Nearly 50 ladies came to Naples for the “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” Gulf Coast seminar March 19-21 at the Naples Harbour Yacht Club. Women from 29 to 79 came from the local area as well as from Canada and Minnesota to learn fishing secrets from local, talented charter captains.
“I love being on the water but didn’t want to touch fish, clean or bait the hook. Now, I can!” exclaimed Karla Kupek, Naples, FL. Patricia Arcidiacono, Marco Island, FL, added, “My husband takes me fishing but I needed a course to teach what he doesn’t have patience to show!”
Known as the “No-Yelling School of Fishing,” this award-winning series for women, held in conjunction withFlorida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), kicked off with the Harbor Financial Servicesnetworking reception at the Naples Harbour Yacht Club on Friday evening. On Saturday morning, local captains took a day off the water to help the women achieve their objectives. Presentations were made by Capt. Roan Zumfelde/Fly Fishing, Capt. Will Geraghty/Offshore and Bottom Fishing, Capt. Jon Fetter/Inshore Back Country Fishing, Capt. Dave Spitnale/Basics and Kelly Campbell/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission/Conservation, with topics taught at separate beginner and intermediate/advanced levels.
Other local captains, such as Capt. Chris McCubbin, Capt. Rob Modys, Capt. Pete Rosko of Capt. Pete’s Bait & Tackle, Jeff Paddock and more showed skills including conservation techniques and dehooking, spin casting, net casting with a Calusa Cast net, releasing, knot tying, hooks and lures, gaffing grapefruits, boat handling with Ranger, trailer backing with a Magic Tilt trailer, operating a Minn Kota trolling motor, Mercury outboard, Bob’s jack plate, Power-Pole and reeling against pressure. There was even a Harbor Financial Services table to help organize finances to purchase a boat in the future.
To complete the experience, a fishing trip on Sunday gave the women a chance to practice their newly-learned skills on the water. Each of the charter boats used for the Sunday Fishing Adventure returned with exciting fishing reports of ladies catching or releasing snook, trout, pompano, ladyfish, sheepshead and more. Fillet demonstration followed.
Featured on national network television and more, the series is held in conjunction with the FWC through theSport Fish Restoration Program and supported by major partners such as Ranger Boats represented byCalusa Island Marina, BoatU.S. ANGLER Insurance, Mercury, Gulfstream Int’l Airlines, Minn Kota, Magic Tiltand Humminbird. Annual partners included Bob’s Machine Shop, Harbor Financial Services, Power-Pole, Hook & Tackle, Eagle Claw, Tigress Outriggers, Pompanette, Treasure Cay Resort & Marina, Aylesworth’s Fish & Bait, Mary Kay, 7Eye and more. The Naples sponsor was Calusa Cast Nets. Local businesses also contributed. For those who have taken the seminar, LLGF offers a local chapter in Naples for further networking. Visit the chapters page on the website for more information.
The 2010 seminar schedule includes Stuart/April 23-25, Fort Lauderdale/June 11-13 and Islamorada: November 12-14. Early registration is just $99 when made 30 days or more in advance. Regular registration is $125 up to a week before the event and $145 for walk-ins and the week of the event. Registration includes instruction, use of equipment, hands-on training, networking reception and silent auction, meals, goody bags and more. Charters for the Sunday Fishing Adventure, with tackle and bait provided, are additional.
Naples Fishing Adventure Reports, Sunday, March 21, 2010:
Every charter reported fish and there were many happy faces at the dock. All of the captains were highly rated by the participants. You can find the captains information on the Guides section of the website.
Grand Slam/Capt. Will Geraghty: Geraghty, the offshore speaker, put his crew on the sheepshead, trout, ladyfish and catfish. Angie Strait, Cape Coral, FL caught her first saltwater fish ever! The ladies commented, “We caught lots of ladyfish and had a great time! Capt. Will is a wonderful captain. When the wind picked, it got a little tricky casting.”
Capt. Roan Zumfelde: Zumfelde, the fly fishing speaker, treated his anglers to their first inshore/backwater trip ever. The anglers caught trout, sheepshead, and ladyfish. Betty Moore, Sunrise, FL states, “I had a great time watching my sister Dolores learn how to cast and bring in the fish!” The group enjoyed learning how to jig along the bottom.
Joey D/Capt. Joey Dobin: Several ladyfish were released by everyone, along with catching trout and sheepshead. Aida Saba Cavooris, Port Saint Lucie, FL released a pompano, a stingray and caught sheepshead. They learned dehooking and using jigs with live bait. Cavooris commented, “I caught a big fat stingray. Captain Joey D expertly unhooked and released it. The jumping dolphins, sunrise, fishing, the girls and the captain…what an unforgettable experience! ”
Capt. Chris McCubbin: McCubbin, one of the LLGF instructors, helped the ladies catch ladyfish, trout and snook. Cecilia Cabieses, Wilton Manors, FL caught her first trout ever. They all had a great time and learned loop knots and bait fishing. On their survey, the ladies reported, ‘We adored Capt. Chris…a great Captain and a great guy! Amazing fishing, even with being covered in ladyfish poop!”
Priority One/Capt. Mike Prescott: “Yikes, whitecaps!” was the motto of the day when the cold front began to approach. The ladies caught mangrove snapper, ladyfish and sheepshead. They learned how to use circle hooks and fish in structure around mangroves. Slava Szczerbaniuk, Naples, FL caught her first sheepshead.
*Caught could designate either landing or releasing.
Did You Enjoy Your Instructors? All of the instructors from the Stuart seminar are licensed charter captains! You can book a trip with them and learn even more! Visit the “Guides” page on our website for their info!
CALENDAR INFORMATION: 2010 schedule: April 23-25, Stuart, FL; June 11-13, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; and Nov. 12-14, Islamorada, FL. Registration is $99/early entry, up to $145/walkins. Includes welcome party, classes at beginner/advanced levels, lunch, hands-on skill stations, Fishing additional.
Thanks to our Partners! Our valued sponsors help provide manpower, equipment for the skill stations and exciting products. This program would not be possible without their support! Special thanks to theFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Sport Fish Restoration Program, Mercury Outboards, Ranger Boats, BoatU.S. ANGLER Insurance, Gulfstream International Airlines, Magic Tilt Trailers, Minn Kota,and Humminbird for major sponsorships. Please patronize them! Annual sponsors: Bob’s Machine Shop, Harbor Financial Services, Power-Pole, Hook & Tackle, Eagle Claw, Tigress Outriggers, Pompanette, Treasure Cay Resort & Marina, Aylesworth’s Fish & Bait, Mary Kay, 7Eye and more. Local contributions provided by: Calusa Cast Nets.
A Note on Conservation: Remember, it is up to you to insure there will be quality fishing tomorrow!
Comments from participants:
“The most informative seminar ever! Covers so much!” C. Sceviour, Naples, FL
“Fishing is fun, relaxing and social – the perfect sport!” D. Magers, Bonita Springs, FL
“Enjoyed seeing the human fish in the water!” R. Dowell, Bonita Springs, FL
“I’ve been to LLGF seminars 4 times and always learned something new to use when I go out the next time!” J. Tunnessen, Miami, FL
“Great place to learn the basics and get hooked up with resources to continue.” A. Strait, Cape Coral, FL
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