- Division of Marine Fisheries
This Spring, the Information and Education group launched the pilot year of the Take Me Saltwater Fishing program. The program (an addition to our established Let’s Go Fishing saltwater angler education clinics) is specifically targeted to adult anglers who are interested in leading youth saltwater fishing activities within their community. Trainings are focused on preparing adults to plan and run saltwater fishing outings. Additionally, the program allows participants to check out saltwater rods and tackle for free and provides youth saltwater fishing guides and gift bags for kids to take home.
In 2020 we saw unprecedented numbers of saltwater fishing permits issued (with an 8% increase over the previous year!) showing not only the value of outdoor time, but also the draw and interest in the sport of saltwater fishing. The list of reasons to take kids fishing is nearly endless. From fostering a love of conservation to family bonding time, to building a specific skill set and working on problem-solving skills, fishing is beneficial to people of all ages. By offering adult education focused on fishing with kids, we are putting the tools needed to gain access to saltwater fishing directly into the communities’ hands. We are now able to offer support through continued education, future partnerships with headboat and charter captains for youth outing access on vessels, and gear loans to ensure that anyone who wants to fish has the opportunity.
In conjunction with the adult education trainings, a new youth saltwater fishing guide has been written to support kids as they learn the skills and log trips over their first season. The guide is written on a middle school level, but offers practical tips, tricks, and visuals to get anyone interested in saltwater fishing started. The guide covers basic saltwater fishing gear, knot tying, rig setup, spinning rod casting and strategy, as well as a quick overview of nine popular sportfish and a fishing logbook for kids to fill out. Guides are free to anyone interested in sharing with individuals, be that a local camp group, scouts, or even just a group of kids from the neighborhood looking for a fun family activity.
Further extending the learning, the guide has a series of instructional videos hyperlinked within the book to allow adults and kids a visual of casting, knot tying, tackle configurations, and how to safely reel and release a fish. For individuals new to the sport (or larger groups of kids where one-on-one instruction isn’t as easy) the videos are a great way to teach the skills prior to fishing activity. One of the more satisfying aspects of running fishing clinics for the Division is having the opportunity to model and teach right along side new anglers. The production of these saltwater education videos allows us to extend that tool to a whole new group of individuals we might not ever have had the chance to work with!
As a final access point, this summer DMF is starting a rod and reel loan program, free to any individuals who sign up to participate in Take Me Saltwater Fishing programs. Participants can reserve and check out up to 20 rods for fishing outings, as well as reserve tackle boxes stocked with hooks, line, sinkers, swivels, and other general saltwater gear.
Any individuals interested in participating are encouraged to contact Christine Cassidy at christine.cassidy@mass.gov for full program details as well as information for an onboarding meeting. All programs are free, and the only requirement is an interest in saltwater fishing with kids! No prior fishing experiences is needed, and we only ask to keep in touch with participants with short quarterly surveys to allow us to identify additional needs and continually update the program.
We are looking forward to the continued building of recreational saltwater fishing here in Massachusetts. Over 30% of our residents are anglers, and offering the next generation of youth the opportunity to learn alongside family and friends is so valuable. Passing along a love of the outdoors will foster a connection to our natural resources that can’t be learned anywhere else. So, get out there, and get saltwater fishing!
By Christine Cassidy, Information and Education Coordinator
