Fishing – Teach a child to fish

Chinese philosopher Kong Qiu (Confucius c 551-479 BC) once said – give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime.

He knew a thing or two did this adviser to the Japanese rulers, whose values include filial piety, respect for elders, loyalty, honesty, and the pursuit of knowledge. It is suggested teaching preschoolers about Confucian values can help them develop a strong moral compass and a sense of social responsibility from an early age – his moral compass pointing just as true today as it did then.

In my many years of sharing the joys of fishing among people of all ages, one of the most satisfying aspects of the job has been working with kids, seeing the look of achievement on their faces when they master the basics of a knot or rig or their first decedent fish comes on board. Recently, the Mangawhai Boating and Fishing Club hosted a two-day Wahine tournament over the Matariki weekend, which attracted a field of 80 anglers vying for a great array of prizes provided by a several local sponsors, led by Amanda Stone and Bayleys Read Estate.

Over these school holidays, both the Blue Light charity and former Addicted to Fishing television series host Nicky Wilson ran multi-day, multi-session children’s ‘learn to fish’ seminars out of the recently refurbished Fishing Club’s Alamar Crescent base.

There are a few tricks to making any session with inexperienced anglers in your care, be it on board or land-based, a success.

When invited out for a fish, many newbies are concerned they will embarrass themselves or are worried about feeling seasick. Pick your days to go in the best weather and sea states. Boats running out of Mangawhai have a bar to cross and getting over it in less-than-ideal conditions will be of concern. Regarding seasickness, there are various remedies available from the chemist. A natural fix to mel de mare is crystalised ginger – a couple of lumps before going out and during the trip will help keep tummies within their comfort zones.

Make a fun day of it. Kids might not have the same attention span as adults so include a stop off in a quiet bay for a swim or some snorkelling.

If you see any bird or mammal activity stop and check it out. You might have seen whales, dolphins, and workups many times, but those who haven’t will appreciate you taking time out to observe them.

Primarily, remember this is their day (the new anglers) not yours and that they just want to catch fish – they don’t have to be trophies. Kahawai are a great species to target and treated well, make great table fare in a curry, as raw fish or smoked.

For more information on fishing with newbies, check out the various articles on www.fishing.net.nz.