That's My Story

BRINGING THE KIDS – Published Dec. 04 – WESTERN OUTDOOR MAGAZINE BAJA BACKBEAT

I’m not a dad, but I like kids. Some laughingly say I like ‘em because I never had any ninos of my own…sort of like being the cool uncle. Some say it’s because I never grew up myself. I mean, you have to be a bit of a kid yourself to be running a fishing and diving business in Mexico where you get to be Tom Sawyer, Captain Kidd and Jimmy Buffet most days!

But , I sure enjoy it when clients bring their kids along. Whether it’s families or dads bringing their sons and/or daughters or both; or groups of guys bringing their boys, it’s all good. I know my own times with my dad when I was a kid are remembered fondly and I laughingly tell him that my current career is all his fault. Now I get to bring him fishing instead.

If you’re reading this then maybe you’re planning a trip this coming year down here to Baja or giving it some thought. Maybe you’re thinking of bringing a youngster or two. Here’s a few things I’ve learned over the years with respect to kids, especially if they’ve never done this kind of thing before.

Fit the activities to the age and experience of the kid – If your kid has never fished, you may want to think twice about bringing the youngster down when it’s rough or cold or it’s really hard core fishing. Remember, this is supposed to be a positive experience, especially if you don’t want to discourage the youngster from future trips. They’re not gunners like you. Keep it warm. Keep it safe. Keep it fun. Wacking bonito all day on light tackle beats trolling for 8 hours in big water looking for one marlin. A big mistake I often see is the parent who thinks he has something to prove to the kid. Believe me, if your kid catches fish and has a good time, your “parent” stock all rises. Nothing like big smiles and tired arms!

Fit the crowd to the kid – It’s one thing if you’re coming down with other families or other youngsters. It’s quite another if your kid is tagging along with you and your drinking and fishing buddies intent on tearing up the town. It’s about quality time, not about watching dad do shooters or leaving the kid for hours alone wandering around the hotel or playing in the pool.

Kids still need supervision even in Mexico – I once saw a youth group of high schoolers come in of maybe 50 kids. There were maybe 10 kids for every adult. Within ½ an hour of arrival a lot of the kids had beers or cigarettes in their hands. Just because it’s Mexico, often folks think that rules don’t apply to adults let alone kids. Mexico has laws like anywhere else and there are places and things kids shouldn’t be doing. We’re guests and often forget that. In all my years, I’ve experienced only two major injuries on our trips. Both involved kids. Both were crippling injuries and on both occasions, the kids should have been supervised. The parents were at happy hour in both situations and had left the kids to “hang out.”

Medical and safety precautions – If the child is traveling with one parent, the youngster should have a notarized note from the other parent giving permission to the traveling parent to take the child out of the country. . It’s also a great idea for the child to have a notarized medical release allowing the traveling parent to make medical decisions in case of emergency. Don’t forget to bring medical insurance information and birth certificate. Then, make a copy of each document and keep them someplace different from the originals. If the child uses medications, bring extra. Know if the kid has food or medication allergies. Last season we took one young man to the hospital thinking he had an allergic reaction or some type of food poisoning. As it turned out later, he just loved Mexican salsa and literally put it on everything until he got sick! Too much of a good thing.

Fishing and diving gear should fit the purpose and the user – Again, match the abilities and experience of the child. Kids have smaller hands. Things don’t balance as well and they may not be as coordinated as you. Remember the first time you used a conventional rod and reel? I’ve seen adults struggle with the equipment so you can imagine what it can be like for a youngster. Most 8 year-olds will not be able to hold onto your Calstar Boomer with your 50W reel, let alone one with a huge marlin on the end so don’t ask them to. Find gear that feels comfortable and then have them practice with it before going out. Less stress for everyone later on.

Make sure the captain or operator knows you’ve got kids or that they have minimal experience – It doesn’t hurt to ask. Captains are just like everyone else. They are all different. In my own fleet, I have skippers who are simply better with families, kids or inexperienced anglers. They have patience. They smile and laugh a lot, even if they might not speak the best English. Everyone has a good time. It makes it easier on you, but by all means, work with the captain or deck hand. You know your kids best. Put your own rod down for a bit and the ego aside and I guarantee you’ll catch a lot more than fish when the fish bite for your kid.

Safety and comfort – While almost all operators these days have lifesaving equipment on board, kid-sized stuff is not often found. If you have a small youngster, their own PFD is a good thing to bring. Additionally, when a kid has his own “stuff” it puts a new spin on any activity. Most kids I know won’t fit that 38 inch fighting belt you lug around so get one for them. My most prized possession as a nine-year-old was a pair of 5 dollar needlenose pliers from Sears. (I still have them). Don’t forget the sunglasses, hat and sunscreen unless you want a miserable child on your hands at the end of the fishing day.

Make sure the kids get lots of props – I had to start somewhere too. So did you. Thankfully in my case, my dad, uncles and cousins never jumped on me for all the tangles, broken gear, fouled bait and lost fish over the years. I would fall in the water. . . throw rocks. . .eat all the Velveeta and marshmallows. However, no fish was too small. Lots of photos were taken. I was encouraged to always try again. Do the same. When you put them down in the evenings and they are dead to the world, that exhaustion and smile will be priceless for years to come. Hold that memory. They grow up fast.

That’s my story…
Jonathan