FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – More than 40 aspiring anglers came from Florida as well as other states to learn from the pros at the award winning “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!®” Keys University, October 15-17 at the Elks Lodge, Tavernier, FL. Participants came to learn about fishing and practice their skills on the water, catching 160 fish and releasing 109 for a total of 269 fish in the Fishing Fever Tournament.
Winners of the LLGF Fishing Fever tournament were:
- Top Offshore: Diane Odell, Cocoa Beach, FL 25 lb. Wahoo on Sea Horse with Capt. Rick Rodriguez
- Second Place Offshore: Robin Hinote, Avon Park, FL 14.5 lb. Mahi on Doghouse with Capt. Jesse Cromer
- Top Offshore Release: Joni Craig, Gainsville, FL sailfish on Phoebe with Capt. Frank Drudi
- Top Inshore: Dawn Miller, Punta Gorda, FL 32 inch snook on Capt. Chris Hanson’s Scales 2 Tales
- Second Place Inshore: Julie Mayer, Taneytown, MD 30 inch redfish and Dawn Miller, Punta Gorda, FL 30 inch snook, both on Capt. Chris Hanson’s Scales 2 Tales (tie)
- Top Junior Angler: Anabelle Goulart, Belle Isle, FL – blackfun tuna
The University kicked off on Friday with a meet-and-greet social featuring networking, fundraisers and a Potluck Appetizer Contest.
Saturday’s events began with classroom presentations on fishing basics by Capt. Lee Lavery, offshore fishing by Capt. Jeanne Towne, and inshore fishing, followed by lunch and hands-on fishing skills until 4 pm. Skills such as releasing, conservation, knot tying, bait rigging, spin casting, net casting and more were available for hands-on practice.
Saturday events concluded with a silent auction, followed by a networking party hosted by Seaside Glassworks, Islamorada, FL.
On Friday and Sunday, offshore or inshore, participants embarked on a fishing adventure out of Whale Harbor Marina, Islamorada, FL and other locations, followed by a fish fillet demonstration. Fish included sailfish, mahi, wahoo, blackfin tuna, yellowtail snapper, snook, redfish, mangrove snapper, sharks and more.
Betty Bauman, Founder of Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing commented, “This event was designed for beginners who can win a prize in our Fishing Fever tournament, even if it was their first fish ever caught or released.”
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, Shearwater Boats, Power-Pole, Penn, TACO Metals, Lowrance and Fish Florida. Largest Annual Sponsors are Freedom Boat Club, ICOM, CCA Florida STAR, Bob’s Machine Shop, AFTCO, Costa, Smith Optics, Frogg Toggs, Hubbards Marina, Star Brite and Future Angler Foundation. Local sponsors were Breezy Palms, Seaside Glass Works and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.
About
The Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing Foundation (LLGF) is a national charitable 501C3 organization dedicated to attracting women and families to fishing while encouraging conservation and responsible angling. LLGF promotes networking among women anglers and emphasizes mentorships. Founded in 1997 by Betty Bauman, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, LLGF has over 9,000 graduates and is the largest organization in the world whose objective is to introduce women to fishing. Both Bauman and the University series – often dubbed “The No-Yelling School of Fishing” – are known nationally in the sport fishing and marine industries. The organization has earned rave reviews from national media including “Inside Edition,” CBS’ “The Early Show,” NBC’s “Nightly News,” “Good Morning America,” “Outdoor Life Network,” USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, Southern Living and more.