Last updated 20 October 2026
Fishing is one of the best things you can do with a kid. These are the things that keep it that way.
Before you go
- Check the weather and the tide before you leave.
- Tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back.
- Never fish alone. Kids always fish with an adult.
- Wear shoes with grip. Thongs slip.
- Pack water, hats, sunscreen, a phone and a small first aid kit.
At the water
- Watch the water for a few minutes before you set up.
- Never turn your back on the water. A wave can knock you over.
- Stay back from the edge on rocks, walls and jetties.
- Look out for hidden rocks and sudden drop-offs when wading.
- Keep an eye on a rising tide. It can cut you off from the shore.
- No alcohol for the grown-up who's watching the kids.
On rocks
- Rock fishing is the most dangerous kind. Everyone on the rocks wears a lifejacket, every time.
- Read the safety signs and ask locals about the conditions.
- Take a rope and something that floats.
- If someone is washed in, throw them something that floats. Do not jump in after them.
- If you are washed in, stay calm and swim away from the rocks.
In a boat
- In Queensland, children aged 1 to under 12 must wear a lifejacket on an open boat, or in the open part of any boat, whenever it's moving. That's the law.
- Adults in a small open boat under 4.8 metres must wear one when they're out alone or only with kids under 12, and at night.
- Everyone wears one when crossing a bar.
Hooks
- Keep hooks in a tackle box with the lid shut, not loose in a pocket.
- Look behind you before you cast.
- If a hook goes into skin past the barb, don't pull it out. Cut the line, cover it, and see a doctor. You may need a tetanus shot.
- If a hook goes anywhere near an eye, don't touch it. Call Triple Zero (000).
Sun
- Slip on a shirt, slop on SPF 30 or higher, slap on a wide-brimmed hat, seek shade, slide on sunglasses.
- Sunscreen goes on 20 minutes before you head out and again every two hours.
- Water bounces the sun back at you. You burn faster on the water than in the backyard.
Fish and other things
- If you don't know what it is, don't touch it. Some fish have spines that sting. Ask a grown-up.
- Wet your hands before you hold a fish you're letting go, and get it back in the water quickly.
- Wash your hands before you eat.
- Stung by a fish spine or a jellyfish? Soak it in hot water, as hot as you can stand without burning, and call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26, any time.
If something goes wrong
- Call Triple Zero (000) from any phone. If 000 won't connect, try 112.
- Say where you are as clearly as you can. A boat ramp name, a jetty name, a street.
- Stay on the line.
- For stings and bites that aren't an emergency, the Poisons Information Centre is 13 11 26, 24 hours.
Read more from the people who know
Fishlee on a kid's phone
You can put Fishlee on your child's phone. Open fishlee.com.au on their phone, sign in with the family email and password, then add it to their home screen. They can log catches. They can't change the account, see other families, or message anyone. If you forget the password, a reset code only ever comes to your email. Tap "Done for today" to sign their phone out.
Fishlee is a logbook, not a safety service. In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).