The community and fishing industry came together to enable all the ladies to learn fishing and boating skills at the Naples seminar. The women came from several states as well as locally.
Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who sponsored, contributed or helped! We would also like to thank the Naples Harbour Yacht Club for their beautiful venue.
The fundraisers brought plenty of good deals for all, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Message from Marli Foundation for ovarian cancer, www.messagefrommarli.org. Thanks to those who contributed!
Congratulations to Mary Albarado from Fort Myers for winning the recipe contest with Bronze Redfish with Root Vegetable Mash! Karen Schofield also submitted a recipe for fish sauce.
We are working on a forum for ladies who want to plan fishing and scalloping trips together, stay posted!
Remember the Ft. Lauderdale seminar in Dania Beach’s I.T. Parker Community Center is April 15-17. Great offshore fishing – the Gulfstream comes in close, so in minutes you’re in fishable waters! Other dates May 20-22, Stuart and Nov. 11-13, Islamorada. If you have a product or service for us to promote to the ladies, please contact us!
Read on for the complete Naples report! Photos will be posted soon at www.ladiesletsgofishing.com
Ladies came from seven states to Naples for the “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” ® Gulf Coast seminar March 11-13 at the Naples Harbour Yacht Club.
Roxann Hanson, Naples, FL came because she was interested in the outdoors but didn’t know anyone who wanted to fish. Others attended to learn a sport that enables quality time with family and friends.
Known as the “No-Yelling School of Fishing,” this award-winning series for women, held in conjunction with Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), kicked off with the Harbor Financial Services networking reception at the Naples Harbour Yacht Club on Friday evening. On Saturday morning, local captains took a day off the water to share their expertise. Presentations were made by Captains Roan Zumfelde/Fly Fishing, Will Geraghty/Offshore and Bottom Fishing, Jon Fetter/Inshore Back Country Fishing, Kevin Merritt/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 Rob Modys, Stewart Ames, Gary Clark, Mike Prescott, Mark Block, Pete Rosko of Capt. Pete’s Bait & Tackle 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, Bob’s jack plate, Power-Pole and reeling against pressure. The Naples LLGF Chapter and local businesses contributed to the event.
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, redfish, pompano, ladyfish, sheepshead, mackerel, grouper, snapper and more. Fillet demonstration followed.
Featured on national network television and more, the series is held in conjunction with the FWC through the Sport Fish Restoration Program and supported by major partners such as Ranger Boats, Mercury, Gulfstream Int’l Airlines, Minn Kota, Magic Tilt and Humminbird. Annual partners included Bob’s Machine Shop, Harbor Financial Services, Power-Pole, Hook & Tackle, Eagle Claw, Tigress Outriggers, Treasure Cay Hotel Resort & Marina, Aylesworth’s Fish & Bait, BoatU.S. and Westmarine. Local sponsors were Calusa Cast Nets, Ocean Conservancy and Naples Harbour Yacht Club. Local businesses also contributed.
The LLGF 2011 schedule also includes seminars in Ft. Lauderdale April 15-17, Stuart May 20-22 and Islamorada November 11-13. Contact: phone (954) 475-9068; email info@ladiesletsgofishing.com; website www.ladiesletsgofishing.com.
Naples Fishing Report, Sunday, March 13, 2011
Skies were blue, winds were calm and the water was murky from the recent cold front. Every charter reported fish.
Alabama: Each of the ten ladies caught at least one mackerel when trolling, as well as at least two bottom fish. Expecting mother Shannon Simonson, Punta Gorda, FL caught the first fish of the day, a king mackerel, and was looking forward to sending photos to her husband deployed in Afghanistan.
Grand Slam/Capt. Will Geraghty: Geraghty, the offshore speaker, put his anglers on nine different species of fish, including sheepshead, trout, ladyfish, lizard fish, jack crevalles and pompano. Enjoying viewing bald eagles and porpoise, they jigged with shrimp and had a fun experience, rating Geraghty as ‘awesome!’.
Joey D/Capt. Craig: The women caught sheepshead, ladyfish, catfish, snook, flounder, trout and mangrove snappers. The best catch of the day was described as watching an osprey land a fish. Aside from their enjoyment of nature, the ladies met new friends with common interests.
Priority One/Capt. Mike Prescott: Each of the four ladies caught their first-ever pompano and were surprised when a “kamakazi” pompano flew into the boat. Dora Koop, Willow Springs, IL released a 16.5 inch redfish and the three other ladies released ladyfish. The ladies were treated to seeing four wild swimming hogs. They learned double surgeon knots, using live shrimp with popping corks and other baits. This was an all-release trip.
*Caught could designate either landing or releasing.
Comments from participants:
“Excellent presenters – safe, comfortable and encouraging atmosphere!” – R. Hanson, Naples, FL
“Great info on types of fish, seasons, baits, hooks and how to catch a fish!” – S. Bradley, Ft. Myers, FL
“I learned how important my role is in conservation – it’s MY responsibility!” – D. Koop, Willow Springs, IL
“Although I’ve fished all my life, I learned things I didn’t know before in the beginner’s class!” – K. Schofield, Englewood, FL
Did You Enjoy Your Instructors? All of the instructors from the Naples seminar are licensed charter captains! You can book a trip with them and learn even more! Visit the our guides page on our website for their info!
CALENDAR INFORMATION: Ft. Lauderdale April 15-17, Stuart May 20-22 and Islamorada November 11-13.. Registration is $99/early entry, up to $135/walkins (Islamorda Rates are $115 early and $155 regular). 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!
A Note on Conservation: Remember, it is up to you to insure there will be quality fishing tomorrow!
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