Florida angler Kendal Jones beams over her Gulf red grouper catch. All fish, even ones like this short of minimum keeper size (20 inches, for red grouper) are worthy of celebration.
March 27, 2026
By Bill Greer
How do you introduce someone to fishing? It’s easy. Simply take them along on your next fishing trip. Success is guaranteed! Show them what fun it is to watch someone else skillfully catching fish or patiently waiting for hours to catch fish. They are sure to enjoy struggling with unfamiliar tackle and using unacquired skills. They will be even more impressed by how easy it is to ignore the intense heat or to shrug off the biting cold or how long one can remain standing in a rocking boat.
Most of us have made less than ideal choices when inviting family or friends on fishing trips. I certainly have. I may have even invented a few new ones. Listed below are some suggestions that might be helpful for showing fishing in a good light. While these steps will not guarantee making future anglers, they should at least avoid creating a permanent aversion to fishing.
1) FOCUS ON YOUR GUEST The first mistake many anglers make is by assuming the wrong mindset. The goal isn’t to go fishing and have someone tag along. The main mission should be to introduce the newcomer to fishing. The focus should be entirely on their experience and perspective. In fact, avoid even picking up a rod yourself if possible. Devote your time and attention to them. Are they having fun? Are they catching fish?
By Florida law, children under the age of 6 are required to wear a PFD onboard a vessel that is underway. All-day, everyday wear is a good habit to instill. 2) AIM FOR GOOD WEATHER Pick a day to fish when calm weather is predicted, if you can. Being seasick or rained on is not good for many activities including fishing, especially for someone that’s new to it. Take an umbrella, as it’s nice to provide shade for eating lunch, even if it isn’t raining. I remember taking my young son fishing on Lake Jackson and, you guessed it, it was in the middle of August! Of course, there was not a hint of wind, no shortage of insects or hot sun. Ignoring the discomfort, I was sure that my new weedless spoon would entice a big bass to explode out of the lily pads. A hundred casts to the shoreline is a small price to pay for catching a Lake Jackson lunker bass! Not so if you are a bored kid who has never even caught a bass. I knew I had made a mistake when for the fourth or fifth time, in all honesty it may have been more, he asked, “ can we go home now?” This is the sound of failure. It’s the sound of creating a surfer, a skateboarder or a video gamer!
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3) CATCH FISH Plan on catching fish. Go to your best fishing spot where you are sure to catch fish. Almost any kind of fish will do, even bait. Sometimes bait is the best. Catching pinfish is great fun for youngsters. I like to catch pinfish. Catching plenty of bait can make a trip successful. It can be with a cane pole and small hook, a sabiki rig or even picking up bait caught with a cast net. Participation is key, not just sitting and watching. Let them use binoculars to spot schools of bait fish or observe diving birds. If they are old enough, cutting up bait for chum can be fun. Kitchen shears with rounded points are safer to use than a knife.
Spotted seatrout are a fine introduction to saltwater fishing. They are quick to pounce on live shrimp or a plastic jig. 4) PLAN SHORTER TRIPS Make it a short trip. No 30-mile offshore marathons. No exploring to find new continents. Keep the trip short and pleasant. If harsh weather occurs, it’s a quick run back. The length of a trip should be based on the age of the angler. Normally, a child’s attention is shorter than an older person. My rule of thumb is to leave approximately 30 minutes to an hour before fatigue or boredom sets in, especially on a first trip. Hopefully, you won’t hear the dreaded ”When are we going to leave?” Instead; you might hear “do we have to go now?”
5) BRING FOOD Take plenty of food and drinks. If your new fishing partner likes a certain snack or drink, make sure some is included. Have lots of ice and store food separately from fish. Not everyone tolerates fish slime on their drinks or sandwiches. I admit I don’t always adhere to this practice when fishing alone, but I have learned to accept that people have different preferences. Also, take a supply of non-greasy sunscreen. Modern sprays are both effective and easy to reapply several times during the day. A bad sunburn competes with seasickness or a hooked finger for discouraging future fishing trips.
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Starting the youngest anglers with spincast rods in a backyard pond is always a good bet. 6) RIG SIMPLE TACKLE Choose simple easy-to-use tackle and techniques. Fly fishing and surfcasting shouldn’t be on the list for neophytes. Trolling with light tackle for Spanish mackerel works well for novices since it mostly involves letting out and reeling in line. Vertical fishing methods, like bottom fishing for mangrove snapper or black seabass, are also good choices. Freshwater pan fishing is even easier for beginners and there is less likelihood of rough seas and seasickness. Using cane poles or bream busters has another advantage. Fishing with only one hook makes it easy to introduce the idea of “Don’t Hook Your Buddy” by always knowing where your hook is. This awareness applies to virtually all fishing techniques and helps prevent injuries from hooks. It’ better to avoid the complications and drama of getting hooked by simply mashing down the hook’s barbs. This makes hook removal easy and causes minimal damage. If someone does get hooked with a barbed hook it’s important to remain calm and composed. If hook removal is an option, the biggest challenge is not actually removing the hook from someone but getting their permission to remove the hook! It helps to practice your hook removal techniques well ahead of time. An orange or grapefruit makes a good practice substitute for a body part. If the “hookee” is not willing, don’t insist. That’s why they make walk-in clinics.
7) KEEP IT INTERESTING On both salt and fresh water there are endless varieties of birds that can be identified. Talk about the numerous kinds of fish, what they eat and how they behave. Identifying different aquatic vegetation can lead to all kinds of discussions. Exploring salt marsh creeks is an interesting way to spend time fishing. It’s a great place to see wildlife such as shorebirds, alligators and fiddler crabs where they are plentiful. If you are lucky on the way home, a pod of dolphins will ride your boat’s bow wave.
Red drum are excellent "first fish" for saltwater anglers. Bottom fishing with shrimp or cut mullet is an easy approach. (Photo courtesy Ryan & Tim O'Mara) 8) TAKE PHOTOS Take lots of pictures so the new angler can share them with friends and family. Don’t insist they handle fish if they are not inclined. Instead, demonstrate how to prepare and clean them, and if you can, cook some of the day's catch. Your objective is to make it as easy as possible for someone to enjoy fishing. If they don’t, that’s okay. It leaves more room for those of us who do!
