plentiful. You will most likely start getting bites as soon as the bait hits bottom.
They are small fish but are surprisingly strong. They put up a great little fight on light tackle!
The cool thing about fishing the Canal this way is that you never know what you may catch. Growing up I caught mackerel, pollock, sea herring and flounder.
When I went fishing with Kyle, he even caught a nice sea bass!
A sea bass like the one above was still too small to keep, but nevertheless it is a real trophy for this type of fishing.
8) Eat the Fish!
Just kidding!
Definitely do not eat the fish.
In Conclusion
Fishing the Canal in this fashion is simple and easy. The action is fast and furious which is important for the short attention spans of young children.
I got hooked on this type of fishing when I was young. I feel that Kyle may be hooked as well. If you have a youngster in your family and you want to get him or her outside and away from the iPad, then I highly recommend giving this a shot!
What do you think? Please let me know by commenting below.
Tight lines and take care 🎣
I don’t live near cape cod and I don’t have young kids, but this is such a lovely thing you’re doing. Encouraging parents to take kids fishing is priceless. Many kids grow up completely divorced from nature, especially nowadays. I just recently took my 18 year old for his first surf fishing trip for big blues on the south shore of Long Island. He had a blast watching blues smash topwater plugs and in one day learned to don waders, cast, crush barbs and de hook his own bluefish. It was fantastic to introduce him to a little taste of my obsession. Keep up the great work. We appreciate it.
Thanks for the comment Robert! That means a lot.
I know exactly what you mean about how many kids are growing up nowadays completely divorced from nature. I think introducing youngsters to fishing is more important now than ever before for that very reason.
I’m happy you and your son had an epic surf trip for big blues. It doesn’t get much more exciting than that! Very happy you guys had a good time fishing together. That’s what it’s all about right there.
Tight lines!
Ryan one good reason to teach the youngster fishing, is we call passing the traditions on to the next generation and if it is done correctly, they will pass it on themselves. That is how those who are concerned fishermen, help to keep those traditions alive and well for the future. Peace and Prayers
Ryan good post and I offer some other tips when taking small ones out fishing. You can salt down the bait whatever you are using, other than sea worms. It will catch as many fish as possible, and the bait will last longer. Teach them the proper way to hook whatever bait you are using.
Basic freshwater gear is very useable in the early stages of the learning process as you mention above. Just remind yourself to give a good fresh water cleaning and reoil to whatever you use and let the youngest learner be part of that process.
Make sure that you place emphases on safety , especially when to get to teaching them how to cast.
Give good explanations on the legal limits of whatever you catch and the reasons why.
Once you get them hooked teach them patients by going to a place where you might not catch any fish . Later in life this will provide you with a guide to take them fishing when they are in need of understanding something in there life that may not be going well and give you the opportunity to council them. Then when the problems are resolved you go to a location where the fish are jumping on the bait, whatever you are using. I was able to resolve many different problems with my three sons this way , one on one. They always revealed what was bothering them when no other approach worked.
Always attempt to embark one ethical question early on and reenforce it later . Poaching, Casting over some one, Catch and Release the right way as is possible from where you are fishing.
If you can get them in the Boy Scouts of America and get the Fishing Merit badge booklet much of what Posted above will be covered and more. It also provided an opportunity for you and your son or daughter to bond over a common interest.
THis is a subject I am glad you brought up and one I could speak for hours on making the experience as positive as you can in the stages of their life that they can understand and appreciate. Peace and Prayers
Terrific Carl, thank you as always! Great comment.
I bought my 8 yo grandson his 1st rod/reel this past March … a Penn Pursuit 3. We have gone out a half dozen times so far, either off the jetties at Bass River or the flats on the north side. He loves casting a Yozari Hydrpencil (I removed the rear trebles) and does reasonably well. I will also bring him to the Canal and let him reel in a plug after I cast it. But I love the idea of the fishing pier … gonna try that.,
Slack tide at the fish pier or at the Sandwich Bulkhead is a great bet. He’ll catch all sorts of little stuff. Good luck if you give it a shot!
Always keep in mind that when you take a child fishing that you are not going out there to catch the biggest fish you ever caught…you are going for a much bigger and more important reason.
Well said Richard! ??
I loved the article, but growing up in the Midwest (South Dakota) we didn’t have much in the way of oceans or salt water, so the James and Missouri rivers were the next best thing for kids to learn everything there was to fishing and believe me from about 5 or 6 years of age I was a terror on Brown Bullheads and Catfish and to this day I never miss an opportunity to cash in on a stringer of these delicious fish. Thx for the article bro…..Butch
That’s awesome Butch! You must of had some epic adventures along those rivers growing up. No matter where we are located, we can all relate to the fishing passion/obsession. Thanks for reading and visiting MFCC!
Hello,
Thanks for the information. Why can’t you eat the fish there though?
Thanks!
Hi Mary,
You can eat fish caught from the canal, we just don’t recommend eating it raw right at the canal 😉
Absolutely a great article! I exactly took my two Youngs 7 and 8 to fishing for the first time at Scusset fish pier, they caught lot of perch and pollock at this day, and both told me it was the best day ever. Even the article help me at teach me some tricks that I did not know.
Thanks for the article Ryan!
That’s awesome! Fishing the pier for perch and other small fish is definitely a fantastic way of introducing youngsters to fishing.
Good luck fishing this season with your kids!
We also teach our little girls to fish ?????
I love your articles . We fish now mostly in Dennis on Chapin or Crow’s Pasture!
Using sea clams as bait!
What’s best for bass in your opinion??
That’s awesome Emese! Sea clams are a great bait for bass. Chunk mackerel can also work really well in that area.
Great article, thanks allot. Time to take my daughter fishing and use your tips.
No problem, happy to help Cesar!
Gluck and have fun fishing with your daughter!
Great stuff ryan, the message is not lost on us, it’s all about the kids!!! And where would they be without access to our fantastic resources? Here on Long Island “the fisherman” magazine sponsors an annual send a kid fishing fundraiser where donations are made and under privileged kids get out on party boats for a day. Does the New England edition do the same thing? $60.00 would go a long way, just sayin! Maybe mfcc could have a fundraiser this winter and come spring I bet lots of kids could hit the water. I for one would be happy to contribute. Thanks again -art.
Hey Art – I’m not sure if the New England edition does the same thing, but that is a terrific idea. Good to know you’re onboard with it!
With help from Garet (https://myfishingcapecod.com/garet-suomala/) I feel MFCC will be working together with special needs groups during 2015. It sure is nice being able to help kids and folks with special needs get outside and do a little fishing.
Good for the soul.
This is a great article! Thanks for specifically targeting kids…when I wanted to interest my son at this age all I could come up with was a fishing party boat out of Hyannis. Did the trick though! Would love to fish with you someday with him-now an adult.
Thanks Robert! Happy you enjoyed it.
Looks like the party boat did the trick and got your son hooked. I’ll keep you posted on a fishing opportunity, or maybe even an MFCC fall get together.
I wished that I’d started fishing at Kyle’s age and not at almost 48. I do find a lot of pleasure in this activity just as Kyle does and I do need a lot of advice myself.
Better late than never Emil, that is for sure!
I think that’s the great thing about fishing and being by the ocean. It’s great no matter your age and level of ability.
Love the post! Will definitely remember not to eat the fish. What a cutie Kyle is!
Thanks sis!!!
Ryan, Kyle is fortunate that he has you to teach him the “ropes” about fishing. That is a great spot also, I have fished there and it is a great spot for kids. The raffle money could not have gone to anything better ! ! ! Don B
Thanks Don! I agree that the raffle money was used very well in this respect. Thank you again for helping with that!
I still have $60 left from that raffle, so if you have any ideas how best to spend it, definitely let me know.