Roarin' Time Catching Fish in the Keys!

The Keys "Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!" University Nov. 15-17, 2013 was the bomb - Everyone caught fish!

We had a large class of more than fifty women at the "Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!^�" Keys weekend University,  November 15-17 at BPOE Elks, Tavernier, FL.

 

The women joined the ranks of more than 8,000 University graduates who have attended the University for many reasons. Cindy Brown, Captiva, FL wanted to learn more about fishing to not be so dependent on her husband. Maureen Mascaro, Homestead, FL came to network with other women and learn basic and advanced skills. "It seemed less stressful to learn fishing in a room filled with women!" commented Trisha Quigley-Regan, Key Largo, FL.

 

The First Part - Fun Welcome Party!

Held in conjunction with support from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Sport Fish Restoration Program, the University kicked off on Friday, November 15 with the Harbor Financial Services meet-and-greet social featuring networking, fundraisers and an incredible Master Chef Appetizer Contest. It was a tough choice, but the victor was Smoked Amberjack fish dip by Debra Keneipp, Ft. Lauderdale, FL for the contest, sponsored by Cabot Cheese Cooperative. We thank all ladies who brought the delicious dishes!

 

Then onto learning on Saturday...

Saturday's events began with classroom presentations on offshore, bottom, inshore and fly fishing, followed by Pollo Tropical lunch and hands-on fishing skills until 4 pm. Named speakers were Heather Sneed/FWC and Captains Lee Lavery, Bou Bosso and Rick Rodriguez. Skills such as releasing, conservation, knot tying, bait rigging, reel maintenance, spin and net casting, gaffing grapefruits, trailer backing, stand-up fish fighting techniques and more were available for hands-on practice. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) educated University participants on the importance of marine conservation by showing the habits that can be developed so each person can make a difference, no matter where they fish. Women learned safe hook removal, release techniques and more.

 

Second Party at the Redbone Gallery!

Events concluded with a silent auction, followed by a networking party with food and fun hosted by the Redbone Gallery, Islamorada, FL. A Holiday Auction is coming with some new items, keep posted!  

 

Sunday Fishing!

On Sunday, November 17, ladies embarked on a Fishing Adventure out of Whale Harbor and Robbies Marina, Islamorada, FL followed by a fish fillet demonstration. An incredible variety of fish were caught and/or released, including sailfish, yellowtail, dolphin, grouper, redfish and more. On Friday was a Bonus Fishing Day with one inshore boat reporting catching and/or releasing ten different species and several redfish.

 

Featured on national network television and more, the University series is held in conjunction with the FWC through the Sport Fish Restoration Program, with major partners such as Mercury Outboards, Ranger Boats, Minn Kota, Humminbird and Magic Tilt Trailers. Annual, patron and Keys class-only partners are on the website sponsor page at www.ladiesletsgofishing.com. The fundraisers helped support the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation - Thanks to all of our donors! Host Hotel was Breezy Palms Resort in Islamorada.

 

Special thanks to our volunteers, sponsors and donors for making this cool event possible!   

Fishing Report - Islamorada, FL. Nov. 17, 2013 3/4 day

 

The winds were 12 mph winds from the east and everybody caught fish! "Caught" can indicate landing or releasing. Many of the fish below were released.

 

Offshore Boats:

Sea Horse/Capt. Rick Rodriguez: Trolling ballyhoo four miles out with LLGF speaker Capt. Rick Rodriguez, the group saw seven sailfish and released two, enjoying the chaos of having three fish on at the same time. Debbie Keneipp, Ft. Lauderdale, FL released her first sailfish ever and Michelle Guevin, Palmetto, FL also released a sail. Nancy Stone, Key Largo, FL, Kim Boehm, Pompano Beach, FL and Andria King, Bradenton, FL released 20 lb. bonito. Kathy Carlton, Pompano Beach, FL caught an 18 lb. dolphin. Kim Boehm also caught a dolphin.

 

Blue Chip Too/Capt. Skip Bradeen: The ladies went offshore and, after slow fish response, decided to try yellowtail fishing with sandballs. That move paid off, with more than 20 yellowtail snapper coming back to the dock. Janet Steiner, St. Augustine, FL was reeling in a nice bonito when it was bit in half by a barracuda.

 

Inshore Boats:

Capt. Bou Bosso: Using live bait and fishing with the LLGF speaker Capt. Bou Bosso, Shirley Tinsley, Port Townsend, WA and her husband caught and/or released 16 fish, including four snook, six mangrove snappers, two jack crevalle, a 20 lb. goliath grouper and four barracuda. They enjoyed the scenery of the Everglades.

 

Capt. Andy Downs: Four ladies caught or released a total of 35 fish with LLGF Skill Station Instructor Capt. Andy Downs, including a lemon shark, nurse shark, gag grouper, lookdown, yellowtail, lane snapper and blue runners. They saw sea turtles and dolphin, plus learned how to use different types of inshore lures.

 

Capt. Mark Johnson: Kathy Watkins, Boca Raton, FL and her husband caught or released 33 fish with LLGF Skill Station Instructor Capt. Mark Johnson, including ten sea trout, ladyfish, jack crevalle, mangrove snapper, blue runners and a lemon shark. They enjoyed using a popping cork as well as live bait.

 

Capt. Chris Hanson/Scales2Tails: Three ladies went all the way to East Cape, catching or releasing 26 fish, including four keeper black drum, two bonnet head sharks, mangrove snappers, jack crevalles, sheepshead and grunts. They saw crocodiles and learned how to get their rigs out of the mangroves. They practiced rigging shrimp and tying leaders, plus releasing fish with dehookers.

 

Capt. Troy Mell, Reel Mello Charters: Fishing with live bait and lures, the ladies went half way to Flamingo and caught or released 15-inch snapper and redfish measuring 33 to 30 inches.

 

Capt. Mike Odell: The ladies caught some keeper sea trout and release gag groupers, ladyfish, mangrove snapper and more for a total of 55 fish from eight different species. They learned about tides, how to handle emergency situations, measuring fish and practiced tying knots.

 

 More info: www.ladiesletsgofishing.com .  

2014 LLGF Universities

Ft. Myers/Matlacha (mini): March 8-9, 2014

South Florida: Apr. 11-13, 2014  

Treasure Coast: May 16-18, 2014  

Florida Keys: Nov. 13-16, 2014

Registration for the first two events is open! 

Visit us on www.ladiesletsgofishing.com or     

 

 For more photos visit our website News/Photo page or Facebook! 

If you are a guide or are fishing and and happen to release a shark or ray (or any other fish), we are looking for release videos for www.save-fish.com our annual conservation project. Photos are welcome, too and we will give you credits on the website.