Picking Fishing Gear for Kids - In Belize

Our adventure today takes us out scouting for fishing gear and swimming in the ocean at Boca del Rio.  Marcy and I thought something that might really be fun for the boys, is to introduce them to dock fishing.  So we're headed to Captain Sharks to check out what we need to do, to get the boys set up with fishing gear. 

Before getting started, we headed to Briana's Place for lunch.  This is a little local hangout, which serves a variety of local dishes ranging from (grilled chicken, steak, stewed beef, pork and chicken), with all the classic side dishes (rice & beans or beans & rice).  Here in Belize, if you order rice & beans, they are combined.  If you order beans & rice, then each one is served separately. 

Rice & Beans

Stewed Beans

Coconut Rice

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Lunch at Briana's Place

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Briana's Place

501-661-2676
Back Street, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize
www.facebook.com/CaptainSharks

The menu is written on a chalk board behind the service counter.  Our lunch for two adults and two kids (shared a plate), to include 4 lime juices was $22.50 USD.  The food was super yummy and the price was right.  This is a great spot, located in the center of town (across from Super Buy on Back Street), if you are looking for cheap local food - while out sightseeing.

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Quality time with my grandson Romen, is one of the highlights in my life.

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Captain Shark's

After lunch we headed to Captain Sharks in San Pedro.  Captain Sharks has a full selection of fishing poles, reels, lines, lures, and weights for just about any type of fishing.  When choosing a fishing poles for kids, pay attention to length, weight, usability, along with taking note of what the pole is made of.  Before choosing a fishing pole, it's recommended to choose your fishing reel first.  Choose the fishing reel that best fits your child's fishing experience.  So let's see what Captain Sharks has!

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How To Choose A Fishing Reel For Kids

Open-Faced (Spinning) Reel

Closed-Faced (Push-Button) Reel

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How To Choose A Fishing Reel For Kids
When it comes to choosing a reel for children, there are two preferred choices

1. Closed-Faced (spincast or push-button) reels
2. Open-Faced (aka spinning) reels

Closed-Faced Spincast Reels - Spincast reels are attached to spinning rods and feature a push-button mechanism that activates the reel’s line release. This can make for an easy and simple casting process with little complications.  As a result, many beginner fishermen often start on this closed-faced style.  This angling option is very user-friendly and a great choice for children under 6 years of age or kids who can’t regularly practice their casting. You can easily find spincast reels individually or featured in rod and reel combos designed specifically for children. Some rod and reel combos even come with designs featuring popular cartoons and characters, so your little angler can add some personality and flair to their fishing setup.

Open-Faced Spinning Reels - As your child advances in their expertise and learns to cast with greater ease, you can then move them up to using an open-faced design. Spinning reels, best suited for children over the age of 7, can be a great option for youngsters whose interest in the sport of fishing grows with age. Having your child use a spinning reel can also make for an easier transition to more “adult” fishing setups and can give their equipment more of a mature feel.

Salt Water Fishing Tip - Spinning reels can be the better option for beginner fishermen taking to saltwater. They are much easier to clean and the reel’s open design features less surface area for salt deposits to collect and cause mechanical problems.

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How To Choose A Fishing Rod For Kids

Zebco Rod w/ Closed-Faced Reel

Zebco Rod w/ Open-Faced Reel

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How To Choose A Fishing Rod For Kids
Choosing the best fishing rods for your children, can help you capture some quality family fun.  Building a fishing starter kit for your "Little Angler" can be a fun activity for both of you to enjoy. One key fishing essential is your child's fishing pole. Having a fishing rod that’s best for their skill level and physical stature can help make their time (and yours) more enjoyable.

When searching for a fishing pole, there are a few qualities you should look for to ensure their equipment is kid-friendly.  Things to consider are length, weight, usability, and durability.  Some good poles to consider are:

Top Pick: Zebco Dock Demon
Best Value:  Ugly Stik Dock Runner
Fisherman's Choice:  Ugly Stik GX2 Youth Combo
Best Overall: Plusinno Kids Fishing Pole Combo for Youth Fishing
Best for Beginners: Lil' Anglers Jimmy Houston Fishing Combo Kit
Best for Older Kids: Shakespeare Ugly Stik Youth 2-Piece Fishing Rod/Reel
Best Complete Kit: Lanaak Kids Fishing Rod & Reel Combo Kit
Best Tangle-Free: Kid Casters Tangle-Free Fishing Combo

Rod Length & Material
Once you have the reel style chosen for your child’s fishing pole, you can then focus on the rod length. You will want to aim for a rod length that is just long enough so that your child can comfortably handle the equipment.  For small children, with no fishing experience, the best pole length is about 4 to 5-1/5 foot.  As your child becomes a bit more experienced, be sure to adjust their rod length accordingly.  We recommend a pole that is about 6 to 6-1/2 feet in length.  Try to select a rod that is lightweight, yet made with tough materials such as: graphite, fiberglass and composite blends.  Children can put alot of stress on fishing gear, so having a durable rod and reel is key to extended fun on the water.

Captain Sharks For All Your Fishing Needs

501-226-3370 (or) 501-226-3156
P.O. Box 153, San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize
www.facebook.com/CaptainSharks

Captain Sharks sells fishing rods and reels starting at $90.BZD ($45.USD) up to $600.BZD($300.USD)  There is a wide selection of fishing assessories, lures, weights, hooks, and bobbers. The boys got a kick out of the "Big Game" fishing lures, Jaymin said they look like dog toys.

Kid Friendly Fishing Accessories
If looking for additional gear, look for gear that will survive well. To accent your child’s fishing pole, you may want to add some casting plugs for practice, as well as some snap swivels and bobbers to fill their first "Little Angler's" tackle box.  There are even bobbers that cover the hook end of your fishing line through the cast, adding some additional safety precautions to your child’s fishing ensemble. Many child rod and reel combos may come with some fishing accessories but adding to their tackle assortment (helps to add) excitement to their fishing experience.
You don’t need to buy expensive fishing gear for kids to start fishing. Even a simple setup can catch a ton of fish. The key is to keep the fishing kit small and light — light pole, light reel and kids will have more fun and catch more fish.

• Hooks - Start with a small hook. Although it seems like a big hook would work better, a little hook is much more effective at catching the smaller fish and can still hook the big ones.
  
• Weight - Next, put a little split shot weight just a few inches above the hook, followed by a small bobber.
• Bobbers - Smaller bobbers are more sensitive, so choose one that’s just big enough to hold up the weight of the sinker.  Clip the bobber about a foot from the end of the line. By keeping the bobber pretty shallow, you’ll avoid snags and keep your bait visible to fish that are looking up to feed.
• Fishing Line - Six-pound test is universal, but anything between 4 (to) 8 pound test line will works great.

Fishing off the dock is a great activity for kids, while on vacation in Belize.  Captain Sharks has a variety of "name-brand" combination fishing pole sets, along with a variety of accessories for you to choose from.  

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Boco del Rio Beach Area

Next on our agenda for the day was swimming in the ocean at Boca del Rio. This is a popular spot for many tourists while on vacation.  The boys love it here, they can literally spend hours playing in the sand and splashing around in the water. 

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Jaymin Loves Pelicans

Jaymin loves birds and his favorite bird at the moment is Pelican's.  Marcy and I decided (something the boys may find enjoyable), is feeding the Pelican's next time we come to the beach.  They seem to love the fish scraps, so maybe we can find some cheap fishing bait for our next visit.

Pelican's in Belize

Pelicans are the largest of all the aquatic birds and are famous for the large pouch of skin hanging from their lower jaw.  The brown pelican is very prevalent in Belize, and can be found all along the coastal beach areas.  They seldom fly far inland and do not go far from the shore out to sea.
The brown pelican is a large bird with brown-gray feathers overall and a wide white band on either side of its neck. The long beak is pale yellow with a pouch of bare skin beneath the lower jaw.
Sometimes brown pelicans gather in flocks of up to 50 birds to roost and feed together. They feed almost entirely on fish, which they catch by diving from heights of up to 65 feet (19.8 m). They plunge into the sea scooping up a beak full of water and fish. With the water in its pouch, it is too heavy to fly so it sits on the water’s surface, waiting for the water to drain away before it can swallow the fish. The sound of the splash as the pelican hits the water can be heard up to half a mile away. A series of air pockets in its chest help to cushion the force of impact and protect it from injury. The air pockets in the chest are part of the bird’s lungs.
Pelicans that live in freshwater lakes work in groups forcing fish into a school by beating their wings on the water. Then, using their beaks, they scoop the fish into their pouches.
The brown pelican mates in the spring, building its nest in shallow depressions on the ground, lining it with feathers, and surrounding it with a wall of soil. Some nest in trees, building their home with reeds on a stick platform. Both adults share in incubating three eggs for approximately four weeks. The chicks are naked when they hatch but have a coat of down within two weeks. The parents feed their young with regurgitated fish. The brown pelican has few enemies, but it is greatly affected by pesticides.

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Coconuts in Belize

It is estimated today that about 5,600 acres are devoted to coconuts throughout the country of Belize, mainly in Orange Walk, Stann Creek and the Cayo districts.  Coconut oil accounts for an income of $5/million, coconut water brings in $4/million, coconut milk powder provides $3/million, and other by-products $1/million.  The production provides work and income for about 500 people and exports exceed 850,000 coconuts a year.  So grab yourself a fresh coconut while in Belize, better yet pick up a gallon jug of fresh coconut water from some of the street vendors.

18 Coconut Facts for Kids

1. The name coconut comes from coco, an old Portuguese and Spanish word that means "head" or "skull".
   
2. Coconuts are harvested from coconut trees.
   
3. A coconut is not a nut, it’s botanically a drupe.
4. Coconuts are used as food and to make various man-made products.
5. The world produced over 68 million tons of coconuts in 2018.
   
6. The largest producer of coconuts in 2018 was Indonesia.
   
7. Indonesia produced over 29% of the world’s coconut supply in 2018.
   
8. One 100 gram serving of coconut contains 354 calories.
   
9. One 100 gram serving of coconut contains 33 grams of fat.
   
10. One 100 gram serving of coconut contains no cholesterol.
    
11. One 100 gram serving of coconut contains 20 milligrams of sodium.
    
12. One 100 gram serving of coconut contains 15 grams of carbohydrates.
    
13. One 100 gram serving of coconut contains 9 grams of dietary fiber.
    
14. One 100 gram serving of coconut contains 6 grams of sugar.
    
15. One 100 gram serving of coconut contains 3 grams of protein.
    
16. One 100 gram serving of coconut contains 356 milligrams of potassium.
    
17. Coconut oil isn’t just used in cooking, it’s also used in cosmetics, soaps, oils and other products.
    
18. The coir, which is the fiber husk around a coconut, is used to make brushes, mats, ropes and other items.
    

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Boca del Rio Beach Area

This is the Boca del Rio beach area, on Ambergris Caye.  We have our favorite spot picked out for each visit, nestled in-between these two coconut palms.

This ends our adventure for today and what a great day this has been together.  We hope you enjoy our blog and all the things there is to do with kids while vacationing in Belize.