CHEERS AND TEARS OF JOY AT THE KEYS “LADIES, LET’S GO FISHING!”® SEMINAR
- Covered by Inside Edition

ISLAMORADA, FL-10/04 — "I never imagined I would have the chance to release a sailfish, and I did it for all the people who have MS!" exclaimed Bobbie Brachel, Grosse Isle, MI, who set this personal goal after she learned she had Multiple Sclerosis this summer. Determined to challenge the odds, Brachel armed herself with the knowledge she learned from the lectures and fishing skill practice at the 5th Annual Keys “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!”® seminar and tournament, Oct. 15-17 at Holiday Isle Resorts & Marina, Islamorada, FL. She joined women of all ages and backgrounds who came from several states and Canada to learn fishing skills. Some came to conquer a fishing challenge or bond with a relative. Others had never held a rod and reel and yearned to fish. And some came so they learn skills to teach their children.

Known as the “No-Yelling School of Fishing,” this award-winning series for women, hosted by Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and presented by Mercury Outboards, kicked off with a Friday Welcome Reception at Holiday Isle. Learning commenced on Saturday, where fishing techniques were taught at beginner and intermediate/advanced levels.
Instructors and topics were: Capt. Kevin Merritt, bluewater fishing; Capt.
Skip Bradeen, bottom fishing; Capt. Rich Tudor, flats fishing and Diana Rudolph, Fly Fishing. After lunch, the women participated in several “hands-on” fishing stations, such as conservation techniques, spin casting, net casting, landing and releasing, knot tying, gaffing grapefruits, boat handling, trailer backing and reeling against pressure. To complete the experience, a fishing trip and tournament on Sunday gave the women a chance to practice their skills on the water and learn to fillet fish.

The ocean came alive for the Fishing Adventure on Sunday. Departing from Whale Harbor, participants caught and/or released sailfish, tuna, dolphin, snook, snapper, grouper, king mackerel and more. "It was a pinnacle in my life!" exclaimed Bobbi Brachel as she described her 45 minute struggle with her first-ever sailfish. "Even though the line was wrapped around a lobster trap, I finally reeled in a 7-foot sail!" Brachel urged those affected by MS to strive for their goals.
Fishing from the Blue Chip Too, Deb Mitchell beamed, "There were times when we had three sailfish jumping in the air, all at once!" Christina Stylianos commented, "Not only did we have fun catching dolphin, we learned ballyhoo rigging, casting and fish-finding tips!"

For the tournament, Christina Stylianos, Boca Raton, FL caught a 15 lb. dolphin that clinched Top Offshore Boat for Capt. Brian Cone's The Contagious team with 150 points. Sandy Wilson, Coral Springs, FL took first place Party Boat division with 150 points for a 15 lb. grouper on the Miss Tradewinds. Releasing her first-ever sailfish from Blue Chip Too to earn Top Sailfish Release was Trish Matarazzo, Melbourne, FL, with 10 points.

Betty Bauman, Founder, commented, “This magical weekend culminated in cheers and tears of joy as we saw fishing dreams come true." She talked about how Deb Mitchell brought her mother, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, to help her reach her goal of catching a 'big one,' adding, "They will never forget the excitement they shared as her mother reeled in a nice tuna!" Inside Edition, television's top-rated newsmagazine show, followed the two as they progressed through their learning stages.

Bauman continued, "One woman attended to learn skills that could entice her ex-boyfriend to come back. It's fabulous to see women from so many different reasons and backgrounds find fishing as a common bond."

The series is partially underwritten by the FWC through the Sport Fish Restoration Program and by partners such as Mercury Outboards, Bass Pro Shops, Ranger/Islamorada Boat Center, Boat/U.S. Marine Insurance, Gulfstream Int’l Airlines, Lowrance, Shakespeare and Marine Industries Association of South Florida. LLGF seminars are also offered in Ft. Lauderdale, Stuart,
Sarasota as well as in Denver. Special events, where male guests are invited, include Alaska, Costa Rica and the Ocean Reef Club, Key Largo, FL.

“Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” also offers a national association, with annual memberships and local chapters, one of which is in the upper Keys.

“Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” will return to Islamorada next October. 2005 dates through July include: Costa Rica/Jan. 10-15, Ft. Lauderdale, FL/April 29-May 1, Stuart, FL/May 13-15, Ocean Reef, FL in July, Alaska in July and Sarasota in August. Contact LLGF at: Phone: 954-475-9068, email:
billfishbetty@hotmail.com, web site: www.ladiesletsgofishing.com.

# # #
Fishing Report, Islamorada, FL, Oct. 17, 2004 The ocean was alive with fish!! Almost everybody caught fish or learned from watching others catch!

The Contagious, Capt. Brian Cone: The ladies caught dolphin, skipjack, tuna, and bonita, with at least 7 sizable fish each. They learned the difference in technique for fighting a skipjack, a bonita and a dolphin.

Favorite quote: "Come to Mama!"

Whatever It Takes, Chuck Baldwin: The ladies had a great time catching tuna and dolphin, and enjoyed the thrill of constant multiple hookups.

Dee Cee, Capt. Chuck Schimmelman: All of the ladies caught plenty of grouper, mutton snapper, king mackerel and more. They learned how to follow birds to find fish, use live bait and cast a net. One of the ladies caught 50 cigar minnows in one throw! Quote of the day: "Reel fast, as if your pants are on fire!"

Blue Chip Too, Capt. Skip Bradeen: Deborah Dawson caught her first fish ever, a dolphin. Then, she released a sailfish! Trish Matarazzo and Ivy Faggione also caught their first sailfish ever. The ladies learned proper usage of rod/reel setups. At one moment they had four tuna on lines simultaneously. Inside Edition was on board to capture the excitement on tape.
Miller Time, Capt. Dirrk Reich: Bobbie Brachal released her first sailfish ever, measuring more than 7 feet. The struggle lasted 45 minutes. Also catching grouper, trigger fish and mackerel, the ladies described it as an 'awesome experience'.

Challenger, Capt. Rob Dixon: Lisa Greenwood gaffed a fish for her first time. The ladies learned how to rig live bait and use downriggers and outriggers. They also learned to not worry about losing fish in order to learn something.

Tag Em, Capt. Greg Pope: Everyone caught dolphin. The learned that seeing yellowtails does not mean they will bite!

Gotcha, Capt. Mel Walker: The ladies caught and/or released 17 dolphin, 18 tuna, a skipjack tuna and a parrot fish. They experienced lots of fish jumping and the pandemonium of a quadruple hookup. For bottom fishing, they learned how to chum until the blue runners surface and the snappers go down, then to drop jigs to catch the snappers.

Miss Tradewinds: The ladies caught grouper, Sandy Wilson won the Top Party Boat award with an 11.5 lb. grouper. The ladies also caught snapper, triggerfish, sharks and more!
Bamboo, Capt. Matt Bellinger: The ladies had fun releasing an oversized snook.

Capt. Brian Cutchins: The ladies released grouper, snook and blue runners.

Capt. Rich Tudor: Sharks and stingrays gave the women the opportunity to practice stand-up fish fighting techniques.

Capt. Eric Bass: The ladies caught sharks, snook, snapper and jacks.
Dierdre Madgey had the excitement of fighting a tarpon!

Comments from participants:
"Great for continued learning from the experts!" - C. Bullock, repeat participant

"Great experience! Learned alot and met some awesome people!" - S. Riehlman

"I hope I can remember all I learned - My husband will be so impressed!" - S. Link

"My fourth seminar and it was the best yet!" S. Breda

"Great fun - great information - wish they had this in other states!" J.Majka

"Learned alot of things the guys never told or might not have known! - much better and more fun than expected" - S. Wilson

"Great! I'll be back!" - M. Compeau

"I bought a boat and wanted to be able to fish from it - now I can!" - S.Carrol

"My first time and I'm impressed!" - P. Putnam "Great for anyone who wants to learn how to fish!" - C. Swenson

"Lots of info, non-threatening. I really CAN do this!" - P. Wells