Give a kid a fish and feed him for a day; teach a kid to fish and you’ll be untangling knots until you’re blue in the face.
I’d wanted to do a big family trip before the kids got too cool to hang out with us anymore. We settled on New Zealand and have been travelling around for about five months! We’ve zig-zagged our way southwards from Cape Reinga, fishing and hunting along the way and it’s been awesome!
Of course, we didn’t come to New Zealand just to fish… but somehow, fishing became the backbone of almost everything we’ve done. Because when you’re travelling with kids – and you love fishing – every beach, every bay, every stretch of coastline turns into an opportunity. And in New Zealand, those opportunities are everywhere – especially if you have a boat.
But here’s the thing: fishing with kids is not the same as fishing solo – not even close…
The reality of fishing with kids
If you’re picturing calm mornings, gentle casts, and quietly passing on the art of fishing, you’re in for a rude awakening!
Heading out solo? Grab a rod and go. Heading out with kids? You’re preparing for an expedition!
- Fishing with kids is complete chaos
- Prepare for and learn to embrace
- Knots appearing out of nowhere
- Re-rigging lines you just set up
- Gear vanishing at an alarming rate
- Hearing “I’m snagged” almost immediately
- Followed closely by “I need to poo” (urgent, and always at the worst possible moment)
You become a caddy. A fish caddy for three wildly unpredictable, semi-feral children. And somehow, these days end up being the most memorable even if you might not realise it at the time, or until days, months, or even years later, when you finally have a moment to reflect. Because with kids, fishing isn’t really about the fish; it’s about everything that happens in between.
It’s about watching someone learn to appreciate the natural world, hone a new skill, and experience the thrill of a good bite – the wonder of a thrashing fish pulled from the mysterious ocean, then gutting, cooking and eating your catch.
It’s about so much more than catching a fish – it’s about making memories.
Tapping into local expertise
One of the best parts of fishing with kids in New Zealand wasn’t just the fishing – it was the people. We were lucky enough to meet the incredible family behind Pukenui Holiday Park – the kind of people who make you feel welcome straight away and then go well beyond that. Jo, who runs the place, is an absolute legend. And her son Jacob, a proper fishing nut.
Naturally, we got talking, one thing led to another, and before long we were out on the water with him, chasing snapper and kingfish.
For the kids, it changed everything. Less waiting. More action. More excitement. The benefits of local knowledge. The kind of fishing that hooks you for life.
And then – unbelievably – Jacob lent us his boat for a few days.
A boat changes everything… and nothing
There’s a certain kind of freedom that comes with being on a boat: you’re not stuck in one spot, you can explore, move, adjust – follow the fish instead of waiting for them.
It’s a complete game changer
Land-based fishing in New Zealand is already world-class –arguably some of the best in the world – in New Zealand you can stand on a beach or a rock and have a genuine shot at serious fish.
But add a boat and everything opens up: more access; more opportunity; more fish; more adventure. Harbours, reefs, channels – suddenly it’s all in play.
But let’s be honest. The boat does not eliminate the chaos; it just confines it to a much smaller space.
Now instead of one tangled line… you’ve got three. Instead of running up and down the beach, you’re tripping over rods, buckets, and small humans in a moving vessel.
You’re still baiting hooks, still untangling knots, still acting less like a fisherman and more like a full-time deckhand, guide, medic, and snack distributor. And there’s always the very real risk of mutiny!
But this time you’re doing it while drifting over crystal-clear water in one of the best fisheries in the world. Which somehow makes it all feel very worthwhile.
Go with it
Fishing with kids in New Zealand is already something special. Add a boat and you don’t remove the chaos, you upgrade it. You trade wide-open beach chaos for high-intensity, close-quarters chaos – with better scenery and a much higher chance of fish.
And somewhere between the tangled lines, the snack negotiations, and the constant movement, you realise you’re not really in control of the trip anymore. You’re just along for the ride – deckhand, caddy, boat driver, untangler-in-chief.
And honestly, you wouldn’t have it any other way.
Give a kid a fish and feed him for a day; teach a kid to fish and you’ll be untangling knots until you’re blue in the face.
I’d wanted to do a big family trip before the kids got too cool to hang out with us anymore. We settled on New Zealand and have been travelling around for about five months! We’ve zig-zagged our way southwards from Cape Reinga, fishing and hunting along the way and it’s been awesome!
Of course, we didn’t come to New Zealand just to fish… but somehow, fishing became the backbone of almost everything we’ve done. Because when you’re travelling with kids – and you love fishing – every beach, every bay, every stretch of coastline turns into an opportunity. And in New Zealand, those opportunities are everywhere – especially if you have a boat.
But here’s the thing: fishing with kids is not the same as fishing solo – not even close…
The reality of fishing with kids
If you’re picturing calm mornings, gentle casts, and quietly passing on the art of fishing, you’re in for a rude awakening!
Heading out solo? Grab a rod and go. Heading out with kids? You’re preparing for an expedition!
- Fishing with kids is complete chaos
- Prepare for and learn to embrace
- Knots appearing out of nowhere
- Re-rigging lines you just set up
- Gear vanishing at an alarming rate
- Hearing “I’m snagged” almost immediately
- Followed closely by “I need to poo” (urgent, and always at the worst possible moment)
You become a caddy. A fish caddy for three wildly unpredictable, semi-feral children. And somehow, these days end up being the most memorable even if you might not realise it at the time, or until days, months, or even years later, when you finally have a moment to reflect. Because with kids, fishing isn’t really about the fish; it’s about everything that happens in between.
It’s about watching someone learn to appreciate the natural world, hone a new skill, and experience the thrill of a good bite – the wonder of a thrashing fish pulled from the mysterious ocean, then gutting, cooking and eating your catch.
It’s about so much more than catching a fish – it’s about making memories.
Tapping into local expertise
One of the best parts of fishing with kids in New Zealand wasn’t just the fishing – it was the people. We were lucky enough to meet the incredible family behind Pukenui Holiday Park – the kind of people who make you feel welcome straight away and then go well beyond that. Jo, who runs the place, is an absolute legend. And her son Jacob, a proper fishing nut.
Naturally, we got talking, one thing led to another, and before long we were out on the water with him, chasing snapper and kingfish.
For the kids, it changed everything. Less waiting. More action. More excitement. The benefits of local knowledge. The kind of fishing that hooks you for life.
And then – unbelievably – Jacob lent us his boat for a few days.
A boat changes everything… and nothing
There’s a certain kind of freedom that comes with being on a boat: you’re not stuck in one spot, you can explore, move, adjust – follow the fish instead of waiting for them.
It’s a complete game changer
Land-based fishing in New Zealand is already world-class –arguably some of the best in the world – in New Zealand you can stand on a beach or a rock and have a genuine shot at serious fish.
But add a boat and everything opens up: more access; more opportunity; more fish; more adventure. Harbours, reefs, channels – suddenly it’s all in play.
But let’s be honest. The boat does not eliminate the chaos; it just confines it to a much smaller space.
Now instead of one tangled line… you’ve got three. Instead of running up and down the beach, you’re tripping over rods, buckets, and small humans in a moving vessel.
You’re still baiting hooks, still untangling knots, still acting less like a fisherman and more like a full-time deckhand, guide, medic, and snack distributor. And there’s always the very real risk of mutiny!
But this time you’re doing it while drifting over crystal-clear water in one of the best fisheries in the world. Which somehow makes it all feel very worthwhile.
Go with it
Fishing with kids in New Zealand is already something special. Add a boat and you don’t remove the chaos, you upgrade it. You trade wide-open beach chaos for high-intensity, close-quarters chaos – with better scenery and a much higher chance of fish.
And somewhere between the tangled lines, the snack negotiations, and the constant movement, you realise you’re not really in control of the trip anymore. You’re just along for the ride – deckhand, caddy, boat driver, untangler-in-chief.
And honestly, you wouldn’t have it any other way.
