Nearly forty women came from many walks of life to learn fishing skills at the Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing! South Florida Fishing University April 12-14 at I.T. Parker Community Center, Dania Beach, FL. Not only did the women learn about fishing in classrooms, they had a chance to practice and go fishing offshore to test their new fishing knowledge on the water, while networking with other women.
Known as the “No-Yelling School of Fishing,” this award-winning fishing university series for women, held in conjunction with and support from Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), kicked off with the Harbor Financial Services/Cabot Cheese networking reception on Friday evening. Dania Beach City Commissioner Bobbie Grace greeted the group, and Starbrite’s Bill Lindsey made a presentation on boat care. Julie Healy of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, won the Master Chef Appetizer Contest with her crab cake dish.
Elizabeth Bender with a delicious blackfin tuna she caught off Dania Beach, Florida. Photo courtesy of Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!
On Saturday morning, presentations were made by Capt. Lee Lavery/Fishing Basics; Twig Tolle/Bottom/Offshore and Fly Fishing; Capt. Brian Liebowitz/Inshore Fishing; and Heather Sneed/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission/Conservation.
At lunch, hosted by Pollo Tropical, there was a “Dress for Fishing Success” fashion show with Hook and Tackle plus Get Wet Activewear fashions. Diana Ambrose of Singer Island, FL, won a Starbrite barbeque cleaning set for her crab cake recipe in the recipe contest.
Local captains and LLGF South Florida chapter members worked one-on-one with participants to practice conservation techniques and dehooking, spin casting, net casting, releasing, knot tying, rod and reel maintenance, gaffing grapefruits, lure rigging, reeling against pressure, Magic Tilt trailer backing and learning parts of the 2410 Bay Ranger boat.
To complete the experience, a fishing trip on Sunday gave the women a chance to practice their newly learned skills on the water, catching blackfin tuna, bonito, king mackerel and more.
Featured on national network television and more, the University series is also supported by major partners Mercury Outboards, Ranger Boats, Fishhound.com, Minn Kota, Humminbird and Magic Tilt Trailers. Annual sponsors were West Marine, Bimini Big Game Club, Treasure Cay, Old Bahama Bay, Sunrise Resort & Marina, Wear Video Badge and All Rite Grading. Class Sponsors included Kodiak Island Resort, IT Parker Community Center, Cabot Cheese, Pollo Tropical and Star Brite. Patron contributors were Painted Fish Art, Cannon Downriggers, Capt. Bouncer Smith, Fishing Headquarters, New Lattitude Sportfishing, Tigress Outriggers, Capt. Stewart Ames, Mack’s Fish Camp, Ventafish, Ocean Tamer and Aylesworth’s Fish & Bait. Those and other supporters are recognized on www.ladiesletsgofishing.com.
Graduates are eligible to join a South Florida LLGF chapter to continue learning at meetings and participate in fishing trips.
Upcoming 2013 LLGF universities include Treasure Coast Mother’s Day Weekend/Stuart/May 10-12 and Keys/Islamorada/Tavernier Nov. 15-17. Contact:(954) 475-9068; info@ladiesletsgofishing.com; www.ladiesletsgofishing.com and www.facebook.com/
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
