Planning a fishing trip for yourself? Easy.
Planning a trip with mates or the missus? Manageable.
Planning a fishing adventure with kids in the middle of nowhere - no power, no fresh water, and a desperate hope for a one-metre barra?
Now that, my friends, is the ultimate test of patience, planning, and parental survival.
But here’s the thing - it’s worth every mozzie bite, every meltdown, and every soggy packet of chips. Here’s our survival guide (based on personal experience!) to help you not just survive, but thrive on a remote family barra fishing trip.
1. Plan, Make a List… and Then Plan Again
There’s nothing worse than realising you’ve forgotten the sunscreen, insect repellent, or your kid’s most loved (yet never-played-with-at-home) toy… nine hours down a dirt track.
Here are a few essentials to add to your packing list (because when it comes to fishing with kids, lists are as important as air):
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Long sleeve Escaping The Coastline Fishing Shirt (sun-safe and barra ready)
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Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses (the sun out there isn’t your mate)
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Insect repellent (use it generously - day and night)
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Snacks, lunch, bottled water (plenty of it...beer)
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Shelter (gazebo or a bimini for the tinny - trust me, worth it)
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Wet wipes, towel, first aid kit (think: lots of plasters and some antiseptic cream)
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Fishing gear, tackle... and a whole lot of patience (more on that next)
2. Patience: The Real MVP
You’ll need more patience than braid on your spool. Fishing with kids often means less fishing and more snack duty, casting lessons, and “where’s your hat?” moments. But passing on the passion? That’s the payoff - and one day, you might even get a designated boat driver who can steer in a straight line.
Start them on spin gear for easier casting, and use straight-retrieve lures like paddle tails or curl tails. Chances are they’ll grab your rod anyway, so don’t stress too much about their setup.
3. Teach by Doing
Think ahead: how will you show them the basics - casting, tying knots, baiting hooks, and staying safe? You’ll definitely need to say things like, “Don’t cast over your sister’s head” or “Don’t poke that through your finger.” or our favourite "no, you can't swim in the water, it's infested with crocs"
Teach proper catch-and-release: wet hands, lip grips, support the fish properly, and explain size limits and species care. Sure, we all yell “FISH ON!” - but once you’ve reeled it in, you’ve got to stay calm and reel it back in again.
Now, for a moment we’ll never forget: we landed a solid 84cm barra. “Let’s get a photo!” we said. But the barra had other plans. One flop and chaos broke loose - it jabbed mum’s foot, sliced dad’s finger, and transformed our boat into a horror movie.
Blood. Screaming. Flying fish.
We didn’t get the photo… but we did get the story.
(No kids were harmed in the making of this memory.)
4. Safety First
Obvious, but essential. A fully stocked first aid kit is a must. Make sure the kids wear properly fitted PFDs, especially in the boat, and keep sharp hooks and gear well out of reach. Flatten hook barbs if needed, and always stay hydrated. You’re in the bush - plan for anything.
And yes - make sure the kids stay in the boat, with their life jackets on at all times. You don’t want to add “unexpected swim” to the day’s adventure.
5. Make It Fun (Even If You Catch Nothing)
The goal? Let the kids catch fish. It’s not about the biggest trophy (okay, maybe it is… but let’s pretend it’s not when we catch nothing). It’s about the laughs, the learning, and the kind of memories that last way longer than a photo on the fridge.
We took our 6 and 8-year-old out to the Gulf. No power. No running water. No internet. Our son was full of adventure (and had zero danger awareness), and our daughter… not overly keen. But they played. They explored. They got creative. And watching them thrive off-grid? Magic.
Final Thoughts
Is it possible to go barra fishing in the middle of nowhere, with no fresh water, and two kids in tow?
Absolutely.
Was it amazing?
100%.
Will we do it again?
You bet.
No, we didn’t catch the elusive one-metre barra…yet
But mum got the biggest fish - that’s all I have to say about that.
