Taking my son on a daytime 10h

[JasonGotaProblem]

I'm doing the Hubbard's thing again, specifically the 10hr Sunday trip on Nov 8th. It's his first time going offshore and he's really excited.

I gotta figure out what tackle I wanna let him use.

[MACflyer]

That's awesome Jason! I still remember my dad and grandad taking me on my first offshore fishing trip with Hubbard's way back when.

[Crow]

great!  Hope he has a blast!

[steelfish]

I'm doing the Hubbard's thing again, specifically the 10hr Sunday trip on Nov 8th. It's his first time going offshore and he's really excited.

I gotta figure out what tackle I wanna let him use.

I do remember taking my 3 daugthers fishing at different ages in different times too, so be mentally prepared to be a deckhand for him, this trip you're not going fishing (feel lucky if you can hold your rod and catch a fish in the day), this time you're going to take your son to fish and to enjoy everything around a fishing day, also be prepared to see your son more interested on the ocean, the boat, on the bait swiming on the pool bait, on the birds that fly around the boat than actually interested on holding a fishing rod for waiting for the bite.

I enjoyed every minute when went fishing with my kids because I left my favorite rod and reel on the rod holder and focused on teaching my kids about why I like fishing, not just because of catching the fish but to enjoy the breeze on your face, the boat ride, to search for dolphins, whales, sealions, etc also to teach them how important is to return a fish if it didnt reached the size limits etc

this trip isnt going to be about how many fish YOU catch but to teach your kid why choose fishing as your favorite hobby so he will enjoy it too and will become your fishing partner.

I recommend a light rod and a light casting reel with levelwind, so he wont be tired too early, my kids (not soo young) favorite reels are the abu garcia toro beast, calcutta 400TE and a spinning rod daiwa BG 4000 all paired with light inshore rods

[Midway Tommy]

Great analogy Alex! These types of trips are all about the kids' experience, not the adults'! 👍

[sandbar]

Awesome Dad stuff!
I hope y'all have a great trip.

[Patudo]

Interested to know what is normally targeted on those trips, and preferred methods etc.  Thanks!

[JasonGotaProblem]

Interested to know what is normally targeted on those trips, and preferred methods etc.  Thanks!

on those daytime trips it's mainly lane snapper and smaller mangrove snapper, with plenty of grunts and porgies coming over the rail too. Small grouper appear occasionally. 

Bottom fishing in 60-80' of water. Preferred method seems to be knocker rigs or chicken rigs with cut squid, threadfins, and shrimp.

[JasonGotaProblem]

The debate is do I wanna bring him a spinner so its something he already knows how to use, and I don't need to worry about spool overruns. But I suck at fishing a spinner offshore. The most important thing is getting your bait down to the bottom, knowing it's on the bottom, and keeping it there. But I suck at that with a spinner, the few times I tried it didn't go well. so I can't meaningfully demonstrate or give useful tips.

I was thinking maybe one of my built 27SH reels would be a good fit. I'll have to teach him how to thumb the spool but at least I will be familiar with the thing I'm trying to teach him how to do, and it has a synchronous line guide. Maybe I'll just grease the spool bearings to limit his descent speed, which would probably minimize overruns. It's not like I'm gonna try to teach him how to cast it.

Thoughts? He's a really bright kid but his attention span is about an inch wide on a good day.

[Brewcrafter]

Thoughts? He's a really bright kid but his attention span is about an inch wide on a good day.

Sounds like a normal, healthy son! 
SoCal Long Range POV: bring along both outfits, that way you are not limited or stuck into a situation that might not be working, and also leaves the door open for him to either "go with the familiar" or to "experience/learn new things".  Not sure how space limited the boat you are going on is, but it's not like you are bringing a 12 rod quiver either.
As others have said, it's gonna be about the experience.  I know any boat I have been on has been exceptionally accommodating to kids.  Little things like on the run out or driving between spots, going up onto the bridge and see what it's like "driving" the boat.  Getting to look at a bunch of cool video screens that aren't playing Super Mario Fallout. Good luck, Have fun, looking forward to the report!!! - john

[oldmanjoe]

Spinner  When the line stops flip the bail !!  3 or 4 oz sinkers maybe a 5 if the tide is ripping .
  Save the thumming reels for shallower water practice .    The person alongside him will be much happier also !!

[jgp12000]

My cuz just bought this reel because he is a sucker for a "good deal" 50% off ? It is a pretty cool techy  gadget & may keep his interest until he catches the 1st one.

https://a.co/d/03t266MB

[Midway Tommy]

Well, since you're a good daddy and all your attention will be spent on his enjoyment and success just go ahead and bring both, the spinner for him and conventional for you (at least the deck hands will think that). 🤔 Since you probably won't be fishing anyway you can let him try your rig and if it doesn't go well he can switch over to the spinner.

[steelfish]

Well, since you're a good daddy and all your attention will be spent on his enjoyment and success just go ahead and bring both, the spinner for him and conventional for you (at least the deck hands will think that). 🤔 Since you probably won't be fishing anyway you can let him try your rig and if it doesn't go well he can switch over to the spinner.

Well said Tommy , no better way to find out what he might enjoy the most than letting him trying them

[jurelometer]

E

The debate is do I wanna bring him a spinner so its something he already knows how to use, and I don't need to worry about spool overruns. But I suck at fishing a spinner offshore. The most important thing is getting your bait down to the bottom, knowing it's on the bottom, and keeping it there. But I suck at that with a spinner, the few times I tried it didn't go well. so I can't meaningfully demonstrate or give useful tips.

I was thinking maybe one of my built 27SH reels would be a good fit. I'll have to teach him how to thumb the spool but at least I will be familiar with the thing I'm trying to teach him how to do, and it has a synchronous line guide. Maybe I'll just grease the spool bearings to limit his descent speed, which would probably minimize overruns. It's not like I'm gonna try to teach him how to cast it.

Thoughts? He's a really bright kid but his attention span is about an inch wide on a good day.

Conventional  star drag with a level wind. Packing the line is harder to learn than avoiding a backlash. I had to teach rookies when I was a deckhand in my youth.  Use a simple rule "thumb on the spool before you touch the lever.  Thumb stays on the spool until you flip it back."  Practice this and just this on the dock before you go out. Also do a demo drop where you don't thumb the spool so he can see what happens, and even learn a little about backlash recovery

A standard charter trick is to crank down the spool tension knob a bit extra to minimize rookie backlashes.

The  backup outfit for him can be a spinner. He can switch if he prefers.  But frankly, drop fishing tight to the bottom is easier and less snaggy  with a conventional reel with a level wind.  You just have to remember to thumb the spool.  No special skill involved. 

If there is a snag or tangle risk on a drift, encourage him to do a coupe extra winds to stay off the bottom.  Kids can get discouraged faster from  snags than slow fishing. You can hand him off your hookups, and get a few bounces in with his gear, instead of spending time re-rigging.  Everyone wins.

Also, good advice from Tommy on  using one of each.

-J