Just looking for some advice

I would like to start taking my son fishing, he will be ten next month.  I'm mostly interested in ocean salmon and bottom fishing, with the occasional coastal river for salmon.  I sold my Outback a few months ago so that I could purchase a tandem for the two of us.   Now I'm having second thoughts, should I get him his own boat?  Maybe a sport?  or is the tandem the best way to go?  Or am I crazy to even think about taking a ten year old into the salt?  Of course he would have all the appropriate safety gear and we would watch the forecast and choose our days wisely.  I'm not new at this, been into the salt several times but have never seen any one take a kid with them.   I would like to start him in the salt, where I know that he will catch fish, otherwise he will quickly get bored and loose interest.  Thoughts?? 

You're not crazy.   Go with a tandem unless he's had a lot of experience on his own already.   It's a lot easier to hands a pole back for re-rig or help net a fish in a tandem.  I've taken both my kids on the salt several times,  and would do so more often if they liked fishing more.  But once or twice a year is their limit right now lol.

Thanks Lee, the tandem is what I'm thinking as well.  Just thought I would see what others are using.

I have taken my son out and was able to show him the ropes on his own boat. The thing is... he has started out pleasure paddling with the family on flat water on hot summer days so his confidence and interest level has been high. To that end..It was more about ME being confident in his abilities if he were to ever get in trouble out in the salt. I am the one responsible and have to recognize his abilities as well as my own for any potential rescue. Only until he could demonstrate to me self-rescue techniques would I let him go out with me in the salt. I would say you need to be the judge of your sons abilities as well as your own. Can he swim? Is he comfortable in and around water? Is he likely to panic in a rough situation? Does he have the physical ability to flip a kayak back over while in the water? Could he get himself back in/on a kayak?

Yup. Just like what Lee said is right on the money. In hindsight, A tandem would have been a good shortcut for me with a lot less stress on my part!

I started with my 3 year old son sitting in front of me in my kayak (I don't have pedals to worry about), then he moved to the tank well when he was 4 until he was about 7.  The past two years and a half he's been in a tandem with me and loving it.   In another year or two he'll get his own small kayak.    So yeah, tandem is a great way to go for that age.

As for the actually fishing, if your son is new to kayak fishing, freshwater is a great place to start.  It might pain you to chase stocked trout or bass, but trolling for some trout is great practice for salmon trolling and  jigging for bass is great practice for rockfish fishing without the ocean being an unknown factor.   Once he's comfortable with the kayaking plus handing fishing rods and landing fish then introduce the ocean.

Brian

My 10 year olds enjoy riding in the tandem with me. Neither of them is much into fishing yet but they enjoy cruising around. I also have my boy fish out of a single-seat paddle kayak on flat water in the summer, and he does fine, but I wouldn't feel comfortable yet with him on big water. Every kid is different, of course.

Yeah,  my 12 year old is fine on the salt solo, and has been since her first trip at 10.  Her sister is totally different though,  and I feel like she is more the norm,  where as my older girl picks up outdoor stuff really quickly.

The Boss, who's no longer 10, wants to add a tandem just for salmon fishing.  She wants me to control the boat while she's catching the fish... and thinks I'll be of more use to her if I'm in the same boat with a paddle in my hand if a sea lion should grab her fish.

I think an tandem is a Good Idea with your boy, fresh- or saltwater.  For now.