Lady Anglers Rule at the Islamorada “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!”® Seminar

Ladies traveled from several states to learn fishing skills in the Keys at the “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!”®seminar, Nov. 11-13 in Islamorada, FL. Known as the Sportfishing Capital of the World for its versatile fishing, the Keys delivered a phenomenal learning and fishing experience for participants. Mothers/daughters Beth and Laurie Beals, Fort Lauderdale, FL, plus Maureen and Kelly Brunton, St. Petersburg, FL, attended as a family to learn fishing skills. Cindy Campbell Elkton, FL had just purchased a boat and wanted to learn how to use it for fishing. Laurie Hammond, Dallas, OR wanted to learn skills to share with her sister, who had never gone ocean fishing. Held at Holiday Isle Resorts & Marina, Islamorada, FL, sixty women learned fishing skills from local legends Captains Skip Bradeen, Rick Rodriguez, Jim Anson, Lee Lavery and Bob Jones, plus Rich Abrams of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. There was plenty of knowledge shared at beginner and advanced levels on inshore, offshore, bottom and fly fishing.

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) through the Sport Fish Restoration Program, kicked off with a Friday Welcome Reception, continuing on Saturday with classes, lunch with Hook & Tackle/Blue Coast Co. fishing fashion show, followed by afternoon skill practice. Skills included conservation techniques and dehooking, spin casting, net casting, releasing, fly casting, knot tying, gaffing grapefruits, boat handling, trailer backing, operating a Minn Kota trolling motor, Mercury outboard, Bob’s jack plate, Power-Pole, reeling against pressure and more. The ladies learned how to leverage their balance and use fighting belts and the Viper Bob fishing vest as they cranked poolside against Larry Kahn, Editor of the Florida Keys Keynoter performing as the fish. The Saturday events concluded with a second reception at Pasta Pantaleo’s Signature Gallery.

To complete the experience, the offshore and inshore fishing adventure on Sunday resulted in plenty of dolphin, tuna, yellowtail snapper, pompano, redfish, mangrove snapper and more.

Ladies from ages 16 to 75 traveled from as far away as Canada, California and Michigan to participate.
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 represented by Islamorada Boat Center, Mercury, Gulfstream Int’l Airlines, Minn Kota, Magic Tilt and Humminbird.  Annual partners included Bob’s Machine Shop, Harbor Financial Services, BoatU.S. ANGLER, Power-Pole, Hook & Tackle, Eagle Claw, Tigress Outriggers, Pompanette, Westmarine, Treasure Cay Resort & Marina and more. Single-Event sponsor was Kodiak Sportsman’s Lodge. Many local businesses contributed to the program, which benefitted the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation.

The 2012 seminar schedule includes Southwest Florida/Naples: March 16-18, South Florida/Ft. Lauderdale: April 20-22, Treasure Coast/Stuart: May 18-20 and Keys/Islamorada: Nov. 9-11. Contact: LLGF, phone 954-475-9068, fax 954-474-7299, email: fish@ladiesletsgofishing.com, website:www.ladiesletsgofishing.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/ladiesletsgofishing

CALENDAR INFORMATION:  “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” ® saltwater fishing seminar for women Southwest Florida/Naples: March 16-18, South Florida/Ft. Lauderdale: April 20-22, Treasure Coast/Stuart: May 18-20 and Keys/Islamorada: Nov. 9-11.  Registration is $99/early entry, up to $145/walkins. Includes welcome party, classes at beginner/advanced levels, lunch, hands-on skill stations and more. Fishing additional. Contact information is: phone: (954) 475-9068; email: fish@ladiesletsgofishing.com; website:www.ladiesletsgofishing.com.

Islamorada Fishing Report – Nov. 13, 2011 3/4 Day
With bouncy seas, the oceans produced fish for the ladies, and plenty of them!

Captain Bruce Pollock – Two ladies went inshore fishing in Flamingo/Everglades with Edge Charters. Christy DeBartolo, St Louis, MO caught the first fish of the day within seconds. They caught Spanish mackerel, blue runners, mangrove snapper, a black-tip shark and more.

Tag ‘Em – With Captain Greg Pope, the ladies learned the advantage of using fresh ballyhoo as live bait by bringing in over 30 dolphin (mahi mahi). Kim Rush, Fort Lauderdale, FL released her big catch, a 55 lb. nurse shark. The ladies stated that their catch total was a group effort.

Captain Michael, Party boat – Dealing with 3-4 foot waves on their way out, the ladies didn’t let it get them down! From mutton snapper and yellowtails to amberjacks, the ladies had a successful day.

Caribsea – Even after releasing several yellowtail and other fish, Captain Kenny Spaulding and the ladies brought back 24 different types of big daddys! They were quoted as a group saying, ‘Patience pays!’ Sandy Miller, Palm Beach Gardens, FL was the example with her 40 lb. dolphin!!

Captain Mark Johnson – On the boat Tailspin, fishing in the Flamingo area, a whopping total of 44 redfish were released. Janet Meadows, Marathon, FL released 19 redfish, as well as a couple beautiful ladyfish.  She exclaimed, “Captain Mark is an ambassador to the Keys!”

Captain Bob Jones – Maria De Los Angeles, Miami, FL and Kai Long, St. Augustine, FL were fishing 20 miles out into the bay at the border of the Everglades & Gulf of Mexico. They caught Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, blue runners and mangrove snappers, many in the 2-5 lb. bracket.

Sea Horse – Anchoring at a reef, Captain Rick Rodriguez and some of the ladies caught their own bait and went out to catch the big ones, including trolling for sailfish. They released 28” cobias, yellowtails and, as they called it, a ‘Snapper Frenzy!’

Blue Chip Too – Captain Skip took our ladies out to sea and made sure they had plenty to bring home. Elizabeth Baer, Estero, FL had four dolphin, a bonita and a skipjack. Cindy Campbell, Elkton, FL caught a dolphin and tuna. The other ladies all brought home 19 dolphin as well as tuna and bonita.

Worleybird Charters – The ladies caught 19 fish of different species with Captain Mark Worley, including lizard fish, jacks and blue runners. Cayla Aaron, Cooper City, FL was excited to catch the first fish, a lizard fish which she described as an ‘ugly dinosaur’.