So after watching the fish counts and doing some more research I decided to go big for the little guy's first trip out (also his birthday trip, as mentioned on another thread). The Indian was going to be my first choice but it's out getting repowered so I chose the full-day on the Pursuit. I decided on full day because I know my son and know he can hang longer than most kids twice his age and figured we'd have the best luck at some okay numbers with more time.
After a long boat ride around the island I got the two of us set up and fly-lined out some sardines. Before I could even get mine wet his reel went zinging. Yep, the first time this kid has his line in saltwater and he has a friggin yellowtail on!
I looked at him and asked him if he was ready, he smiled, I grabbed the rod just above the reel (mostly because I was afraid it might yank his little but over the rail) and hit it and he was in a full on battle! Not too far into it I had to let him rest the butt of the reel on my hip and help him pull the rod but he was leaning back and cranking as hard as his arms could. The crew and other anglers were cheering him on and after a few minutes he had landed his first yellowtail!
In all we had 40 yellow tail on the boat and an assortment of rock fish, etc. It was an epic day and for sure the trip he and I will remember for a lifetime.
Joe