Teaching a Young Angler at Hampton Beach, Herne Bay
After our Ramsgate Harbour trip the day before, we found ourselves with some fresh black lug worm still left over and a rare bonus — beautiful sunshine and calm conditions. Rather than let good bait go to waste, we decided it was the perfect excuse to get back out into the fresh air for another sea fishing session.
This trip was a little bit different though, as it wasn’t just about fishing for us. A friend of ours has a son, Tom, who is 9 years old and has been asking for quite a while to come sea fishing with us. He’s been really keen to give it a go, and with the weather looking great and some bait still in the fridge, today felt like the perfect opportunity to introduce him to the basics.
So, with rods packed and spirits high, me, Connor, and little Tom set off for a session at Hampton Beach.
A Quick Breakfast Stop to Start the Day
Before heading to the beach, we made a quick stop at McDonald's for some breakfast. Nothing fancy, just a simple bite to eat to fuel us for the session ahead and get Tom excited for the day.
He was buzzing the whole way there, asking questions about fishing, the sea, and what he might catch. You could already tell how eager he was to learn.
Arrival at the Beach & Conditions
When we arrived at Hampton Beach, the sun was shining and the weather was absolutely lovely. There was a light breeze in the air, but overall the conditions were comfortable and ideal for a relaxed session on the beach — especially for a first-timer.
The tide was just at low when we got set up, which isn’t always the most productive time for beach fishing, but the aim of the day wasn’t purely about catching fish. This session was about teaching, learning, and enjoying the experience.
Unfortunately, due to other commitments later in the day, we knew from the start that we wouldn’t be able to fish through to high tide, but we made the most of the time we had.
Teaching Tom the Basics
As this was Tom’s very first time sea fishing, we started right from the basics:
How to hold the rod properly
How to bait hooks safely
How to cast a beachcaster
Basic fishing safety and awareness
All three of us were using flapper rigs with size 2 hooks and the leftover black lug worm we had picked up from Fisherman's Corner Tackle Shop the day before.
One thing that really impressed us was how quickly Tom picked things up. Casting a 12ft beachcaster is no easy task, especially for a 9-year-old on his first attempt, but he gave it a proper go and honestly did much better than we expected. By the end of the session, he was casting confidently and understanding the rhythm of beach fishing.
Watch the YouTube Video Below
A Natural in Front of the Camera
Not only did Tom get the hang of the fishing side of things, but he also showed a natural ability for YouTube! He was confidently talking to the camera, giving shout-outs, and fully getting involved in the filming. It was brilliant to see and made the whole day even more entertaining.
His enthusiasm and energy genuinely brought a different kind of fun to the session, and he kept us laughing throughout the day.
The Fishing Results
Although the session was more about learning than catching, we still managed to avoid a blank.
Connor landed another small blenny — which is now his second blenny in two days! Funny enough, he had never even seen one in 8 years of fishing, and now he’s had two back-to-back. Just goes to show how unpredictable fishing can be.
Right near the end of the session, I managed to hook into a small dab. It was safely returned as it was too small to keep, but it was still nice to get a fish on the beach rods before packing up.
Tom didn’t manage to land a fish on this trip, but honestly, that didn’t matter at all. For his first-ever sea fishing session, he achieved a lot:
Learned to cast a 12ft beachcaster
Learned how to bait hooks
Gained confidence around fishing gear
Experienced a real beach fishing session
And most importantly — he had a great time.
Laughs, Learning & Looking Ahead 😄
Tom kept us laughing all day with his enthusiasm, questions, and commentary. It’s days like this that remind us that fishing isn’t always about the biggest catch — sometimes it’s about introducing someone new to the sport and watching them enjoy every moment.
Even though we had to pack up earlier than planned and didn’t get to fish the incoming tide, it was still a fantastic session in the sunshine and a brilliant introduction to sea fishing for Tom.
I’ve already promised him that we’ll be taking him down to Hythe soon, and hopefully next time we’ll get him onto his first fish!
Final Thoughts
A short but very enjoyable session, lovely weather, leftover bait put to good use, and a young angler’s first proper taste of sea fishing — that’s a win in our book.
Great company, plenty of laughs, and another memory made on the coast. We’re already looking forward to the next trip with Tom and hopefully celebrating his first catch very soon! 🎣
Help us build a picture of what's being caught around the UK. Send us your latest catch report and photo — big or small, we'd love to see it.