Thread: Newbie Taking my kids 9, 6, and 3 to the pier to fish

We plan to rent rods from the pier tomorrow morning and have a go at it. Any advise is greatly appreciated. Young man at the tackle shop recommended getting Red Ribbon setups to catch some bait fish. I don't care what we catch only that we get a few bites and some good memories.

If you just want to catch something for the kids to reel in and have fun, just some shrimp or squid and some small hooks will work. If you want to catch something bigger to eat just read this forum and you will find out everything you need to know. Not to say you can't eat the smaller ones. Sometimes they are the best.

a sabiki would be your best bet then, cut in half so there are only 3 little hooks to stick you with a 1oz weight on the bottom ....those catch a lot of different bait fish, where the ribbon rig only catches LY's ....fresh peeled shrimp on the bottom,slip weight (Carolina rigged)with a short shank 1/0 hook would work too for whiting,pompano,and slot reds, might even get a flounder....rays and sail cats like shrimp too.....there are days when its slooooow catching bait is fun for me, epsecially a load of hard tails on a sabiki

the 6 and 3 year old might need some help with the sabiki.....ribbon rig would work for them to catch LY's

Make sure they wear shoes. Some nasty stuff on the pier deck from old bait to rusty hooks.