Estuary Fishing

Question
Hi
I'm going to West Cork in Ireland to stay at a cottage situated on a tidal estuary, with use of a rowing boat.  I'm taking my 7 year old son and hopeing to do some fishing.  Any tips on equipment (I dont want to spend too much as we wont get much use from it after the holiday) bait (live or spinners?) type of fish to go for etc

Answer
Pete:
 I am not familiar with where you are going.  However, I have gone on a few vacations where I did not intend to do any fishing but always packed a couple of reels and an assortment of basic terminal tackle.  This takes up relatively little space.  After finding out the local fishing possibilites, I simply bought the absolute cheapest rods I could find, used them, and gave them away when I was leaving.  This may seem a bit extreme, but when you consider how realatively little a basic rod costs, it might just be good for you to consider.  Any decent quality reels, spinning or conventional, are more costly than the least expensive rods suitable for their use.  Not knowing what might or might not be appropriate to where you will be staying, having reels and some basic terminal tackle with you always makes it possible to do some fishing once you have a functional rod.  If you do have "pack rods" which are able to collapse or are specifically designed in several pieces so they can fit in your luggage, bring that.  But keep in mind that to transport rods that you may or may not use could be expensive and bothersome.  

If possible, contact the place you intend to visit and find out from a local bait and tackle shop just what you could fish for durning your stay.  And even if you cannot do this prior to going, once there,that is the best source of information about local fishing possibilities.  

I hope this is of some help.

-Rich