Tampa, Fla. (WFLA) – Take your young child to catch your first fish can be a great experience, but taking your child offshore for the first time could be even better. A few miles off the coast, the ocean becomes rougher, the water is much deeper and the fish are much stronger!

It may be difficult to know when they are ready for this experience, but when they are there, it can be very rewarding for everyone involved, especially the kids.
Amanda learned this when he took her 9-year-old nephew offshore to catch the first red grouper. He’s always loved fishing and she knew he was ready to handle big things!
A flexible fishing rod was the key, and leaving the poles on the rod holder was also a great help. This allowed him to focus on reeling the fish.
By himself, he involved multiple red groupers during his trip. It was a 31 inch red grouper and he was fantastic.

Let’s take a look at the video above. He went a step further and let his mother cook it for dinner.

When deciding whether your child is ready, consider how they will do it all day on the boat, and perhaps whether they will get sea sickness. Going offshore is a commitment, but when you’re ready it can be exciting.