Women came from all over Florida to compete in the non intimidating LLGF Fishing Screamin’ Reels tournament Aug. 14-16 in Islamorada, FL. Hosted by the nonprofit Ladies Let’s Go Fishing Foundation, the tournament offered a virtual kickoff, informal meet and greet, easy rules for beginners and two days of inshore or offshore fishing. Fishing from eight boats, 20 participants caught 108 fish.
Prizes for the two-day tournament were awarded to individual anglers, including Penn rod/reel combos, art prints and other fishing items. Winners were:
Top Offshore: Donna Langston, Satellite Beach, FL, Oceanic Tuna on Costa Morada with Capt. Claude Tristram
Second Place Offshore: Noelle Goulart, Belle Isle, FL, Blackfin Tuna on Costa Morada with Capt. Claude Tristram
Top Inshore: Judy Ptashinski, Fort Myers, FL, Redfish on Scales 2 Tales with Capt. Chris Hanson
Second Place Inshore: Judy Ptashinski, Fort Myers, FL, Snook (released) on Scales 2 Tales with Capt. Chris Hanson
Top Release: Judy Ptashinski, Fort Myers, FL, Tarpon on Scales 2 Tales with Capt. Chris Hanson
Junior Angler: Anabelle Goulart, Belle Isle, FL, Blackfin Tuna on Dog House with Capt. Jesse Cromer
Daily Honors/Saturday:
Top Offshore Fish/Sat.: Donna Langston, Satellite Beach, FL, Wahoo on Blue Chip Too with Capt. Skip Bradeen
Second Place Offshore Fish/Sat: Trish Wilson, Boca Raton, FL, Mahi on Dog House with Capt. Jesse Cromer
Many ladies caught their first fish species ever, with several also entering their catches in the CCA Florida STAR tournament to vie for additional awards from the Coastal Conservation Association.
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, Penn, Scout Boats, Seven Seas Yacht Sales, Power-Pole and Fish Florida. Largest Annual Sponsors are Freedom Boat Club, Sunrise Resort & Marina, Future Angler Foundation, CCA Florida STAR, TACO Marine and Seaguar. Local sponsors include Breezy Palms Resort and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.
Remaining 2020 LLGF events, with optional fishing, include:
Aug. 21-23 South Florida Offshore Saltwater Weekend Seminar
Sept. 12-13 Tampa Inshore Seminar
Oct. 23-25 Keys Saltwater Weekend Seminar, Islamorada, FL
Nov. 21-22 St. Augustine Surf Fishing Academy at Guy Harvey Ocean Resort
Contact: LLGF, phone 954-475-9068, email: fish@ladiesletsgofishing.com, website: www.ladiesletsgofishing.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/ladiesletsgofishing
Fishing Reports (fish caught and/or released) below. While the fish were not large in size, plenty of fish were caught with a total of 108 fish.
Saturday Full Day Offshore:
Dog House, Capt. Jesse Cromer: With a total of 13 fish, the ladies caught 12 mahi and a blackfin tuna. Trish Wilson, Boca Raton, FL, clinched second place daily honors with one of her mahi. Anabelle Goulart caught a blackfin tuna to win top junior angler.
Blue Chip Too, Capt. Skip Bradeen: With a total of 19 fish, the ladies caught 11 yellowtail snapper, 3 jack cervalle, 2 blackfin tuna, 1 mahi, 1 wahoo and 1 mangrove snapper. Donna Langston, Satellite Beach, FL, clinched first place offshore for Saturday with her wahoo.
Inshore:
Scales 2 Tales, Capt. Chris Hanson: With a total of 42 fish, the ladies caught 28 trout, 11 snook, 1 redfish, 1 triple tail and released a tarpon. Judy Ptashinski, Ft. Myers, FL, clinched first and second place inshore with her 24” redfish and 22” snook, respectively. Her tarpon also won the award for top release.
Sunday 3/4 Day Offshore:
Costa Morada, Capt. Claude Tristram: With a total of 10 fish, the ladies caught 3 blackfin tuna, 6 mahi and an oceanic tuna caught by Donna Langston, Satellite Beach, FL, to clinch first place offshore. Noelle Goulart, Bell Isle, FL, caught a blackfin tuna to win second place offshore. Her teen daughter, Anabelle Goulart, caught her first mahi.
Sea Horse, Capt. Rick Rodriguez: with a total of 10 fish, the ladies caught 9 mahi and a jack.
Dana Leigh: 6 mahi.
Inshore:
Capt. Chris Hanson, Scales 2 Tales: With a total of 14 fish, the ladies caught 7 snook, 2 triple tails, 1 mangrove snapper, 1 goliath grouper (released), 1 redfish, 1 jack and released a 6 foot lemon shark. Pam Ford, Weston, FL released a 27” snook.
