Anglers Hook 182 Fish at “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” Keys University and Fishing Fever Tournament Oct. 13-15, 2023
Twenty six aspiring anglers came from Florida as well as other states to learn from the pros at the award winning “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!®” Keys University and Fishing Fever Tournament, October 13-15 at the Elks Lodge, Tavernier, FL. Participants came to learn about fishing and practice their skills on the water, catching and/or releasing 182 fish from eight boats in the Fishing Fever Tournament. Platinum sponsor was Plantation Boat Mart and Marina with other partners listed below.
Winners of the LLGF Fishing Fever Tournament were:
Top Offshore: Wanda Lynch Burns, Bel Aire, MD, mahi, Kay K IV with Capt. David Galen
Second Place Offshore: Lisa Magill, Pompano Beach, FL mahi, Kay K IV with Capt. David Galen
Top Inshore: Lori Limberg, Odell, IL, 28.25 inch snook release on Capt. Chris Hanson’s Scales 2 Tales
Second Place Inshore: Melody Tuschel, Big Pine Key, FL, 27 inch snook released on Capt. Dylan Scoble’s Blackwater Charters
Honorable Mention: Lori Love, St. Augustine, FL, 46.7 lb. amberjack on Sea Horse with Capt. Rick Rodriguez
The University kicked off on Friday with a meet-and-greet.
Saturday’s events began with classroom presentations on fishing basics by Capt. Lee Lavery, offshore fishing by Capt. Jeanne Towne, Conservation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and inshore fishing by Capt. Rob Modys, followed by lunch and hands-on fishing skills until 4 pm. Skills such as releasing, conservation, knot tying, bait rigging, spin casting, net casting, gaffing grapefruits and more were available for hands-on practice.
Saturday events concluded with a silent auction, followed by a networking party hosted by Seaside Glassworks, Islamorada, FL.
On Friday and Sunday, participants embarked on an offshore or inshore fishing adventure out of Whale Harbor Marina, Islamorada, FL and other locations, followed by a fish fillet demonstration. Fish caught and/or released included mahi, blackfin tuna, amberjack, a variety of snappers, bonito, tarpon, snook, redfish, sharks and even a crocodile plus more.
Betty Bauman, Founder of Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing commented, “This event was designed for beginners who can win a prize in our Fishing Fever tournament, even if it was their first fish ever caught or released.”
Featured on national network television and more, the series is supported by major partners including Recreational Fishing and Boating Foundation, Take Me Fishing, Vamos a Pescar, Mercury, Magic Tilt trailers, Shearwater Boats, Power-Pole, Penn, TACO Metals, Lowrance, Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida and Fish Florida. Largest Annual Sponsors are Freedom Boat Club, ICOM, CCA Florida STAR, Bob’s Machine Shop, AFTCO, Costa, Smith Optics, Frogg Toggs, Hubbards Marina, Star Brite, Future Angler Foundation and Big Rock Sports Conservation Foundation. Local sponsors were Plantation Boat Mart and Marina Platinum sponsor, Island Arms & Indoor Range, Fidelity Real Estate Group, Seaside Glass Works and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.
Contact: phone: (954) 475-9068; info@ladiesletsgofishing.com; www.ladiesletsgofishing.com and www.facebook.com/ladiesletsgofishing.
Fishing Report: “Caught” can either be landed or released. Seas were 2-4 ft. on Friday, 2 ft. on Sunday. 182 fish were hooked. For both days trolling offshore, tuna and mahi were small however bottom fishing was productive.
Friday Oct. 13 Full Day Fishing – Offshore:
Sea Horse/Capt. Rick Rodriguez: The ladies started the day trolling offshore then stopped to deep drop, catching and/or releasing yellow eye, black eye, yellowtail and vermillion snapper plus blue runners for a total of 17 fish plus more released. Everyone hooked fish.
Friday Full Day Fishing – Inshore:
Capt. Chris Hanson/Scales to Tales:
Ladies released seven snook, a tarpon, three jacks, three redfish and two lemon sharks. Julie Duncan, Pinecrest, FL released a 25 inch redfish and hooked a 5 foot crocodile. Two mangrove snapper were kept.
Capt. Dylan Scoble/Blackwater Charters:
Ladies released six snook, six trout, 14 mangrove snappers, a 19 inch goliath grouper and a jack. Melody Tuschel released two 27 inch snook, snatching Second Place Inshore. They enjoyed a close encounter with a manatee.
Sunday Oct. 15, ¾ day fishing – Offshore:
Sea Horse/Capt. Rick Rodriguez:
Ladies caught four amberjacks with the largest caught by Lori Love at 46.7 lbs. They also caught 2 almaco jacks and released a 5 ft. silk shark.
Kay K IV/Capt. David Galen: Participants caught two mahi, clinching First Place Offshore for Wanda Lynch Burns and Second for Lisa Magill, 4 and 3.95 lbs. respectively. They caught three large amberjacks up to 45 lbs. and released two bonito.
Big Dave/Capt. David Duncan:
The ladies caught a small mahi, two small blackfin tuna and two bonito.
Sunday Oct. 15, ¾ day fishing – Inshore:
Capt. Chris Hanson/Scales to Tales:
Ladies released eight snook, two jacks, two mangrove snappers and a ladyfish.
Capt. Dylan Scoble/Blackwater Charters:
Rita Bennett released an 18 inch snook. Ladies also released a 17 inch jack crevalle and an 8 inch goliath grouper plus several mangrove snapper. Teen Angler Nehemia Novak from Bonita Springs, FL released the first fish of his life, a 70 lb. lemon shark.
Photo Captions, ladies ID left to right:
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For the highest res photos we have. Match the letter with the caption.
A.Sea Horse Sun ladies with amberjack: Lori Love, St. Augustine, FL; Melody Tuschel, Big Pine Key, FL; Felicia Alexander, Coral Springs, FL; Desaray Norris, Naples, FL and Shelley Hughes, North Ft. Myers, FL on Sea Horse.
B.Lori Love 46.7 lb. amberjack Sea Horse Sunday: Lori Love, St. Augustine, FL 46.7 lb. amberjack on Sea Horse.
C.Chris Hanson Sunday group: Lori Limberg (front) Odell, IL; Jessica Olsen, Rian Olsen both from Delano, IL and Julie Duncan, Pinecrest, FL on Chris Hanson Scales 2 Tales.
D.Lori Limberg First Place Inshore snook w Chris Hanson: Lori Limberg, Odell, IL First Place Inshore 28.25 inch snook release with Chris Hanson Scales 2 Tales.
E.Melody Tuschel snook 2nd Pl Inshore w Dylan Scoble: Melody Tuschel, Big Pine Key, FL wins 2nd Place Inshore for a 27 inch snook release with Capt. Dylan Scoble, Blackwater Charters.
F.Wanda Lynch Burns 1st PL Offshore: Wanda Lynch Burns, Bel Aire, MD wins a Penn reel for 1st Place Offshore fishing on Kay K IV.
G.Pat Kucera Lori Limberg Julie Duncan w Chris Hanson Fri: Pat Kucera, Clearwater, FL; Lori Limberg. Odell, IL and Julie Duncan, Pinecrest, FL with Capt. Chris Hanson Scales 2 Tales.
H.Kay K IV Sun ladies with fish Wanda Lynch Burns/1st Place Offshore, Bel Aire, MD; Capt. David Galen, Islamorada, FL, Lisa Magill/2nd Place Offshore, Pompano Beach, FL; Kelly Medina, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Mate Mitch Harris, Islamorada, FL, Jodi Kittleson, Cocoa, FL; Helen Kelley, Venice, FL and Kathy Kittleson, Grant, FL on Kay Kay IV.
I.Sea Horse Fri Ladies with snapper: Lisa Karpawich, North Bay Village, FL; Desaray Norris, Naples, FL; Shelley Hughes, North Ft. Myers, FL; Helen Kelley, Venice, FL; Robin Krueger, Parkland, FL and Cristiane Carvalho, Pinecrest, FL with snapper caught on Sea Horse.
J.Big Dave Sun ladies with fish: Janet Steiner, Dede Shartran, Cindy Campbell, St. Augustine, FL; Cristiane Carvalho, Pinecrest, FL and Katheryn Feanny, Ft. Lauderdale, FL on Big Dave.
K.LLGF Keys Participants: Participants at Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing Keys with FWC officers.
About “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!”
The Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing Foundation (LLGF) is a national charitable 501C3 organization dedicated to attracting women and families to fishing while encouraging conservation and responsible angling. LLGF promotes networking among women anglers and emphasizes mentorships. Founded in 1997 by Betty Bauman, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, LLGF has over 9,000 graduates and is the largest organization in the world whose objective is to introduce women to fishing. Both Bauman and the University series – often dubbed “The No-Yelling School of Fishing” – are known nationally in the sport fishing and marine industries. The organization has earned rave reviews from national media including “Inside Edition,” CBS’ “The Early Show,” NBC’s “Nightly News,” “Good Morning America,” “Outdoor Life Network,” USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, Southern Living and more.
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Brief Release:
Anglers Hook 182 Fish at “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” Keys University and Fishing Fever Tournament Oct. 13-15, 2023
Ladies came from Florida as well as other states to learn from the pros and go fishing at the award winning “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!®” Keys University and Fishing Fever tournament, October 13-15 at the Elks Lodge, Tavernier, FL.
Participants hooked 182 fish from eight boats in the LLGF Fishing Fever Tournament.
Winners of the LLGF Fishing Fever Tournament were:
Top Offshore: Wanda Lynch Burns, Bel Aire, MD, mahi, Kay K IV with Capt. David Galen
Second Place Offshore: Lisa Magill, Pompano Beach, FL mahi, Kay K IV with Capt. David Galen
Top Inshore: Lori Limberg, Odell, IL,28.25 inch snook release on Capt. Chris Hanson’s Scales 2 Tales
Second Place Inshore: Melody Tuschel, Big Pine Key, FL, 27 inch snook released on Capt. Dylan Scoble’s Blackwater Charters
Honorable Mention: Lori Love, St. Augustine, FL, 46.7 lb. amberjack on Sea Horse with Capt. Rick Rodriguez
The event included a full day seminar to learn fishing techniques on Saturday, two networking parties and optional inshore and offshore fishing on Friday and Sunday.
Contact: phone: (954) 475-9068; info@ladiesletsgofishing.com; www.ladiesletsgofishing.com and www.facebook.com/ladiesletsgofishing.
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