Bringing Children?

Coastal Life Outfitters firmly supports teaching children the benefits and pleasures of the beach and surf fishing. Times spent with parents and grandparents are precious memories. It is important to embrace some facts. Surf Fishing can be very relaxing and fun. "Relaxing", to a child can often equate to losing intrest when there isn't constant action. So please consider this when bringing a child. With regard to safety and the ability of a child to listen, follow instructions, taking care of gear and other factors: 1. There will be very sharp objects, some with barbs, some with blades and some with teeth. While I will handle cutting of bait, and removal of fish, I cannot make fishing totally safe. 2. A child must be strong enough to cast. I don't expect them to be able to cast but they need to have the strength and ability to learn. To make the experience a good one, I will likely help the child to cast most of the time but learning to cast is part of the experience I want to share with everyone, no matter their age. 3. The child needs to understand how to take care of rods, reels and their tackle. A reel dropped in saltwater or the sand will likley never be the same. It does happen, when it does, EVERYONE needs to know what to and what not to do. I will cover this in person before we start fishing. 4. I am a dad, grandfather and great grandfather. I understand the complexities of taking diverse age groups to the beach and making sure everyone has a good time. I'm also a fishing guide. While I can provide a great opportunity to fish and learn, bringing non-fishing children of any age would make that task nearly impossible nless they are supervised by a non-fishng adult. 5. We will be using cut bait. There will be fish blood in the water. There will be a high likelyhood of toothy fish in the surf zone. I must draw a hard line on swimming where we are fishing. Its ok to take a quick dip or wade out to your knees to cool off if it's hot, however playing in the water or swimming will not be allowed where we are fishing. I am not a life guard and there are no life guards in the areas where we fish. 6. Parents are responsible for any children they bring. 7. I recommend that the minimum age of a child to go on a Coastal Life Charter is 10 yrs old or older. I also realize that not all 10 year olds are the same. If you feel your child has the ability to safely fish, cast, take care of gear and follow instructions, I will consider that and we can discuss this before finalizing your booking.