The look on the face of a young boy when he is purchasing his first new rod and reel, is absolutely timeless. My son went fishing today and we decided he was old enough for his own equipment. The last time I saw him that excited was when the XBox 360 came out and I'll do just about anything to get him off of the computer or video games, so the investment was well worth it. My staff has been asked on numerous occasions for advice on where to take children fishing and I'd like to share some of our favorite spots:
In the Beaches of South Walton there are ample spots to steal away the day with rod and reel and your children. In the north end of South Walton (Niceville, Choctaw Beach, and Freeport area) you can simple pull off the side of the road on Highway 20 in several marked spots where the fishing is excellent for children. The water is not deep and the fish are ample. We've always caught catfish in these spots. Heading towards the beaches on Hwy 331 there is small park area where you can find folks fishing as well. In the south and southeast end of Beaches of South Walton we prefer Topsail Hill State Park. There are many "off the beaten path" spots that will take you to coastal dune lakes that offer great spots for quiet time and tranquilility with plenty of dry land to camp out for the day. Our other favorite it Eden State Park where this is a small dock that the children can stand on. Many times the fish will fly right out of the water which is more amusing to the children than actually get a bite on the line.
In Destin, there are a couple boats that cater to children's fishing on the harbor, but for something more simplictic, stick to right under the Destin bridge. You can park, and the water is calm and shallow with a great view of Crab Island.
Bait, Tackle, Rods and Reels can all be purchased quite reasonably at either the Bass Pro Shop at Destin Commons or Walmart on the west side of town. We spent less than forty dollars to get him fishing gear at Bass Pro Shop.
We had more rain than fish biting on the lines today, but my son came back with his first set of fishing tales.... even at 8 years old, he's already had his first, "the one that got away" encounter.
