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Best Holiday Kids Fishing Camp | Marco Fishing Co

Published Date: September 20, 2025
Fishing

Marco Island
$350 - $15,000 price range
Updated Date: October 15, 2025

Summary

Get ready for a fun-filled holiday adventure with our 2-day Kids Fishing & Adventure Camp! Perfect for young explorers, this camp runs December 22nd and 23rd, 2025. Each day starts bright and early at 7:30 am with a safety briefing. Our experienced captains will teach essential fishing skills like knot tying and fish ID. Then it's time to hit the water for 4 hours of guided fishing action. Kids will gain confidence as they learn to cast, reel, and hopefully land some local catches. After fishing, we'll head to a private island for lunch and beach time. There's plenty of opportunity to hunt for shells, explore, or just relax on the sand. We wrap up at 1 pm each day, sending campers home with new skills and great memories. With only 16 spots left, don't wait to sign up your young angler for this holiday break highlight!

Best Holiday Kids Fishing Camp | Marco Fishing Co

Reelin' in the Fun

Great catch using multiple techniques in Marco Island waters! Conditions started clear before clouds rolled in.

Great catch using multiple techniques in Marco Island waters!

Nice redfish and grey snapper from today's adventure at Goodland Boat Park!

Great catch using multiple techniques on Marco Island!

Kids Fishing Camp: Holiday Adventure 2025

Get ready for an awesome two-day fishing adventure that'll have your kids hooked! Marco Fishing Company's 2025 Holiday Kids Camp is the perfect way to kickstart the festive season. We're talking hands-on fishing fun, island exploration, and memories that'll last way longer than those Christmas cookies. If you're looking to give your young angler an experience they'll be talking about well into the new year, you've come to the right place.

What's the Scoop?

Picture this: two action-packed days of fishing and adventure, custom-made for kids who are itching to cast a line and explore. We kick things off bright and early at 7:30 AM on December 22nd and 23rd, 2025. After a quick check-in and a no-nonsense safety chat, we'll dive into the good stuff. Your kiddos will learn the ropes (literally) with knot tying, get the lowdown on local fish species, and pick up the tricks of the trade from our seasoned pros. And don't worry, parents – our captains are fully vetted with background checks and drug screenings, so you can rest easy knowing your little anglers are in good hands.

On the Water Wizardry

Once we've covered the basics, it's time to hit the water! We'll spend a solid 4 hours fishing in our local honey holes, where the kids will put their new skills to the test. Our captains know these waters like the back of their hand, so they'll be guiding your young anglers to the best spots for reeling in some real beauties. We use kid-friendly gear that's just right for smaller hands, making it easy for everyone to get in on the action. Whether it's learning how to work a lure or mastering the art of the perfect cast, your kids will be building confidence with every throw.

Island Time and Tasty Bites

After a morning of fishing fun, we'll cruise over to our own private island for some well-deserved R&R. This is where the adventure really kicks into high gear. While we chow down on a tasty lunch, the kids can let their inner explorer loose. There's shell hunting for the collectors, sandy shores for the beach bums, and plenty of nooks and crannies to discover. It's like their own little Treasure Island, minus the pirates (unless you count our friendly crew). We'll wrap up the day's adventures and head back to the dock by 1:00 PM, leaving plenty of time for holiday prep or afternoon naps – whichever is more pressing in your household.

Reel Deal: What You're Getting

This isn't just any old fishing trip – it's a full-on holiday experience. Over the course of two days, your kids will transform from fishing newbies to junior anglers. They'll learn about local fishing regulations (yep, we're raising responsible fishers here), get the inside scoop on fish identification, and master techniques that'll serve them well on future fishing adventures. Plus, with the camp running on both December 22nd and 23rd, it's the perfect way to keep the kids entertained and outdoors during that pre-Christmas excitement.

Hook, Line, and Gift Box

Here's a little extra bait for you early birds out there – the first 10 folks to sign up will score a sweet gift box from our awesome sponsors. We're talking goodies from Sportsman's Wholesale, Sunshine Ace Hardware, and Guidesly. It's like Christmas coming early for your budding anglers. But don't drag your feet – with only 16 spaces left as of our last count, these spots are going faster than hot cocoa on a cold day.

Species You'll Want to Hook

Snook: These hard-fighting fish are the rock stars of our local waters. Known for their distinctive black lateral line and protruding lower jaw, snook are crafty predators that love to hang out near structures. Kids get a real kick out of the explosive strikes and acrobatic jumps these fish are famous for. Best targeted during the warmer months, snook fishing is all about precise casting and quick reflexes – perfect for keeping young anglers on their toes!

Grey Snapper: Don't let their size fool you – these feisty little fighters punch well above their weight class. Also known as mangrove snapper, these guys are the perfect "starter fish" for kids. They're abundant, bite readily, and put up a scrappy fight that'll have your young anglers grinning from ear to ear. Grey snappers hang out near reefs and mangroves, making them a great species for teaching kids about fish habitats and the importance of structure in fishing.

Goliath Grouper: Now we're talking big game! These gentle giants can grow to massive sizes, sometimes tipping the scales at over 400 pounds. While we practice catch-and-release with these protected species, the thrill of hooking into a goliath grouper is something your kids will never forget. It's like trying to reel in a Volkswagen! These ambush predators love to hang out near wrecks and reefs, giving us a chance to talk about marine ecology and conservation.

Sea Trout: Spotted seatrout, or "specks" as we like to call them, are a staple in our local waters. These beautiful fish are known for their speckled backs and yellow mouths. They're a blast to catch on light tackle, often hitting topwater lures with exciting, splashy strikes. Sea trout are perfect for teaching kids about reading the water and identifying fishy-looking spots in grass flats and deeper holes.

Redfish: With their iconic spot near the tail, redfish are like the treasure hunt of fishing – spot the spot, catch the prize! These copper-colored beauties are known for their strong runs and tendency to "tail" in shallow water, making them visible and exciting targets for sight fishing. Reds love to cruise the flats and mangrove shorelines, giving kids a chance to work on their casting accuracy and learn about how tides affect fish behavior.

Time to Reel In Your Spot!

Look, we know the holidays can be hectic, but this is one activity you don't want to let slip away. Our 2025 Holiday Kids Camp is more than just a fishing trip – it's two days of outdoor skills, new friendships, and the kind of hands-on learning you can't get from a screen. With only 16 spaces left, this opportunity is swimming away fast. Don't let your kids miss out on what could be the highlight of their holiday break. Grab your spot now, and get ready to give them a Christmas gift that'll have them hooked for life. Who knows? This might just be the start of a new family tradition that'll have you all angling for more!

Learn more about the animals

Goliath Grouper

Goliath Grouper live up to their name - these massive fish can reach 8 feet long and 800 pounds. You'll find them in shallow tropical waters, often hanging around artificial reefs and shipwrecks. They're ambush predators, so look for them near structure in 20-50 feet of water. Goliaths are catch-and-release only due to past overfishing, but they're still an awesome species to target. The thrill is in the challenge - you need heavy tackle and serious muscle to pull these giants away from their rocky lairs. Use large live baits like jack crevalle or ladyfish. Here's a pro tip: once hooked, apply steady pressure to keep them coming up. Give them an inch, and they'll bolt back to cover and break you off. While you can't keep them, a photo with a Goliath Grouper is a trophy in itself.

Grey Snapper

Grey Snapper, also called Mangrove Snapper, are crafty fish that'll keep you on your toes. They usually run 1-2 pounds inshore, but can get up to 20 pounds offshore. Look for them around structure like docks, reefs, and - you guessed it - mangroves. These opportunistic feeders are most active at night, so early mornings and evenings are prime time. Grey Snapper have excellent eyesight and can be picky eaters, so use light tackle and natural presentations. Live shrimp or small baitfish on a circle hook is tough to beat. For artificial, try a soft plastic jig worked slowly along the bottom. Anglers love Grey Snapper for their tenacious fight and tasty white flesh. Here's a tip: when you find one, there's likely more nearby. Once you get them fired up, you can often catch several from the same spot.

Redfish

Redfish, or Red Drum, are a staple of inshore fishing. These copper-colored bruisers usually run 3-10 pounds in the flats, but bulls over 40 pounds aren't unheard of. You'll spot them tailing in shallow water, often so shallow their backs break the surface. Look for them around oyster bars, grass flats, and mangroves. Redfish feed best on moving tides, especially in fall when they school up. They're known for powerful runs and excellent table quality. Sight fishing for tailing reds is a rush - you can often see them crush your bait. For artificials, gold spoons are hard to beat. Here's a local trick: on calm days, look for pushing water or mud boils. That's often a redfish rooting for crabs in the bottom. Cast ahead of the disturbance and hold on tight!

Sea Trout

Sea Trout, also called Speckled Trout, are a favorite among inshore anglers. These silvery fish with distinctive spots usually run 1-3 pounds, though gator trout over 5 pounds aren't uncommon. You'll find them in coastal waters year-round, often over grass flats in 3-6 feet of water. They're most active at dawn and dusk, especially on moving tides. Sea Trout are known for their soft, delicate flesh, making them excellent table fare. They're also fun to catch, often striking topwater lures with exciting surface blowups. For consistent action, try a soft plastic jig under a popping cork. Work it with sharp jerks to create noise and commotion. Local tip: in cooler months, look for trout in deeper holes and channels where they school up. A slow-trolled live shrimp can be deadly in these spots.

Snook

Snook are one of the most exciting inshore fish to target. These sleek predators typically range from 1-3 feet long, with a distinctive black lateral line and protruding lower jaw. You'll find them lurking around mangroves, docks, and other structure in shallow coastal waters. They love to ambush prey, so look for them in areas with moving water and cover. Snook fishing heats up in spring and fall as they move between inshore and nearshore waters. Anglers prize snook for their hard-fighting nature and delicious white meat. To hook one, try freelining live bait like pilchards or pinfish near structure. A local trick is to cast just upcurrent of likely ambush spots and let your bait drift naturally into the strike zone. Be ready for explosive strikes and powerful runs - snook will test your tackle and skills.